The vast majority of men masturbate. Surveys consistently show that roughly 78 to 96 percent of men have masturbated at least once in their lifetime, depending on the population studied. A study published in Fertility and Sterility found that 21.6% of men reported never masturbating, meaning about 4 in 5 men in that sample had done so at some point. Among younger and middle-aged men, the numbers skew even higher.
How Prevalence Changes With Age
Masturbation is most common in younger adulthood and gradually becomes less frequent with age, though it remains widespread across all age groups. Data from the International Society for Sexual Medicine breaks down frequency among men aged 18 to 59: about a quarter masturbated a few times per month to weekly, roughly 20% masturbated two to three times per week, and just under 20% masturbated more than four times a week. That leaves a smaller group who reported doing so rarely or not at all in the previous year.
Older men are more likely to report no masturbation during the past year. This doesn’t necessarily mean interest disappears. Declining hormone levels, medication side effects, and changes in sexual health all play a role. But even among men over 60, a significant portion continue to masturbate regularly.
What Counts as a “Normal” Frequency
There is no medically defined normal frequency. Some men masturbate daily, others a few times a month, and some rarely or never. All of these patterns fall within the range that researchers observe in healthy populations. The only point where frequency becomes a clinical concern is when it interferes with daily responsibilities, relationships, or causes physical irritation.
Frequency also shifts depending on relationship status. Men in partnered relationships tend to masturbate less often than single men, but the majority of partnered men still do. Sexual activity with a partner and solo masturbation aren’t mutually exclusive for most people.
Effects on Hormones
One of the most persistent myths is that masturbation lowers testosterone. It doesn’t. A 2020 study measured testosterone, cortisol, and prolactin before, during, and after masturbation. Testosterone rose significantly at the point of ejaculation and returned to pre-ejaculation levels within 10 minutes. There was no lasting drop.
What does change more noticeably is prolactin. Research published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews found that prolactin levels rise substantially after orgasm and stay elevated for over an hour. This hormone is linked to the feeling of satisfaction and reduced arousal that follows orgasm. It’s essentially the body’s built-in cooldown signal, and it’s the same whether orgasm occurs through masturbation or partnered sex.
The Prostate Cancer Connection
One of the more striking findings in this area comes from the Harvard Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which tracked over 29,000 men starting in 1986. Men who reported 21 or more ejaculations per month had a 31% lower risk of prostate cancer compared to men who ejaculated four to seven times per month. The study collected data across different life stages, from ages 20 to 29 through middle age and beyond, and the pattern held consistently.
This doesn’t prove that ejaculation directly prevents prostate cancer. Men who ejaculate more frequently may also differ in other health behaviors. But the association is strong enough that researchers consider regular ejaculation a plausible protective factor, possibly because it helps clear the prostate of potentially harmful substances over time.
Sleep, Stress, and Mood
The hormonal shifts that follow orgasm have practical effects most men recognize intuitively. The prolactin surge contributes to drowsiness, which is why many men find masturbation helps them fall asleep. The temporary rise and fall of cortisol (a stress hormone) during arousal and orgasm mimics a mild stress-release cycle, similar to what happens during exercise. Many men report using masturbation as a way to manage stress, unwind before bed, or simply regulate mood. These aren’t placebo effects. They reflect measurable hormonal changes that influence how alert or relaxed you feel in the hour after orgasm.
Why the Numbers Vary Between Surveys
If you search for masturbation statistics, you’ll find a wide range of figures. Some surveys report that over 95% of men have masturbated; others put it closer to 78%. The gap comes down to how the question is asked, who is being surveyed, and cultural context. Anonymous online surveys tend to produce higher numbers than face-to-face interviews. Studies conducted in more sexually conservative populations report lower rates. Age range matters too: a survey of 20-year-olds will look very different from one that includes men over 70.
Self-reporting bias is the biggest factor. Masturbation still carries stigma in many cultures, and some men underreport. Researchers generally consider lifetime prevalence figures on the lower end to be underestimates. The most consistent takeaway across decades of data is that masturbation is a near-universal behavior among men, with only a small minority reporting they have never done it.