Male Masturbation: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Masturbation is the act of self-pleasuring particularly by touching your genitals to derive sexual satisfaction. According to multiple surveys and research, males are more inclined towards this act than females, however, it is still common for both genders in the process of self-exploration.

Masturbation is a part of one’s sexual growth, it is nothing to be embarrassed about. There are some benefits of masturbation like it releases stress, helps you sleep better and reduces the chances of getting prostate cancer. Sexual awareness is important but anything excessive is always detrimental. With all sorts of information available on the internet and the social taboo related to sex education, masturbation can also become an addiction. This condition is now recognized as a compulsive sexual behaviour disorder by the World Health Organization.

Some of the symptoms of chronic masturbation are as follows:

• Masturbating to the extent of causing self-injury, peeling of the skin of the penis or swelling.
• Having a constant urge to masturbate successively even after an orgasm.
• Choosing masturbation over actual physical intimacy with your partner.
• Difficult to get a hard on due to prior extreme exhaustion owing to solo male masturbation.
• Feeling no sexual content despite having numerous sexual partners.
• Excessive hair loss.
• Unable to go a day without masturbating.
• Masturbating out of habit.
• Developing insomnia due to the habit of continuous masturbation.

Underlying psychological issues such as depression and anxiety can cause one to rely on masturbation as an escape or coping mechanism. A pre-existing history of compulsive sexual behaviour also results in an inclination towards excessive masturbation or what is known as chronic masturbation. Another cause of chronic masturbation includes unawareness regarding self-pleasure and lack of sex education.

Do’s

• Abstain from indulging in sexual content and porn. Naturally, it is a catalyst for arousal and masturbation, so it is best to avoid it if you feel that your masturbation is becoming a rigorous and out-of-control habit.
• Engage in other activities, like start learning something new. When you are unproductive you have a lot of idle time in your hand, and are inclined towards developing bad habits. Be productive, and distract your mind from these thoughts.
• Consult a sexologist, urologist, or therapist to understand and better cope with your problem. Pristyn Care has one of the best urologists to treat issues related to male and female sexual problems.
• Go out and meet people, peer support forms an essential part of moving away from negative addictions always.
• Indulge in regular exercise, meditation, and yoga as it helps in increasing positivity and allowing you to retain focus and sleep well.

• Don’t turn to masturbation in order to deal with emotional problems in life.
• Do not mix it up with alcohol and drug intake as it will have a further detrimental impact on self-control.
• Do not make it a practice from the very beginning.
• Do not shy away from admitting if it has become a problem and seek professional help.

Chronic masturbation can be diagnosed if two of the following diseases are recurring in a man after masturbation.

Edema
nEdema may be caused due to continuous masturbation because of constant rubbing without lubrication which causes the tender skin surrounding the penis to swell.

Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder

This disorder is a result of a lack of control and repetitive thoughts about sexual acts leading to masturbation and an increased urge to perform the act to an unhealthy level. Once someone gets addicted to masturbation they may not be able to stop even when it's causing physical harm.

If you are suffering from Edema caused due to chronic masturbation, physical examination is done and questions regarding your medical history and lifestyle will be asked to confirm the diagnosis. But in some cases, even ultrasound, blood tests and urine analysis are required. To diagnose this disorder, a dual diagnosis in the form of assessments is conducted to determine the triggers and underlying factors associated with the disorder. The disorder leads to declined sensitivity, overstimulation, and sexual dysfunction.

It can be self-diagnosed as well if you are undergoing the following :

• It takes up most of your time as well as energy.
• Your relationship, work and lifestyle are affected because of this habit of masturbation.
• You bail on a lot of plans just to find the space and time to masturbate.
• You feel the urge to masturbate in inappropriate places like public meetings, family dinners etc.
• Masturbation has stopped giving you a sense of sexual satisfaction, it does not make you feel aroused anymore.
• It has become your escape mechanism and all your negative emotions are only comforted when you masturbate.
• You have started to feel a sense of guilt and uncontrollable distress post masturbation.
• It is impossible for you to not think about masturbation, and you end up masturbating even when you don’t want to.

Not masturbating results in withdrawal-like symptoms like extreme agitation, and craving like you are off some drug. This indicates a high level of dependency on masturbation. You look for articles to find male masturbation tips and male masturbation positions etc.

It is important to note that home remedies are not an effective cure, in the long run, they can be used in addition to treatments and medications provided by the doctor.

