Masturbation is touching, rubbing, or otherwise stimulating parts of your body for sexual pleasure. Often masturbation involves stimulating the penis, scrotum, or clitoris, but it can also involve the breasts, vulva, and anus. Masturbation can involve one or two people (mutual masturbation).

Mutual masturbation is when two people masturbate each other using their hands or sex toys, or watch each other masturbate. Either way, mutual masturbation can be very pleasurable and satisfying. Masturbation can make sex better because if you’ve already explored your own body through masturbation, it’s easier to let your partner know what pleases you most. Mutual masturbation might be a good option for you if you’re not ready to have penetrative sex. Or, it can be a good warm up for penetrative oral, vaginal, or anal sex.

Masturbation is normal at any age, from infancy into old age.

There’s no “normal” amount of masturbation. The frequency of masturbation is different for every individual. Some people might masturbate several times a day. Others might masturbate once a month, or less.

Some people feel guilty and ashamed about masturbating, but the truth is that it’s a completely natural and normal activity. Not only that, it’s good for you! Masturbation has both sexual and physical health benefits.

• It releases sexual tension in a safe way and helps you to relax
• Masturbation is available to everyone: You don’t have to have a partner to masturbate
• It can help you learn how to have an orgasm and find out what’s most sexually pleasurable for you
• As you learn about your body and what you find pleasing, you can better communicate your needs to a partner
• Masturbation can help you to feel more comfortable with, and better about, your body
• There’s no danger of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) from masturbation

Masturbation usually leads to orgasm, the point where a person reaches peak sexual tension and then it releases. Having an orgasm is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself.

• During orgasm, levels of prolactin (a stress-relieving hormone) as well as oxytocin and dopamine (“feel-good” hormones) rise. Oxytocin lowers blood pressure, relieves anxiety, improves blood sugar levels, and lowers your risk of heart disease.
• In men, frequent orgasms lower the risk of prostate cancer
• In women, oxytocin released during orgasm may help to lower risk of ovarian cancer
• Having an orgasm helps you sleep better

Some individuals may worry about masturbating because there are still many myths and misconceptions about it.

But the truth is, masturbation will not make you blind, thinner, or paler. It doesn’t stunt your growth or “use up” sperm so that you can’t have children later. It doesn’t cause mental illness or make you unable to have an erection when you’re with a partner. Other people can’t tell you masturbate just by looking at you. And you don’t lose your virginity by masturbating.

Masturbation does conflict with the beliefs of some religions and other groups. That’s why you might see conflicting advice about masturbation online. If you see information online that says masturbation is morally wrong, or physically or emotionally harmful, find out the source of that information before taking it at face value.

If you find that masturbating is taking up time that you’d otherwise spend on other important activities, like work, school, or socializing, and you’re unable to reduce the amount of time you spend masturbating, you might consider seeing a healthcare professional.