Is Too Much Masturbation Dangerous? Can You Wank Too Much?

What happens when you hear the word masturbation? Do you blush, giggle, feel ashamed… or smile knowingly & contentedly to yourself? There are lots of myths and misinformation about masturbating, so I’m here to set the record straight. Is too much masturbation dangerous? Can you wank too much?

Long story short: although masturbation is definitely a private pleasure, it’s also nothing to feel guilty about and it doesn’t cause any harm. You’ll discover new & exciting ways to spice up your self-pleasure sessions at the end of this article too!

Can You Masturbate Too Much and Is Excessive Wanking Dangerous

What Is Masturbation?

Masturbation is the act of deriving sexual pleasure from touching your genitals (or other body areas which result in sexual pleasure for you). This might be done with your hand(s) or with accessories such as sex toys and other intimate use products. The term masturbation usually refers to pleasuring oneself, but you may also masturbate a partner –where you give them sexual stimulation with your hands or with sex accessories.

Can You Masturbate Too Much and Is Excessive Wanking DangerousPenis masturbation is usually done by moving hands up and down an erect penis, which is aided by using sex lubricant or masturbation cream. People with a vulva, clitoris and vagina might use their fingers (again, perhaps aided by using lube) to rub the clitoris until satisfied.

Other forms of masturbation include anal play, where anal-specific toys should be used as these have a flared base to stop them being pulled up into the body. Anal toys include static and vibrating butt plugs, anal beads and prostate massagers –for people who have a prostate, of course.

Although masturbation often leads to an orgasm, it doesn’t always –and it doesn’t have to. Masturbation is an enjoyable and relaxing activity whether you choose to finish with an orgasm or not. Even if you do have an orgasm, that may not signal the end of the solo or shared masturbation session. I feel it would be a positive step if people could move away from seeing orgasm as the ‘end goal’ or ‘finish line’ for any sexual pleasure session, as it would relieve a lot of the pressure people can feel to reach orgasm or give their partner an orgasm.

Why Do People Masturbate?

Can You Masturbate Too Much and Is Excessive Wanking DangerousMasturbation is often a person’s first ever sexual experience and explored during puberty, which is the time when our bodies change for adulthood and are flooded with hormones. Puberty is a time of a heightened awareness of our body in a sexual sense, as well as an awareness of and curiosity about sexuality as a whole.

From those first explorations, people may discover how exciting, enjoyable and relaxing masturbation can be, and it becomes something that a lot of adults engage in from time to time.

Masturbation keeps you in tune with your body, it helps with personal body positivity, self-confidence as well as relaxing you with the flood of endorphins should you choose to have an orgasm. It is a healthy part of many adults’ intimate lives.

Are There Any Rules?

There is no right or wrong way to masturbate, just make sure you follow safety precautions if you decide to use extra tools like sex toys and lubricant. The main rules to follow with toys and sex lubes are:

  • Don’t switch sex toys between anal and vaginal use, as you’ll likely transfer dangerous bacteria
  • Any toys used for anal exploration and stimulation must have a flared or otherwise anal-safe base
  • Only use sex toys which are made with body-safe and non-toxic materials (see my sex toy materials guide)
  • Ensure you’re using a compatible lubricant for your sex toy, and for your body (particularly relevant for those with a vagina –see my big guide to sex lubricants)
  • If at any point your masturbation session isn’t fun and pleasurable, stop.

Myths & Rumours: Masturbation Perception Over Time

Perhaps you’ve heard some myths pertaining to masturbation in the past. Let’s get the main ones out of the way.

  • Your palms will get hairy
  • You’ll go blind
  • Masturbating too often weakens your sperm & makes you infertile
  • God is watching, you’ll go to hell

I’m pleased to tell you that all of the above are complete and utter rubbish. With regards sperm count, any effect is temporary after your masturbation session – you’ll be back at typical sperm count for your age in a day or so.

