There are many myths when it comes to male (and even female) masturbation. Some old wives tales continue to circulate, such as the myth that men get hairy palms or go blind if they masturbate. Fortunately, most of us have been able to sort out the truth from the lies, but some questions aren’t so bogus – what about masturbation, fertility and erections? What are the facts?

Many men want to know – does masturbation reduce fertility in men? Does it affect their ability to have an erection? Watch this video for the answer…

The Straight Facts

Masturbation does not reduce fertility in men. This is a common misconception, but a generally a man’s testicles are able to reproduce sperm at a high rate. Frequent masturbation, such as daily masturbation or masturbation more than once a day, may temporarily reduce sperm count, but won’t affect fertility in the long term. Masturbation, especially during the teen years, won’t affect a man’s fertility at all in his life, although there are other factors (such as which type of underwear are worn) may affect fertility temporarily. Other things that can affect sperm count are exercise and medications. If you’re concerned about your fertility, see a doctor to discuss your lifestyle and daily habits to find out which ones are most conducive to being fertile.

Masturbation And Erectile Dysfunction

Masturbation also does not affect a man’s ability to get an erection, now or later in life. In fact, masturbation can help with sexual relief and can sometimes help with impotency (practicing getting an erection and finding out what is arousing), and even frequent masturbation won’t cause or speed up erectile dysfunction in later years. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by age, medication and some other factors. The best thing to do if you’re worried about erectile dysfunction or think you may have problems getting an erection is see your doctor. Your doctor can investigate different reasons you might be having erectile problems. Don’t worry – any erectile dysfunction you’re experiencing now wasn’t caused by frequent masturbation when you were younger.

If You’re Trying To Have A Baby

That said, if you’re trying to have a baby with your partner, masturbating frequently, such as every day or multiple times during the day, probably isn’t the best idea. Many fertility doctors will tell a man to discontinue masturbating and have sex with his partner instead to try to get their partner pregnant, but this is simply to provide more opportunity for sperm to reach an egg. It has nothing to do with masturbation lowering sperm count and affecting a man’s ability to get his partner pregnant.

Normal Masturbation?

Of course, male (and female) masturbation is normal and a healthy part of any sex life. It’s important to find out what pleases you and can be a quick way to relieve sexual frustration and provide satisfaction, especially if you’re not sexually active with a partner. Some people, however, think that frequent masturbation is too much – but how much is too much? That really comes down to personal preference. As long as it doesn’t become an addiction that adversely impacts your life in other ways, “right” is a different number for each of us.