Masturbation and Its Effects on the Body (GOONERS GTFIH)

[loty]

Masturbation and Its Effects on the Body​

This subject comes up on the internet in extremes: that it completely screws up your hormones or that it does nothing to your hormones whatsoever. The reality is that it does a number on your hormonal balance. Masturbation triggers a variety of hormonal responses. While infrequent masturbation appears to have little to no effect, studies suggest that frequent masturbation—particularly when involving pornography—can influence the brain’s reward center.

Hormonal Effects

One thing that masturbation is frequently accused of is lowering testosterone to dangerous levels. While most studies do not show a long-term decrease in testosterone following orgasm, it is true that orgasm causes a variety of hormonal responses. For instance, a study that measured the hormonal responses to orgasm found that prolactin was elevated significantly after orgasm. This causes the refractory period that leaves a person feeling sleepy afterward.

Study:
Exton et al., 2001 - Neuroendocrine response to orgasm
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11166491/

Another study on masturbation-induced orgasm also measured the hormonal responses to orgasm.

Study:
Exton et al., 2001 - Endocrine response to masturbation-induced orgasm
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11760788/

Dopamine and the Reward System

While masturbation does trigger the brain’s reward center—the dopamine release that gives us motivation—it is also the same dopamine release that causes compulsive behavior. In fact, a neuroimaging study on compulsive sexual behavior found that compulsive behavior was linked to the brain’s reward center.

Study:
Voon et al., 2014 - Neural correlates of sexual cue reactivity in compulsive sexual behavior
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25013940/

Reproductive Parameters

How often a person masturbates can also influence the volume and sperm count of the semen. In fact, a study on abstinence found that the shorter the time between abstinence the lower the volume and sperm count. Conversely, the longer the time between abstinence the higher the volume and sperm count.

Study:
Levitas, R. J., Patel, P. J., Patel, S. S., & Singh, R. (2005): Relationship between abstinence time and semen quality.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16087567/

Psychological and Behavioral Effects

Studies conducted on individuals experiencing problematic pornography use revealed correlations with compulsive types of sexual behavior. For some, these compulsive types of sexual behavior might affect how an individual processes information, how they behave, and how they respond to reward.

Study:
Kraus, C., Vögele, C., & Brand, M. (2016): Compulsive sexual behavior: Clinical and research perspectives.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27532190/

Conclusion

Biologically, masturbation causes temporary hormonal changes, which is part of normal physiological response. The majority of evidence suggests that occasional masturbation is neutral for healthy individuals. However, for some, very frequent stimulation, especially when it is compulsive in nature, might affect how an individual responds to reward, their behavior, as well as their reproductive parameters.

pls rep

 

[inversions]

—

 

[1in3]

Mirin effort gooning to this

 

[emergence]

also a study how test levels peak 8 days after ejaculation, then return to baseline levels after

 

[holy]

Can you also mention how it decreased prostate cancer by 20-31%?