Keep calm and have a wankGrowing up in Britain, I’ve been able to observe the British attitudes towards masturbation. It seems that there’s a long history of shame surrounding the act of masturbation, which has led to it being the source of some of our favourite insults – ‘wanker’ and ‘tosser’ being just two of them.

Penis-based masturbation here in Britain is called ‘wanking’, whereas vulval/clitoral/vaginal masturbation has been referred to as ‘frigging’ although you won’t hear that as frequently. An alternative, for clitoral stim in particular, is ‘flicking the bean’.

When I was growing up, I noticed more media/pop culture references about penis-based masturbation rather than vulval/clitoral/vaginal masturbation, which was a comparatively mysterious, almost secret affair. This changed over time with something of a sexual revolution, where terms like ‘female empowerment’ came to the forefront and we had that Sex & The City episode. Ann Summers home sex toy parties joyfully paraded various vibrators, including the famous Rampant Rabbits, for an explosion of vaginal/clitoral masturbation celebration.

Now, there seems to be a more positive spin placed on vulval/clitoral/vaginal masturbation than there is on penis-based masturbation. Sex toys for vaginal or clitoral use are known about (and sometimes even waved about, if you’re at a particularly raucous Hen Do), whereas penis strokers such as Fleshlights have an inexplicable seedy reputation, like they’re products people should be ashamed of buying or using.

How Often Is Normal? What Would Be Excessive?

Firstly, you don’t have to masturbate at all if you don’t want to, or if you’ve tried and it just isn’t for you. There’s nothing wrong with you if masturbation isn’t your thing.

Perhaps it is specifically not masturbating, either on your own through choice and will power, or with the ‘help’ of a third party like a partner, Dominant, owner or Keyholder, that you prefer and psychologically ‘get off’ on. You can read more about orgasm control and denial kinks in my chastity advice area.

When it comes to how much masturbation is normal, it really depends how you’re defining normal. Are you comparing your masturbating frequency to the average from all the masturbators round the world? Or meaning normal as in within the typical scope of life as an adult human who masturbates? By default, then, your masturbation habits will be ‘normal’.

Kinx Aqua Slix Cooling Water-Based Lubricant ReviewStill worried that you’re masturbating too much? Think about the specific side-effects which are causing you to worry. Masturbation doesn’t cause any harm, whether mentally or physically, even if you masturbate a lot. Obviously, you can develop soreness and chafing if you masturbate loads in a short amount of time. Using a great quality lubricant can help with this.

If you masturbate so often that you’re physically damaging yourself despite using lube, or you’re unable to fulfil everyday responsibilities and obligations in life, I would recommend seeking specialist advice from a doctor or therapist.

Research & Findings

Time for some numbers!

The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior reported some interesting findings in 2014:

  • Just under 25% of women aged 18-39 masturbated between once a week & a few times a month. 10% masturbated twice or more per week.
  • Just over 25% of men ages 18-39 masturbated on a weekly basis. Another 25% masturbated twice or more per week.

These are self-reported figures, although they’re anonymous, but it’s worthwhile considering that any residual stigma or shame about masturbation could have skewed these figures.

Can You Masturbate Too Much and Is Excessive Wanking Dangerous

In 2019, TENGA conducted a Self-Pleasure Report in the USA. This revealed that amongst people who masturbated (84% of Americans), 60% masturbated at least once a week. 23% masturbated just once a month. Just under 75% of respondents considered masturbation a form of self-care.

Explore results from the 2017 UK-based TENGA survey here.

Benefits Of Masturbation

Masturbation doesn’t just feel good, there are some physical and psychological benefits to masturbating too.

  • Can You Masturbate Too Much and Is Excessive Wanking DangerousMay help lower the risk of prostate cancer
  • Relieves stress
  • Eases menstrual cramps
  • Can improve your sleep
  • No risk of pregnancy or STIs
  • Helps you understand your body better, from a physical stimulation point of view
  • Increases heart rate & boosts circulation
  • Relieves sexual frustration, which could be affecting other areas of life
  • Harmless, guilt-free pleasure which doubles as self-care
  • Helps keep your sex drive ticking over, your libido stoked
  • Can lead to the discovery of new sexual fantasies, whether you share those with a partner or simply enjoy learning more about these intimate parts of your psyche

All the above –and masturbation doesn’t have to cost a penny!

