Masturbation is a normal activity of stimulating one’s genitals and achieving sexual pleasure. Both men and women practice it.
Since ancient times, there has been a lot of stigma around masturbation, especially for females. It has been considered an act of shame and the cause of several health issues in women.
One such issue that people believe masturbation causes is PCOS. PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a hormonal disorder that causes ovulation problems in women.
In this article, we’ll look closely into masturbation and its relation to PCOS and other health issues.
Does Masturbation Cause PCOS?
No, masturbation does not cause PCOS. Several scientific studies have been conducted on the effect of masturbation on PCOS and female fertility. None of them prove that masturbation causes PCOS.
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects several women worldwide and is one of the major causes of female infertility. It is mainly caused by the hormonal imbalance that occurs in a woman’s body. This affects ovulation and causes irregular or no menstrual cycles.
Masturbation is just a normal physical activity that people do to relieve stress and for self-pleasure. It has nothing to do with hormonal imbalance or infertility.
The Connection Between Masturbation And Hormones
Now, we have seen above that PCOS is caused due to hormonal imbalance. And we have also seen that masturbation does not cause PCOS. So, does this mean that masturbation has nothing to do with your body’s hormones?
Of course not. Studies show that masturbation helps with the release of happy hormones like dopamine and oxytocin. This helps relieve stress and makes you feel relaxed and happy.
Masturbation has also been shown to increase testosterone levels in both men and women. These hormones are responsible for improving muscle and bone strength and increasing sex drive in men and women.
When Does Masturbation Become Harmful?
Though masturbation is a normal physical activity that does not have many side effects, there are instances when it can become harmful to your physical and mental well-being.
Some such instances are detailed below.
1. When you become addicted to masturbation
Masturbation done in regular intervals to relieve stress is okay. But too much masturbation can interfere with your daily life and affect your relationship with your spouse, friends, and family.
2. When it makes you lose energy and feel weak
You use too much of your energy when you masturbate too often. This can lead to fatigue and make you feel weak and tired.
3. When it interferes with your social life
Too much masturbation can make you feel self-centered in a social gathering. This can interfere with your social life.
4. When it affects your sex life with your partner
Too much masturbation can reduce your sexual desire and can impact your sex life with your partner. It also reduces your chances of having an orgasm when having sex with your partner.
Does Masturbation Cause Any Other Problems?
As discussed earlier, masturbation does not have any negative effects on your body (unless it is done excessively). The frequency of masturbation differs for each woman.
Some women who are healthy and follow a healthy lifestyle can masturbate once a day and not experience any side effects. However, if you already have some health issues, you need to be mindful of the frequency of your masturbation.
Causes Of PCOS
Scientists have not yet found the exact cause of PCOS. They have found that PCOS is caused by hormonal imbalance but haven’t yet found what exactly causes this hormonal imbalance.
Below are some common causes that can increase your chances of PCOS.
Hormone Imbalance
Hormonal imbalance due to excess secretion of the androgen is one of the main causes of PCOS. Androgens are male hormones that can prevent the body from performing basic female reproductive functions like ovulation.
This can form fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries, disrupt your menstrual cycle, and cause PCOS.
High insulin
Your body uses insulin to convert your blood sugar into energy. Your blood sugar levels will increase when your body resists insulin. To counter this, your body will release more insulin to process the blood sugars.
This can increase insulin levels in your blood and cause the ovaries to release more androgens, thus resulting in ovarian cysts and PCOS.
Bodyweight
Being overweight alone does not cause PCOS. Both underweight and overweight women can have PCOS. However, the chances of PCOS are high in overweight women.
This is because being overweight can increase androgen levels in your body, again resulting in ovarian cysts and PCOS.
Lifestyle
Your lifestyle can affect your body’s hormonal balance. Consuming unhealthy fried and processed foods, cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, etc., are some unhealthy habits that can cause hormonal imbalance and lead to PCOS.
Conclusion
As you have seen, masturbation has not been proven to cause PCOS or any other major issue. As long as you do it in moderation adn not let it affect your health or daily life, you can enjoy occasional self-pleasure.
Do consultation with our well-renowned Fertility Hospital if you feel like you masturbate often or if it inhibits your daily life.
No, masturbation does not affect the ovulation cycle. Masturbation is a normal activity that people do to stimulate sexual pleasure and achieve orgasm. It even has some benefits and is not harmful as long as you are not addicted to it, and it does not affect your daily life.
Below are some of the major causes of PCOS.
- Hormonal imbalance
- High insulin in the body
- Being underweight, overweight, or obese
- Following an unhealthy lifestyle
No, masturbation does not have any effect on your fertility’ either positive or negative.
No, masturbation does not cause weight gain. Masturbation increases your heart rate and blood pressure, which can actually help you burn some calories. But it has no significant effect on your fertility.
