Masturbation causes impotence (erectile dysfunction), right?

Some people believe that masturbation can cause erectile dysfunction. When someone has impotence, many of them are accustomed to immediately associate it with their masturbation habits. However, is it true that one of the results of masturbation is that it can make a man experience impotence?

Does masturbation cause erectile dysfunction?

The answer is no. The claim that masturbation causes impotence is just a myth. Masturbation is a common and beneficial activity. Also, masturbation has no effect on the quality or frequency of erections.

Research shows that this one activity is very common at all ages. The survey results said that about 74 percent of men reported masturbating. Meanwhile, women are in the lower figure, namely 48.1.

Most men may have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection at some point in their life. This condition of difficulty achieving an erection is known as erectile dysfunction (ED).

Benefits of masturbation for health

Instead of having fatal consequences, masturbation is touted to have health benefits. According to Planned Parenthood, masturbation can help release tension, reduce stress, and aid sleep.

Although it does not cause erectile dysfunction, it does not mean that a man can get erection again immediately after masturbating. This period is called the male refractory period. This condition is certainly different from impotence, aka erectile dysfunction. The male refractory period is the recovery time before a man can get an erection again after ejaculation.

There is one study conducted on a man. He believes that his habit of masturbating causes impotence, so he cannot achieve an erection. He also intends to end his marriage which almost ended in divorce.

He then underwent a consultation with a doctor and was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. After sex counseling and seeing a marriage therapist, this man and his partner were able to have sexual relations within a few months.

Another study also asked respondents to improve their communication and understanding of each partner's sexual habits. Although there was no mention of masturbation in this study, those who communicated well with their partners had lower complaints of impotence.

In general, researchers believe that masturbation does not cause impotence (erectile dysfunction). In fact, difficulty getting and maintaining an erection, either during masturbation or during sex, is a sign of another condition.

Why does someone have impotence?

Age is thought to be the most significant factor that causes a person to experience impotence, not masturbation. Generally, erectile dysfunction occurs in men over 40 years.

About 40% of men who are 40 years old are usually affected to some extent. However, the likelihood that a person will experience complete erectile dysfunction, or the inability to get an erection, increases by as much as 15 percent by age 70.

Several other factors can cause a person to experience impotence, including:

Diabetes
Obesity
Heart disease
Symptoms of a lower urinary tract disorder (bladder, prostate, or urethral problems)
Alcohol and cigarettes

Erectile dysfunction in younger men

We now know that masturbation does not cause impotence. In fact, the most common cause of erectile dysfunction is age or some other health condition. Even so, erectile dysfunction can afflict those who are younger.

A 2013 study found that as many as a quarter of men under 40 had a diagnosis of impotence. This condition can be caused by psychological or emotional factors. What's more, younger men also have higher levels of testosterone in their bodies and tend to have several other risk factors for erectile dysfunction.

Some of the factors that cause erectile dysfunction in younger men include:

Stress
Worry
Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, or in treatment for these illnesses
Obesity
Insomnia or lack of sleep
Urinary tract problems
Spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or spina bifida
Have a high-stress job

Pornography and erectile dysfunction

As with the myth that masturbation causes impotence, there is no evidence that watching porn causes erectile dysfunction. Researchers even believe that pornography can actually affect a man's ability to get and maintain an erection.

Although there are researchers who believe that pornography does not cause impotence, there are survey results that show that increasing access to pornography on the internet goes hand in hand with an increase in the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction in men under 40.

The argument of some researchers states that this is due to exposure to pornography on the internet reducing a man's sensitivity to sexual stimulation in the real world. This is due to some of the limitless characteristics of internet pornography. The researchers think that this leads to unfulfilled expectations in the real world, leading to decreased sexual arousal and difficulty achieving an erection.