• Having saffron strands mixed with warm milk promotes better sleep.
• Adding ginger to food regulates and increases blood circulation, it will add to your energy and allow you to revitalize yourself.
• Keep yourself hydrated and drink fruit juices. It will provide the body with nutrients and compensate for the fatigue caused due to excessive masturbation.

It is possible to prevent the condition of chronic masturbation by addressing the problem at an early stage but mostly seeking professional help is important as it also comes along with other underlying problems. The best way is to distract your mind and adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes meditation and exercise.

There are several disadvantages of masturbation in males :

• It may lead to a disease called Edema as continuous masturbation can cause irritation and swelling on the penis due to excessive pressure on that area.
• It severely affects the body’s strength to generate testosterone and results in low sperm count if done excessively.
• It can result in what is called the Dhat syndrome. Dhat syndrome results in premature ejaculation and can also cause erectile dysfunction in the long run.
• Too much stimulation can also result in a psychological problem called the Nightfall syndrome wherein men start to ejaculate even when they are asleep. This is mostly a result of exposure to excessive sexual content like porn particularly male masturbation videos.
• One of the most common side effects of masturbation in males is rashes and redness because the skin of the penis is extremely sensitive and if regularly rubbed without lubrication can cause rashes due to friction.
• Excessive masturbation can also cause social distancing and low self-esteem, one because a person prefers to stay at home to satiate the addiction and two it is an escape from stress and depression.
• Masturbation addiction can also your normal routine upside-down contributing to sleeplessness, weakness, fatigue, and loss of appetite coupled with an unfocused mindset and disinterest in any activity.

Increase your intake of nutty foods like sunflower seeds and peanuts. Eat more fish and green vegetables, while limiting your intake of red meat and dairy goods. Replace soda with fresh orange or cranberry juice, and consume 8 to 9 glasses of water each day.

Avoid animal proteins at all costs. High testosterone levels can be attributed to the proteins and hormones present in meats such as beef, chicken, hog, and turkey.

Chronic masturbation is treated through therapy and the physical aspect of the same such as Edema is treated through medications.

Urgent care is usually not necessary for this condition but if it is severe to the extent that it is causing physical damage and other mental health disorders then you must consult the doctor immediately.

You must consult a sexologist, who will assist you and may suggest therapy for this condition. In case you are experiencing the symptoms like pain while urinating due to chronic masturbation, Pristyn Care can provide you with just the right urologists to consult with.

There is no particular medication for this disorder, however, some other disorders such as depression and anxiety also develop as a result of chronic masturbation and require medical help and prescribed medicines.

In the aftermath, addiction treatment therapies which are cognitive, holistic, and dialectical are used to improve the condition of the patient and support is provided even post the treatment to prevent any relapse. Cognitive behavioural therapy deals with the thoughts, beliefs and behaviours of an individual which can be very effective in treating this order by dealing with the underlying triggers and associated conditions.

For example, some people feel sexually undesirable due to a lack of intimacy and self-confidence, in turn, they conclude that since nobody is ever going to be with them, they need to find an alternative to satiate their sexual desires and engage in excessive masturbation to control these thoughts. Cognitive therapy deals with similar aspect of human thinking and allows one to reshape the way they see themselves to eliminate such negative connotations.

There is no surgical treatment for chronic masturbation.

There is no surgical treatment and as a result no procedure for this.

The treatment price of edema resulting from chronic masturbation is Rs.900 to Rs.1200 and the average cost of therapy that is required for chronic masturbation ranges from Rs.1,000 to Rs.3000.

It does not take long to come out of this ailment with the right lifestyle and advice, but some groups require continuous therapy, which are:

• Already suffering from another psychological ailment.
• The ready access to sexual content without any sexual education & awareness.
• Already suffering from alcohol and drug abuse problems.
• Issues with the family or other members suffering from similar addiction.
• Past trauma associated with sexual/physical abuse.

No, they are not permanent but the psychological impact can be long-lasting and require continuous therapy.

As per post-treatment guidelines for chronic masturbation you must follow the do’s and don’ts mentioned in the article. Make sure you follow a healthy lifestyle, exercise regulary and eat a healthy diet.

There are no side effects of chronic masturbation treatments. One may suffer sleepiness, fatigue and confusion due to medications prescribed post psychiatric evaluation.

Chronic masturbation is not fatal and just requires consistent therapy for recovery. It may bring a positive change in your life and improve your overall health.