Sexual health is an under-discussed topic. It’s important to be armed with the facts when dealing with it and face up to some hard truths. With that in mind, let’s talk about masturbation and its associated dangers. Now, we want to start off by assuring you that touching yourself ‘down there’ is perfectly normal and even has some health benefits. But it’s not all fun and games. There are disadvantages and health dangers too. And you need to know about them.

The release of hormones and endorphins after climax has been proven to decrease stress and anxiety levels in women. And regular ejaculation is a great way to fight off prostate cancer for men. But there are risks involved in self love too.

We’re going to run through some of the main things to be aware of and watch out for. So sit back, zip your pants back up and learn…

The dangers of masturbating for men include:

Skin problems – The friction from excessive masturbation can toughen up the skin at the tip of the penis and affect sensitivity. Uncircumcised men can also get some tears on the foreskin which can be very painful and scar over.

Frenulum issues – The ‘frenulum’ is better known as ‘The Banjo String’ and can snap if pulled on too aggressively or frequently. Blood loss, pain and long periods of not being able to even touch the penis for months usually follow.

Broken penis – While there isn’t an actual ‘bone’ in the male member, there is an inner core called the ‘corpus cavernosum’. And it can be snapped just like a bone is certain circumstances…

DEATH! Autoerotic asphyxiation accounts for one in every 2,000,000 deaths in Western countries every year. Risky ‘chokeplay’ alone is not advisable.

The dangers and potential hazards of female masturbation:

Skin abrasions – As with men, an excess of friction will cause small burns and be very uncomfortable. Healing is difficult in intimate, warm areas too.

Internal bleeding – In 2011, a Californian woman sued a love toy producing company, Pipedream Products, after she experienced sharp vaginal pain and severe bleeding cause by a defective product. It happens.

DEATH! (as well). Yep, sorry girls. You don’t get away with it. Autoerotic asphyxiation kills women too (albeit far less). But an even scarier worry? Last year, a woman died after having  ‘hidden hemorrhagic shock’ and a heart attack brought on by what her doctors called ‘spontaneous rupture of the left common iliac artery’. The cause? Overly aggressive use of a love toy…

But it’s not just the physical factors that mean that excessive masturbating can be detrimental to your wellbeing. It can affect your mental state and relationships too.

A recent survey by Morningside Recovery addiction facility in California came up with some very illuminating – and surprising – results. They surveyed more than 1,000 men and women (63% of respondents were women). Here’s what they found out about people’s habits:

– Apparently 20.4% of people masturbate at least three or more times per day!

– Thankfully only 1.4% of those asked said they masturbate more than 10 times per day.

– The majority of people (79.6%) masturbate between 0 and 2 times per day.

– 57.8% of those asked were not ashamed about their habits, 18.3% were ‘extremely ashamed’ and 23.8% reported being ‘only slightly ashamed’.

– 45.4% said that masturbation has caused problems in their relationship.

What does that tell us? Well, almost half of people feel guilty about their secret habit. And a similar number think that it’s had a negative impact on their private life with their partner. Feelings of shame and impact on relationships are not good for the human psyche. It can cause stress and anxiety and then you have to deal with all the associated health risks that those two things bring.

Enjoying your own body is perfectly natural and normal. But, as with everything in life, it’s best enjoyed in moderation. So, to keep your downstairs business in good working order and your mental wellbeing in check, have fun. But don’t go crazy, okay?