How To Spice Up Your Self-Pleasure Sessions

As well as adding lubricant to aid glide and provide additional comfort, sex toys are a great way to spice up masturbation sessions. Using a product specifically for intimate stimulation will allow you to experience a range of different sensations to when you just use fingers and hands. For example, there are vaginal dildos and vibrators, clitoral stimulators, penis strokers, prostate massagers and various anal play toys.

Some sex toys offer additional benefits to sexual pleasure, such as stamina training, longer lasting erections and even being able to achieve an erection for those struggling with erectile dysfunction. For those who have never experienced an orgasm through the conventional methods of manual masturbation and/or sex with a partner, finding an effective sex toy for you could help you achieve your very first climax.

Related: Vibrators For Newbies,
and my review of the Sinclair Select Silicone Dilators Set

My Top Sex Toy Recommendations

Here are my personal favourites:

Vaginal Stimulation

Hot Octopuss Kurve G-Spot Vibrator

Hot Octopuss Kurve G-Spot Vibrator Review

shop now buttonEnjoy all our vibrator reviews

Lovehoney Silicone G-Spot Dildo

Lovehoney Silicone G-Spot Suction Cup Dildo Review 7 Inch

Shop: USA | UK | Europe | Canada | Australia | New Zealand

Enjoy all our dildo reviews

Clitoral Stimulation

Zumio Clitoral Stimulator

Zumio X Spirotip Clitoral Vibrator Review

Lovehoney X Love Not War Meile Clit Vibrator

Can You Masturbate Too Much and Is Excessive Wanking Dangerous

Shop: USA | UK | Europe | Canada | Australia | New Zealand

Loving Joy Power Bullet

Loving Joy Power Bullet Vibrator Pink Review

shop now button

Discover more great clit stim toys in my guide to bullet vibrators
& my guide to magic wand vibrators

Penis Stimulation

Hot Octopuss Pulse Solo Lux

Hot Octopuss Pulse Solo Lux Review

shop now button

Fleshlight STU (Stamina Training Unit)

Fleshlight Pink Lady Stamina Training Unit STU Review

Shop: USA | UK | Europe | Canada | Australia | New Zealand

Enjoy all our penis stroker reviews

Prostate Massage

Nexus Revo Stealth

Nexus Revo Stealth Prostate Massager Review

Shop: USA | UK | Europe | Canada | Australia | New Zealand

Aneros Helix Syn

Can You Masturbate Too Much and Is Excessive Wanking Dangerous

Shop: USA | UK | Europe | Canada | Australia | New Zealand

Enjoy all our prostate massager reviews
& get more info in our prostate massage 101

Anal Play

Lovense Hush App-Controlled Vibrating Butt Plug

Can You Masturbate Too Much and Is Excessive Wanking Dangerous

Shop: USA | UK | Europe | Canada | Australia | New Zealand

Lovehoney Classic Slimline Butt Plug

Can You Masturbate Too Much and Is Excessive Wanking Dangerous

Shop: USA | UK | Europe | Canada | Australia | New Zealand

Enjoy all our butt plug reviews
& get more info in my beginner’s guide to anal sex toys

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about masturbation, and that this article has given you peace of mind about your personal masturbation habits -whatever they may be.

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Can You Masturbate Too Much and Is Excessive Wanking Dangerous

Sources & Further Reading

NHS: Is Masturbation Normal?

Web MD: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Male Masturbation

Healthline: How Do I Know If I’m Masturbating Too Much?

Bustle: How Much Masturbation Is Normal?

ISSM Info: What Is The Normal Frequency Of Masturbation?

SFGate: How Often Is Normal For Masturbation?

 

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