Lots of men wonder whether their masturbation habits are "normal" or "typical," whether they masturbate multiple times daily or practically never. And many men also wonder if their rate of masturbation might have any effect on their sexual or penis health - or even their general overall well-being, for that matter. A recent survey might provide some insight in these areas - although the survey comes with a couple of qualifications.

The study

The specific study is the second annual "United State(s) of Masturbation" survey, which was unveiled on September 22, 2017. The survey fielded responses from 1200 adults in America, ages 18-74.

The study was produced by a sex toy manufacturer, and that’s the reason for one qualification about the results. There may be a bias in terms of study design or results. And there may also be a bias in terms of respondents; those who participated may be more inclined to masturbate than those who did not. And finally, the information is self-reported, so there may be a bias in terms of the final degree of accuracy.

However, with those qualifications in mind, the study still came up with some interesting results.

Results

Among the results of the survey are the following:

- 42% of all respondents masturbate at least once a week.

- 20% of respondents masturbate 4 or more times each week.

- 57% of those in a relationship have discussed masturbation with their partner.

- 32% have talked about masturbation with a friend.

- 47% of respondents recommend masturbating before a first date.

- Those who masturbate at least 4 times a week average about 19 minutes per each masturbation session (as opposed to 13 minutes for those who masturbate less frequently.)

- Interestingly, those who masturbate at least 4 times a week are 13% more likely to have a gym membership, and 41% of them work out at least 4 days a week. They also are 8% more likely to be employed.

Discussion

As mentioned, the results may be skewed, but it’s still worth looking at some possible reasons that explain the numbers. For example, there seems to be a correlation in the study between frequent masturbation and general physical health (as evidenced by the stats regarding working out). One possible explanation could be that some people who masturbate frequently do so because they have a healthy sense of comfort with their sexual being that corresponds with a healthy sense of comfort about their body in general, and which may cause them to want to take steps to keep their body in good physical shape.

Or it could be a "reverse" kind of reason. For example, working out tends to increase testosterone, which in turn tends to increase sex drive. So it may be that the fact that these men are working out frequently encourages them to masturbate frequently.

Regular ejaculation (whether via masturbation or partner sex) has been shown to have long term positive consequences in terms of prostate health. And masturbation is a great way to help relieve stress. Stress is a major negative impactor on overall health. Assuming that many men masturbate near bedtime, this can also be a way to ensure a better night’s sleep, which has positive health implications as well.

In general, masturbation does indeed provide one avenue to help improve general health, as well as penis health. For the latter, men should also daily use a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) . The best options will include a range of vitamins, ideally including A, B5, C, D and E, which will benefit from the topical application in crème form. It’s wise to also find a crème that additionally includes L-arginine, an amino acid which can play a big role in helping to keep penile blood vessels open for increased flow.