Michael Abrahams | Masturbation – not a bad thing at all

We make jokes about it. Some of us feel uncomfortable speaking about it. Some of us feel guilt when we do it. And we give it weird and humorous names such as “choking the chicken”, “spanking the monkey”, “ringing the devil’s doorbell”, “rubbing one out”, “playing with oneself”, and in Jamaica “backing your fist”. The act has been condemned and demonised for cultural and religious reasons and is often deemed a shameful, sinful, or immoral act. But is masturbation really a bad thing?

Masturbation refers to the act of stimulating one’s genitalia for sexual pleasure and has likely been around since man first appeared on the Earth. Several artistic depictions of the activity have been discovered such as a clay figurine of a woman masturbating, dating from the 4th millennium BC, found in a temple in Malta. References to masturbation can also be found in ancient mythology as it was apparently thought to be an excellent way for deities to create stuff. For instance, in Sumerian mythology, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were created from the semen of the god Enki when he masturbated and ejaculated into their riverbeds. According to Egyptian mythology, the universe was created when the god Atum gave himself a helping hand.

According to the Greek philosopher Diogenes the Cynic (d. 323 BCE), the god Hermes sent the gift of masturbation down to his son Pan, who subsequently taught it to the shepherds. (I wonder how that ‘teaching’ went.) Despite condemnation by some religious folks of the Christian faith, nowhere in the Bible is masturbation explicitly forbidden. However, for some strange reason, the Catholic Church refers to the act as a “mortal sin”. It is not forbidden in the Quran either, but some Islamic scholars consider it to be haram (prohibited).

BIZARRE CLAIMS

Bizarre claims that masturbation can cause maladies such as blindness, hairy palms, and insanity have been disproven. Indeed, if that were true, I would have been a blind, hairy-palmed lunatic running amok in high school. But I was not, although I did start wearing glasses around that time and was a bit fidgety. But I digress.

If you self-pleasure, you are not alone in doing it alone. According to the TENGA 2018 Global Self-Pleasure Report, 78 per cent of adults in the world indulge, including 96 per cent of British men, 93 per cent of German men, 92 per cent of American men, and 78 per cent of British women, 76 per cent of German women, and 76 per cent of American women. The study also found that 57 per cent of millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) masturbate weekly, more likely than any other age group.

Masturbation has been found to be a part of healthy sexual development, and it does have several benefits. Self-pleasure can play a vital role in self-discovery and experiencing bodily autonomy and has been found to enhance the sex lives of those who practise it. By exploring our bodies, and identifying what brings us pleasure, it allows us to communicate our needs and preferences to our partners, guiding them to being more effective in pleasing us and increasing the intensity of sexual intercourse. For instance, a study published in 2015 in the Journal of Sex Education and Therapy found that women who masturbated had happier marriages compared with those who did not. And if the act is practised sometime before sexual intercourse, it can delay orgasm in men afflicted by premature ejaculation.

POSITIVELY AFFECT

Self-pleasure can also positively affect one’s mental health. Masturbatory orgasms alleviate stress by increasing the levels of “feel good” hormones such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, which counter stress-inducing cortisol levels and improve mood. It can also result in relaxation, which aids sleep. A 2022 study published in Sexuality & Culture found a higher frequency of masturbation to be associated with lower levels of body shame and body guilt as well as an enhanced appreciation for one’s body. More recently, a 2024 study published in the International Journal of Sexual Health found self-pleasure to be a helpful coping strategy in women.

Autoeroticism has positive physical effects, too. A study published in Neuroimmunomodulation in 2004 found that orgasm resulting from masturbation boosts the white blood cells that help fight infection, thereby bolstering the immune system. Self-pleasure can also reduce the severity of migraine headaches, and in women, it can decrease the pain of menstrual cramps. In men, it may lower prostate cancer risk.

Masturbation is safe and convenient. Unlike sexual intercourse, it is very unlikely to lead to pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. Your hands and toys will not stalk you, ghost you, behave differently after a sexual encounter, or have jealousy issues if you use a different hand. Solo sex is a valuable self-care tool. More honest and open conversations about the topic are desirable as these would be beneficial to counter the unnecessary stigma surrounding the act.

Michael Abrahams is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, social commentator, and human-rights advocate. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and michabe_1999@hotmail.com, or follow him on X , formerly Twitter, @mikeyabrahams