Masturbation is one of the most popular pastimes that people still get really weird about acknowledging. That said, not only do lots of people routinely engage in the practice, but masturbation also has several potential positive physical and mental benefits. Today we’re going to answer some of the biggest questions about the effects of masturbation.
Questions like:
- Does masturbation relieve stress?
- What does masturbation do to your brain?
- Does masturbation lower blood pressure?
So get ready, because we’re about to do a deep dive into the many ways, apart from making us feel awesome, masturbation can affect us. And we’re kicking off our exploration with one BIG question!
Does masturbation lower blood pressure?
For those with high blood pressure, the bad news is that there is no medical evidence that masturbation is an effective tool for lowering the blood pressure over time. At least, not directly.
With that said, there is good news when it comes to masturbation and both blood pressure and heart health. So, let's focus on the good news and talk about how masturbation can impact blood pressure and why, even for those with high blood pressure, self-pleasure is usually completely safe.
Masturbation, Arousal, and Blood Pressure
To understand the effects of masturbation on blood pressure, it is important to understand the Sexual Response Cycle, which is the sequence of physical and mental/emotional responses we can experience in response to sexual stimuli during any form of sexual activity.
The Sexual Response Cycle has four distinct parts:
- Excitement (also referred to as Desire).
- Arousal (also referred to as Plateau).
- Orgasm.
- Resolution.
In terms of blood pressure and heart rate, they start to rise during the Excitement phase, increase further during Arousal, peak during Orgasm, and return to normal during Resolution. For most people those temporary increases should not be problematic as they are pretty similar to those achieved with mild to moderate physical activity.
According to this 2012 study, even patients with well-managed cardiovascular disease “have a low risk of adverse cardiovascular events with sexual activity," and "sexual activity is an important component of patient... quality of life for men and women with cardiovascular disease."
The Hormone Connection
Part of the reason orgasms can feel so good is that they can unleash a veritable avalanche of chemicals and hormones in the brain’s pleasure-reward center. This includes dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins, prolactin, endocannabinoids, norepinephrine/noradrenaline, and adrenaline (what a squad!).
Not only do those hormones do cool stuff like trigger happy feelings (we’ll go a little deeper on it in a minute) they can also fight back against a pernicious little hormone called cortisol aka, “the stress hormone." And since high levels of cortisol can lead to high blood pressure, lowering cortisol levels in the body can help reduce blood pressure.
So remember earlier when I said that masturbation couldn’t lower your blood pressure “directly?" Well, that is true. But masturbation does come with physical benefits that indirectly contribute to better overall health in the long term including the production of "happy hormones" and reduction of the "stress hormones," which could lower blood pressure.
Let’s take a look at some more ways masturbation can provide a health boost.
Benefits of Masturbation (Beyond Blood Pressure)
The health benefits of masturbation really come down to that cavalcade of hormones released during orgasm. This massive hormone boost benefits the body and mind in several ways, all of which can contribute to general health and well-being.
Stress Reduction
As we've already discussed, orgasms release a ton of oxytocin, which can lower cortisol, leading to reduced stress levels. But that's not the only way orgasms can reduce stress! Orgasms also trigger the release of prolactin, another hormone that regulates our stress responses.
That’s a whole lot of stress reduction packed into one orgasm!
Improved Mood
Ever hear someone talk about “post-nut clarity?" It refers to feelings of bliss, clarity, and focus that can come after orgasm. Those feelings are largely thanks to the masturbastion-dopamine connection! Dopamine, a neurotransmitter released during orgasm, is known as a “happiness hormone” and it contributes to our sense of motivation.
Better Sleep
We've already covered how orgasms reduce stress, which is a crucial part of getting better sleep. But if you want even more proof that masturbation is the secret to a good night's sleep, look no further than this 2019 study. Participants reported they fell asleep faster and slept better after masturbating.
Pain Relief
Among the flood of hormones released during orgasm are endorphins and endocannabinoids. Endorphins are often referred to as a “natural painkiller” while endocannabinoids contribute to the regulation of the body’s pain and inflammation processes.
In 2013, a study found that sexual activity could provide at least partial pain relief to migraine sufferers. So as long as the pain you're experiencing won't worsen during masturbation, rubbing one out can provide some relief from your pain and suffering.
Potential Risks and Considerations
It's clear that masturbation has a ton of awesome benefits, but what about the negative effects of masturbation on the brain or body? Are there any? What might they be? Let’s take a look!
Addiction and Compulsive Behavior
While the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists does not classify an addiction to masturbation sex, or porn as its own mental health condition, many specialists refer to behaviors like excessive masturbation (masturbating so much that it interferes with one’s daily life) as compulsive sexual behavior or CSB.
Recommendations for overcoming CSBs include investigating whether one has health conditions or is taking medications or illicit drugs that might be triggering the behavior. Additionally psychological therapy and consulting a doctor for possible medication intervention are viable options.
Negative Impacts on Relationships
People who struggle with compulsive masturbation may also struggle with their platonic, romantic, and sexual relationships. Perhaps they prefer to masturbate rather than have sex with their partner and their partner feels neglected. Or maybe they regularly cancel plans to stay home and masturbate, and their partner and/or friends are fed up. If something like this is happening, getting help is a great idea.
There is a flip side to this, however: some people see masturbation, when done by people in a relationship, as a type of infidelity. These people believe that when in a couple, no one else should provide their partner with pleasure, even the partner themselves. This desire to control a partner’s entire sexuality is both unhealthy and unfair.
Please remember that even when in a relationship, bodily autonomy matters and the choice to masturbate remains one's own.
Pre-Existing Heart Conditions
We’ve talked about how masturbation is generally safe, but anyone with any kind of pre-existing medical condition should consult a medical professional to discuss whether masturbation is safe with their particular condition. The heart rate and blood pressure elevations that occur during masturbation won’t cause a risk to most people, but it's better not to take the risk with something like a brain aneurysm.
If you have any concerns at all, talk to a doctor.
The Bottom Line
Masturbation is a safe and healthy way to experience pleasure that can indirectly lower the blood pressure because it provides stress reduction and relaxation. While there is a temporary blood pressure increase during arousal and orgasm, this increase generally is not a concern for healthy individuals but definitely consult a doctor if you have any pre-existing conditions.
As with all things sex, moderation and open communication can help anyone safely enjoy masturbation and all its many benefits.
