How much masturbation is too much? Here’s when it might be a problem

Flogging yourself off is a perfectly healthy way of relieving stress and cleaning out the old pipes, but you’d be amazed at how many still believe it’s an unhealthy habit. It’s why several state governments have run campaigns in recent years promoting the benefits of masturbation, including improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and stress relief [1]. 

But how much masturbation is too much masturbation?

There is such a thing as too much masturbation, but drawing the line isn’t always that straightforward. In this guide, we explore what overdoing it looks like and the effects of overly frequent masturbation.

Is there such a thing as too much masturbation?

It’s possible to masturbate too much, but not due to the risk of adverse health effects or the risk of disease. Frequent masturbation becomes a problem when it starts interfering with your daily life and becomes a compulsive behaviour. Overall, the physical act of masturbation is harmless and a natural part of being human [2].

According to the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships, 72% of men reported masturbating in the past year, with over half saying they masturbated in the past month [3]. So, as a bloke, you’re just doing what blokes do.

The difficulty is defining what too much masturbation looks like. It’s a picture that differs based on your age, personality, and whether you’re what’s called hypersexual. Typically, the rule of thumb is that if it’s stopping you from seeing your mates, getting in the way of work, or your doodle feels like a sausage sizzle, it’s probably time to have a think.

How often do most men masturbate?

Your average man masturbates about two to three times a week [4]. Likewise, adolescents tend to explore masturbatory practices reasonably early, with one study finding that 58.5% of Australian adolescents admitted to having masturbated [5].

However, you can’t measure self-pleasure by arbitrary numbers. Not everyone has the same sex drive or need to crack one out. Someone with a high sex drive might need to masturbate four or five times a week, whereas someone with a low sex drive might be happy with once a week.

Men are still likelier than women to get into a solo play session, though. One study found that 65% of men masturbate alone, compared to 38% of women [6].

What happens when you masturbate too much? 

Masturbating too much can cause physical effects, like chafing, and mental and emotional effects, including guilt.

What masturbation won’t cause is any of these age-old myths:

• Blindness
• Hairy palms
• Impotence
• Penis shrinkage
• Mental illness
• Muscle weakness

And, again, what counts as “too much” will vary based on who you are as a person. It’s about finding a healthy balance. Still, it’s a good idea to be aware of the potential side effects of overly frequent flogging.

Physical side effects of excessive masturbation

The physical side effects of excessive masturbation are not permanent and self-correcting. If you masturbate too much, the main side effects you might experience include:

• Skin irritation.
• Temporary swelling.
• Decreased sensitivity.

Frequent ejaculation isn't going to cause any particular disease or lead to permanent sexual impairment with your partner, so there's nothing to worry about on this front.

Mental and emotional effects of excessive masturbation

Much of the sexual pleasure from masturbation is in the impact on your mental and emotional states. Of course, there’s another side to that, with excessive masturbation potentially leading to [7]:

• Feelings of guilt and shame.
• Compulsive sexual behaviours.
• Increased mood changes.
• Warped sense of healthy intimacy.

These feelings are often less about the issue of masturbation itself but about other mental health issues that may be helped through therapy with a licensed health professional. The normal practice shouldn't be a trigger for negative feelings, but there is the potential for it to worsen existing mental health problems.

Can masturbation affect your sex life or performance?

Some blokes are worried that masturbating will impact their ability to perform in the bedroom. The truth is that more frequent masturbation was actually associated with better erectile function but worse orgasmic function and intercourse satisfaction [8].

In short, healthy masturbation is beneficial, but excessive masturbation can cause some minor adverse effects. These can mainly be pinned down to a loss of sensitivity, becoming too used to yourself, and other underlying psychological factors.

What it’s not going to cause is sexual dysfunction. In fact, new research finds that masturbation compensates for unmet sexual desire, which is why it’s not uncommon for coupled men to still partake on occasion [9].

Does frequent masturbation cause Erectile Dysfunction (ED) or Premature Ejaculation (PE)?

In a word, no. Frequent masturbation has long been associated with both ED and PE, but the actual evidence that masturbation causes or worsens either of these sexual dysfunction issues is weak at best.

In terms of ED, a comprehensive study found that masturbation frequency and watching porn showed either weak or no association with erectile function, ED severity, or even how satisfied you are with your relationship [10].

If we go over to the opposite side of the spectrum, the story is much the same. A range of factors can cause PE, but masturbation isn’t cited as one of them. Instead, PE is usually linked to issues like relationship issues, performance anxiety, and mental health issues [11].

In short, excessive masturbation might not be the best use of your time, but it’s not going to lead to any acquired PE or ED problems later down the line.

What counts as masturbation addiction?

We’ve already discussed that excessive masturbation is in the eye of the beholder, but is there such a thing as masturbation addiction? In the past, we might call it that, but it falls under a whole umbrella of sex addiction, or “Compulsive sexual behaviour disorder.”

In the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases, compulsive sexual behaviour disorder was added for the first time [12]. It does list masturbation as an example of activities that could count as part of sexual addiction, but it’s controversial.

That’s because many psychologists say that hypersexuality isn’t always a mental issue, like a lack of impulse control, but an above-average sex drive or a conflict between one’s moral code, such as religious or spiritual beliefs.

It’s why you’ll still get a lot of doctors who don’t necessarily agree on the idea of masturbation addiction as a valid diagnosis. Plus, as we talked about before, there’s no firm line for what even counts as too much masturbation. It's why, historically, it's been so difficult to get a diagnosis for sex addiction generally.

Men’s health – How to find a healthy balance with your masturbation habits

Just as there’s no strict line for excessive masturbation, there’s no magic number for what counts as a healthy balance, either. It’s a personal process, where the goal is to find that sweet spot that’s comfortable and harmless, rather than a drain on your daily life.

Firstly, ask the question whether you need to reassess anything at all. What you think is masturbating frequently in everyday life might be perfectly normal if we're comparing averages among the population. The signs that it might be time to change your habits include:

• It feels uncontrollable or compulsive when you're alone.
• It’s interfering with your daily routine.
• It’s hurting your relationships, such as replacing partnered sex or encouraging you to disengage from your social life.
• It’s causing physical damage, such as chafing.

Seeking balance in your life means changing your mindset. Prioritise those human connections by focusing on socialising and strengthening your relationships. This can help reduce the triggers that might be driving excessive masturbation, such as anxiety, stress, boredom, and loneliness.

Believe it or not, your physical health plays an enormous role in sexual tension as well. Regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and switching to a better diet are all things that can help and support you in making you a better version of yourself by improving your physical and mental well-being. 

When to talk to a doctor about sexual health

Struggling to cut back on masturbation on your own isn’t an admission of weakness but a moment of strength where you admit you need some extra tools to finish the job. Sexual difficulties are incredibly common, with about half of all men reporting at least one, and frequent or compulsive masturbation is one of them [13].

The time to take action is when you believe that an issue is preventing you from enjoying a healthy, fulfilling sex life, whether alone or with someone else. Working with a medical professional can unlock clinician-led tools like Pilot’s ED treatment, sex therapy, mental health counselling, and more.

But the first step is admitting that you need that extra bit of support to become the best possible version of yourself. Speak to your doctor and start the process today.

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