Good morning, ladies!
I’m Dr. Jane, and today we’re diving into the topic of desires and needs within the single population. This large group of singles often navigates their own ways of handling emotional and sexual desires, but what challenges or concerns do they face?
Recently, we conducted a survey with our audience to gather insights on the most common sexual concerns among single women. In this post, we’ll answer one key question:
Can frequent masturbation be harmful to your body?
One participant shared that, despite being single for over 20 years, she only became aware of her sexual desires about five years ago. Watching friends enter relationships, she naturally felt envy but remained single due to various circumstances. During this time, she explored her sexuality through masturbation, especially after receiving a female sex toy as a gift from a friend. She found that even after entering a relationship, she still preferred frequent solo sessions, seeing sex as a comforting outlet when love wasn’t available.
Her main concern, however, was whether frequent masturbation might harm her body.
The answer? In moderation, no—it actually has several benefits!
First, it’s important to normalize self-pleasure. From childhood, humans seek pleasure in different ways, whether it’s through sucking on a pacifier or other sensory experiences. By the time we reach sexual maturity, masturbation becomes a healthy and beneficial activity. It helps us understand our bodies better, improves sleep quality, and stimulates the production of estrogen. During masturbation, the body releases dopamine and oxytocin, both of which elevate mood and can relieve feelings of depression for up to 24 hours.
Additionally, a study published in the journal Society Open Science found that women who engage in sexual activity weekly—whether through intercourse, oral sex, or masturbation—have a 28% lower risk of early menopause compared to those who are sexually active less frequently. Even women who have sex at least once a month have a 19% lower chance of entering menopause prematurely compared to those who have sex less frequently. This suggests that, for single women, moderate masturbation can actually help delay aging.
However, the key concern lies in the word "frequent."
There’s truth to the saying, "too much of a good thing." While masturbation has many health benefits, overdoing it can have negative effects. Since every individual’s body and sexual drive vary, there’s no universal guideline for how much is "too much."
Masturbation, as a form of physical activity, can take a toll on the body. Some women may experience fatigue, back or abdominal pain, or even light bleeding after intense sessions (the latter often due to uterine contractions, which is usually harmless if the bleeding is less than menstrual flow). Without proper hygiene, there's also a risk of infections like vaginitis or urinary tract infections.
However, the good news is that about 70% of women can regulate their masturbation habits and maintain a healthy balance. As long as you feel physically comfortable and are mindful of cleanliness and protection, masturbation is unlikely to cause significant harm.
In short, moderation is key—so enjoy responsibly!
