Running into the odd erection problem is hardly any cause for immediate concern. It happens.
However, when you’re often unable to produce or keep an erection going on long enough for sexual activity, then you might just have erectile dysfunction (ED) – a condition that you might want to get checked sooner rather than later.
Fortunately, ED isn’t rare at all – in fact, it affects as many as 150 million people worldwide. Plenty of factors are involved in the development of ED, such as lifestyle, psychological and emotional factors, sleep hygiene, and stress, to name a few.
However, one of the most common questions we get about this common condition is as follows: “Does masturbation cause ED?”
In a nutshell, the answer is an emphatic “no.”
For as long as you employ the proper technique, masturbation won’t be detrimental to your penile or sexual health.
Masturbation, in and of itself, isn’t a known link to ED under any existing piece of scientific research on the subject.
On the contrary, regular masturbation may actually be good for you.
The misguided belief that masturbating causes ED is just another myth, just like many tall tales about masturbation and other sexual conditions.
Getting ED medication has never been easier
Connect with a US-licensed healthcare provider for a FREE evaluation!
Free Express
Shipping
Discreet
Shipping
No Waiting
Rooms
Does any evidence link ED to masturbation?
Again, we have to reiterate: no evidence exists to support the claim that engaging in solo play affects your sexual performance.
There is, however, some evidence indicating that there might be secondary effects arising from masturbation that may lead to ED.
For instance, according to the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, there may be some evidence between masturbation-induced guilt and ED.
But the biggest predictor of ED incidence according to the Cleveland Clinic is age. According to a 2016 review published in the Behavioral Sciences journal, ED incidence in younger men can be linked to the abundance of porn and the high standards of arousal that accompany its consumption.
That said, too much of anything is bad for you – and excessive masturbation may affect your sexual performance and stamina when you’ve been jacking off before engaging in sexual activity.
See, every time a man ejaculates, there is a recovery period known as the refractory phase, where a man cannot be aroused, and when stimulation doesn’t work as well as it should.
In fact, during the refractory period, you might not be able to produce an erection at all.
The length of the refractory period may vary in length depending on a variety of factors such as age and current state of health. Some men may only need to recover for several minutes (we all can only be so lucky). Other men may take several hours to a full day to recover fully after climaxing and ejaculation.
Here’s an important corollary: while “self-service” doesn’t directly lead to ED, masturbating just before engaging in sexual activity may hinder your performance in the bedroom due to your refractory period.
That said, it’s all about planning around your solo play sessions and resisting the urge to practice onanism just a couple of hours or so before your intimate time with your partner. Self-restraint is the key.
What are other common triggers for ED?
Porn consumption is a known trigger for ED in younger adults. But there are plenty more health issues that can cause or exacerbate ED symptoms ranging from the emotional to the physical.
Ultimately, healthy erections are a product of efficient blood flow and sufficient sexual arousal. Arousal triggers brain impulses and that causes the muscles and blood vessels in the penis to dilate and widen for greater blood flow to produce an erection. Fibrous membranes in the penis prevent the blood from flowing out of the penis, allowing your penis to get hard and firm for sexual activity.
Every time there’s a hitch in this process – either as a result of poor blood circulation or inadequate arousal – is where erectile dysfunction occurs.
Physical ED causes range from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and trauma that affects the nerves in the penile region.
Such conditions can hamper blood circulation and nerve sensitivity in your male parts.
Moreover, lifestyle choices and habits that can be harmful to your physical health are risk factors contributing or worsening ED.
For instance, individuals with ED are at a higher risk of developing sexual dysfunctions when they live sedentary lifestyles, smoke, drink, consume recreational drugs, or are otherwise overweight or obese.
On the other hand, medicines such as antidepressants, barbiturates, appetite suppressants, and certain antihypertensive drugs are known to cause ED as a side effect.
Lastly, psychological and emotional factors can contribute to ED, such as shame, guilt, low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety about sexual performance.
Getting ED medication has never been easier
Connect with a US-licensed healthcare provider for a FREE evaluation!
Free Express
Shipping
Discreet
Shipping
No Waiting
Rooms
The final word on masturbation and erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is expected to affect over 350 million men by the year 2025. It’s a prevalent condition affecting scores of men around the world. 30 million men in the United States, for instance, have been diagnosed with ED.
One thing is for sure though: masturbation is absolutely NOT the cause.
If you’ve been diagnosed with or suspect that you might have ED, know that there are a variety of effective approaches to treat your condition and allow you to enjoy a healthy, satisfying sex life.
Medicines such as sildenafil and tadalafil, and their related PDE5 inhibitor ED medications, are highly effective first-line treatments for ED. They work by boosting blood flow to the penis, helping you produce and maintain an erection when you’re aroused and ready to engage in sexual activity. Alternatively, therapy and lifestyle changes, or a combination of medicine and these other approaches may be prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Know that you can beat ED, and yes – you CAN beat your meat knowing that solo play doesn’t cause it.
