Masturbation is generally safe and has no serious medical consequences for most people. The side effects that do exist tend to come from technique, intensity, or frequency rather than the act itself. Understanding what’s real and what’s myth can help you separate normal experiences from ones worth paying attention to.
Skin Irritation and Minor Injury
The most common physical side effect is simple friction. Masturbating too roughly or without enough lubrication can cause chafing, tender skin, or minor irritation. For people with a penis, swelling can occur after masturbating multiple times in a short window. For people with a vulva, scented lotions or oils can irritate sensitive tissue and, if bacteria from the anal area is introduced, vaginal infections can develop.
These issues are temporary and resolve on their own with a break. Using a water-based lubricant and avoiding harsh products prevents most of them entirely.
Reduced Sexual Sensitivity
One of the more meaningful side effects involves desensitization from repetitive, high-pressure techniques. This is sometimes called “death grip syndrome,” a colloquial term for what researchers refer to as traumatic masturbatory syndrome (TMS). It happens when someone consistently uses very firm pressure, intense speed, or unusual positioning (like masturbating face-down against a mattress or pillow) and their nervous system adapts to respond only to that specific type of stimulation.
Over time, this conditioning can make it harder to reach orgasm during partnered sex, where sensations are different and less intense. TMS is associated with erectile dysfunction, delayed ejaculation, premature ejaculation, and difficulty reaching orgasm. The good news is that it responds well to treatment. A combination of temporary abstinence, mindfulness, and gradually reintroducing new types of stimulation has been shown to help. Pelvic floor therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy have also proven effective.
Pelvic Floor Strain
Vigorous or very frequent masturbation can place excessive strain on the pelvic floor, the group of muscles that supports your bladder, bowels, and sexual organs. Repetitive, forceful movements can lead to muscle imbalances or overactivation in this area. Applying heavy pressure to the perineum (the spot between the genitals and anus) can also affect nearby nerves and blood vessels.
When pelvic floor dysfunction develops, symptoms can include pelvic pain, discomfort during sex, urinary urgency, or constipation. Pelvic floor physical therapists report that the patients they see with these issues typically have a pattern of very high frequency masturbation or unusual positioning during the act. Adjusting technique and working with a pelvic floor therapist resolves most cases.
What Happens in Your Brain
During arousal and orgasm, your brain goes through a cascade of chemical changes. Activity in the frontal cortex drops, which reduces feelings of fear and anxiety. The brain releases oxytocin, which dampens cortisol (your primary stress hormone), along with endorphins that act as natural painkillers and create a sense of well-being. Endocannabinoids, another group of brain chemicals, sharpen your focus on rewarding sensations.
After orgasm, serotonin and prolactin flood the brain, triggering what researchers describe as a “rest and well-being” phase. This is why many people feel relaxed or sleepy afterward. For most people, these chemical shifts are a net positive: better sleep, temporary pain relief, and reduced stress. But there’s a flip side worth knowing about.
Post-Orgasm Sadness and Guilt
Some people experience an unexpected wave of sadness, anxiety, or irritability after orgasm. This is a recognized phenomenon called postcoital dysphoria (PCD), and it’s more common than most people realize. In one study, 46% of female respondents reported experiencing PCD symptoms at least once in their lifetime, with about 5% experiencing it within the previous four weeks.
The causes are thought to be a mix of factors. The rapid hormonal shift after orgasm plays a role, and genetics appear to account for roughly 26% to 28% of the variation in post-orgasm emotional symptoms like irritability and unexplained crying. A history of childhood sexual abuse was the strongest psychological predictor in research. Cultural and religious messaging around masturbation can also create feelings of shame or guilt that surface most intensely right after the act, when the brain’s reward chemicals are dropping off.
If you regularly feel distressed after masturbating, that pattern is worth exploring with a therapist, particularly if it connects to broader anxiety or past experiences.
Effects on Testosterone
A persistent concern is whether masturbation lowers testosterone. Research in men under 27 found no long-term reduction in testosterone levels from masturbation. There’s actually a brief spike in testosterone right after orgasm, but it settles back to baseline quickly. Interestingly, one study found that abstaining from ejaculation for three weeks led to a temporary rise in testosterone, but this doesn’t mean masturbation suppresses it. Baseline levels remain stable regardless of masturbation habits.
Impact on Partnered Sex
The relationship between masturbation frequency and partnered sexual satisfaction is more nuanced than people expect, and the effects differ by sex. For single women, more frequent masturbation is associated with better orgasmic function and higher sexual satisfaction. But for women in relationships, the pattern reverses: higher masturbation frequency correlates with lower orgasmic function and less sexual satisfaction with a partner.
For men in relationships, frequent masturbation is linked to longer-lasting intercourse but also to worse orgasmic function, lower intercourse satisfaction, more symptoms of delayed ejaculation, and reduced desire. In both sexes, sexual incompatibility with a partner is associated with increased masturbation frequency, suggesting the relationship often runs in both directions: unsatisfying partnered sex drives more solo activity, and more solo activity can further shift expectations and responsiveness.
When Frequency Becomes a Problem
There’s no specific number of times per week that qualifies as “too much.” The World Health Organization recognizes compulsive sexual behavior disorder as an impulse control condition in its diagnostic guidelines, though mental health professionals still debate exactly where the line falls. The key markers aren’t about frequency alone but about consequences: whether masturbation is interfering with your daily responsibilities, relationships, work, or emotional well-being, and whether you feel unable to stop despite wanting to.
If masturbation feels compulsive or is causing real problems in your life, that pattern sometimes overlaps with other mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or impulse control disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common treatment approach.
Myths That Aren’t Real
Masturbation does not cause blindness, hair loss, infertility, or physical weakness. The hair loss myth likely stems from the idea that semen is protein-rich and ejaculation depletes the body. While semen does contain about 5 grams of protein per 100 milliliters, a typical ejaculation is only 3.3 to 3.7 milliliters, a trivially small amount. There is no evidence that masturbation raises DHT, the hormone actually linked to hair loss.
On the positive side of the ledger, a large Harvard study found that men who ejaculated 21 or more times per month had a 31% lower risk of prostate cancer compared to men who ejaculated 4 to 7 times per month. A separate analysis found that men averaging roughly 5 to 7 ejaculations per week were 36% less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 70.