Many teenagers have this very question – is masturbation wrong? Does it affect puberty? Will masturbating daily – or masturbating at all – cause health problems? What is the truth when it comes to masturbation?

Dear Dan and Jennifer,

 

Is daily masturbation going to halt, alter or harm my progress through puberty? If so, how drastic is it and how long would I have had to been masturbating daily for it to have an effect?

 

–Anonymous

Old Wives Tales

You might have heard that masturbation can make you go blind. Or it might give you hairy palms, or even make you need glasses. There’s not one bit of truth to any of these claims – in fact, there are no medical problems that are caused by masturbation, even daily masturbation. In fact, masturbation is healthy for both men and women of all ages, especially those going through puberty. The extra hormones produced by your body during puberty cause you to want to satisfy your new sexual needs and urges, and it’s completely natural to do so. Masturbation is a healthy and not to mention safe way to satisfy those desires without worrying about pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Unfortunately, sex ed in this country is at a low – many adults are afraid to talk to their children about sex and masturbation, so children and teenagers growing up thinking masturbation is wrong and they’re “dirty” for doing it. Grow up people! Masturbation is healthy, safe and a natural way to satisfy those new desires that come with puberty.

How Much Is Too Much?

That said, it is possible that a person – teenager, adult, man or woman – can masturbate too much. Medically speaking, not so much. But what about when it starts interfering with your daily life? What happens if you’re making time in your day for masturbation (instead of just letting it happen naturally and satisfying the desire when it comes along and is convenient) or you’re masturbating 3 or 4 times a day? That’s when it starts crossing the line – and it’s not just masturbation. It can be anything, including television, books, video games or chat rooms. If you find that your daily life is being interrupted by these things – masturbation included – it might be a borderline obsession or addiction that you need to keep in check. Don’t be afraid to talk to a doctor or counselor if you find that you’re masturbating too much – with therapy, they can help you to find other outlets for your stress and extra sexual desires so you don’t feel the need to masturbate so much that it interferes with your daily life.

All in all, masturbation has no bearing on personal growth, puberty or your body at all medically and can, in fact, be healthy for you. We live in the era of the Internet, so don’t be afraid to Google masturbation and find out some good facts for yourself. Look them up on credible websites and keep an eye out for anything that sounds fishy – such as masturbation causing you to have leprosy. Even though the sex ed in this country is lacking, that doesn’t mean you can’t take the initiative to educate yourself! Be safe, smart and informed!