Most men between 18 and 59 masturbate somewhere between a few times per month and a few times per week. About a quarter fall in the “few times per month to weekly” range, roughly 20% do so two to three times per week, and fewer than 20% masturbate more than four times a week. There’s no single “normal” number, and frequency varies widely depending on age, relationship status, stress levels, and individual sex drive.
Frequency by Age Group
The most comprehensive data comes from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, conducted through Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute. Among men aged 18 to 59, the distribution breaks down roughly into thirds: those who masturbate occasionally (a few times per month or less), those who do so regularly (two to three times per week), and a smaller group who masturbate four or more times per week.
Age plays a clear role. Younger men, particularly those in their late teens and twenties, tend to report higher frequencies. Older men are more likely to report no masturbation at all over the previous year. This decline tracks with natural changes in testosterone levels and sexual drive, though plenty of men remain sexually active well into their 60s and beyond.
Rates Have Increased Over Time
Masturbation has become more common over the past two decades, at least based on survey data. A large British population study found that the percentage of men who reported masturbating in the past month rose from 73.4% in the early 2000s to 77.5% by 2010 to 2012. That survey, known as the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, tracked over 26,000 people across both time periods. Researchers attribute part of the increase to reduced stigma around self-reporting and part to greater access to sexual content online.
Health Effects of Regular Masturbation
Masturbation triggers a hormonal cascade that has measurable short-term effects on the body. After orgasm, levels of prolactin rise substantially and stay elevated for over an hour. Prolactin promotes relaxation and drowsiness, which is one reason many men find it easier to fall asleep afterward. The body also releases oxytocin during sexual activity, a hormone associated with reduced anxiety. Animal research has shown that oxytocin released during sexual activity can lower anxiety-related behavior for up to four hours.
The longer-term health picture is also worth noting. A well-known study from Harvard tracked tens of thousands of men over nearly two decades and found that those who ejaculated 21 or more times per month had a 31% lower risk of prostate cancer compared to men who ejaculated four to seven times per month. This doesn’t prove masturbation prevents cancer, but it does suggest that regular ejaculation, from any source, is associated with lower risk.
When Frequency Becomes a Problem
There is no clinical threshold where masturbation becomes “too much” based purely on a number. The line isn’t about frequency per week. It’s about whether the behavior is interfering with your daily life, your responsibilities, or your relationships. If you’re skipping work, avoiding social situations, or choosing masturbation over intimacy with a partner to the point where the relationship suffers, that pattern is worth paying attention to.
Some men develop a reliance on very specific stimulation patterns during masturbation that make it harder to reach orgasm with a partner. This is sometimes called delayed ejaculation, and it can usually be addressed by varying technique or reducing the intensity of grip. It’s a common and reversible issue, not a sign of permanent damage.
How Relationships Affect Frequency
Being in a relationship doesn’t necessarily mean men masturbate less. Many men in committed partnerships continue to masturbate regularly alongside a healthy sex life. Research from the Cleveland Clinic notes that people who masturbate within relationships often report higher sexual desire, more orgasms during partnered sex, and greater overall satisfaction. Masturbation and partnered sex aren’t in competition with each other for most people.
That said, context matters. If one partner feels replaced or neglected, the frequency itself isn’t the issue so much as the balance between solo and shared intimacy. Open communication about expectations tends to resolve most of these tensions before they become real problems.
What “Normal” Actually Means
The honest answer is that anywhere from zero to daily falls within the range that large surveys have documented. Some men never masturbate and feel perfectly fine. Others do so every day without any negative effects. The average clusters around a few times per week for younger men and tapers off with age, but averages obscure enormous individual variation. If it feels good, isn’t causing problems in your life, and isn’t the only way you cope with stress or negative emotions, your frequency is almost certainly fine.