Masturbation is good for you

Masturbation is the self-stimulation of the genitals to achieve sexual arousal and pleasure. It is commonly done by touching, massaging or stroking the penis or clitoris until an orgasm is achieved. For many of us masturbation is a taboo topic because there are so many myths about it that has caused people to feel uncomfortable talking about it.

Let us be honest today, masturbation is something that we all do, it’s something that is very normal, it’s something that is very basic to a human relationship with their body. Survey shows that 95% of men and around 72% of women have masturbated in their life.  Feeling yourself is not just for single people. 70% of men and 40% of women in a relationship reported masturbating within four weeks of their relationship.

The most common reasons that men and women give for masturbating are to relieve sexual tension and relax, achieve sexual pleasure and to have sex when partners are unavailable. But can masturbation be good or bad for you?

Masturbation has a lot of health benefits. Masturbation can be good for mental and physical health. People who feel good about their bodies, sex and masturbation are more likely to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy. It is the safest way to get sexual pleasure.

Masturbation may also improve sleep, release sexual tension, relieve menstrual cramps and muscle tension, increase the ability to have orgasm, reduce stress, strengthen muscle tone in the pelvic and anal areas hence reducing women’s chances of involuntary urine leakage and uterine prolapse and lastly provide treatment for sexual dysfunction.

Masturbation has no health effect. It is healthy. However the guilt and the fear can make a person feel nervous, anxious, stressed and worried. There is no evidence to prove that masturbation could result to sexual health problems. The opposition to masturbation in Kenya is mostly based on an idea that pleasures of the body are bad because they distract you from religious devotion and thinking about God. People who feel this way think that the only excuse for sexual feelings is for the purpose of making babies and since masturbation can never make babies it is bad.

Problems can arise if you start masturbating compulsively and it starts affecting different facets of your life like work and studies. If this happens you should tell yourself to stop. You can limit yourself by setting time in a day that is only meant for masturbation only.

Masturbation is an individual choice. It is a healthy and safe sexual practice for those with adequate knowledge and those who know the facts. But if someone masturbates without understanding the facts and carries the guilt and fear, then it is important for them to be educated. Thus, it is not the behavior but the feelings towards masturbation that could determine whether masturbation is healthy or a problem.

The purpose of this article is not to force anyone to masturbate but to dispel the many myths that are often associated with masturbation.