Regardless of how silly, stupid, commonsense, naive, or out-of-the-question, this question might be to some, it is not so to others. As a medial student, I have been asked this question several times in separate occasions. I had some spare time tonight so I thought I should get an end for this taboo topic.
I did some searching and googling and found the following articles:
According to wikipedia:
"The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while epinephrine courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic euphoria. It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve depression, stress and lead to a higher sense of self-worth. Masturbation can also be particularly useful in relationships where one partner wants more sex than the other – in which case masturbation provides a balancing effect and thus a more harmonious relationship ... Read more"
According to WebMD:
"In general, the medical community considers masturbation to be a natural and harmless expression of sexuality for both men and women. It does not cause any physical injury or harm to the body, and can be performed in moderation throughout a person's lifetime as a part of normal sexual behavior. Some cultures and religions oppose the use of masturbation or even label it as sinful. This can lead to guilt or shame about the behavior ... READ more"
According to an Article for the University of Pennsylvania:
"So, contrary to ancient and popular beliefs, masturbation does not lead to unbridled lust, does not make you blind or deaf, give you the flu, drive you crazy, grow hair on your hand, make you stutter, or kill you. Masturbation is a natural and harmless expression of sexuality in both men and women and a perfectly good way to experience sexual pleasure ... READ more"
According to About dot com:
"Several studies have documented the relaxation effects of masturbation induced orgasm. Aside from the physical benefits, masturbation, when you’re doing it right, is all about “you time” and taking time to focus on yourself is a great way to break up the stress of a busy life. Particularly when used with sexual fantasy, masturbation can be a great escape, a way to let off some steam, and while masturbation alone might not be enough to deal with all the stress in your life, it’s a healthy, free, and non-pharmaceutical tool right at your fingertips (or other body part or sex toy, as the case may be) ... READ more"
According to wikianswers dot com:
"Masturbation is natural. It also helps to lose weight (mind you a very, very small amount) but still. However, not everyone enjoys it ... READ more"
According to this article on BBC:
"They found those who had ejaculated the most between the ages of 20 and 50 were the least likely to develop the cancer ... READ more"
OK the scientific view on this topic is pretty clear but of course some belief schools look at the matter in other eyes. For an example check out this article on Wikipedia titled "Islam and Masturbation"
Please do what you are most comfortable with and do not believe everything you hear. Some people do not know what the hell they are talking about.
