Masturbation Each Day Keeps the Doctor Away

You'll go blind, lose your strength, or grow hair on the palms of your hands. Those are just a few of the myths people used to tell about masturbation and health. Of course, most of us don't need medical science to tell us those just aren't true. What science does say about masturbation, however, is that it has a whole bunch of benefits for both men and women. Here's how a little self play can keep the doctor away.

The Benefits Are Nothing New

Got your masturbation prescription? Despite all the admonitions against it, it seems that doctors knew that a little five-finger fun was good for our health ... or at least women's health. In the 19^th century and earlier, women could visit the doctor or midwife for a nice, relaxing genital stimulation session to treat their "hysteria". And we should be thankful, because that era led to a lot of developments in vibrator technology to save those poor doctors from repetitive strain injury! (Read more about the history of vibrators in Vibrators: Bigger and Generating More Buzz Than Ever.)

Nowadays, we get to enjoy the latest technology when it comes to getting off. LELO's SONA uses sonic waves to stimulate deep into the clitoris, for mind-blowing orgasms in mere minutes!

It's Good for Your Body

Whether you’re male or female, masturbation is a fun way to stay in shape. It keeps your pelvic muscles in good condition, which in turn helps you avoid incontinence as well as enjoy more powerful orgasms. (Learn more about the importance of the pelvic muscles in For Better Orgasms, Flex This Muscle.)

For men, regular masturbation can make for stronger erections, and may help prevent prostate cancer. For women, it can alleviate menstrual cramps and speed up recovery from urinary tract infections.

Paying yourself some sexual attention also helps to boost your immune system and keeps you in good physical shape. It’s a form of exercise! Plus, the muscle relaxation you feel after an orgasm can help with short-term aches and pains, while the longer-term benefits include lowering your heart rate and blood pressure.

Masturbation and orgasm both burn calories, and the phenethylamine that floods into your bloodstream when you orgasm is an appetite suppressant, so it can even help you stay slim.

"The Masturbation Diet" - now there's a plan more people would be likely to stick to!

It’s Good for Your Brain

Can’t sleep? Start playing. Putting in a little selfie-time not only relaxes your muscles and warms your body, it also sparks the release of your nervous system's happy chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin. That means it’s a great natural way to beat insomnia - and get your beauty sleep.