Self-love is still a taboo subject for some people (not us!): A new survey from Morningside Recovery Center found that 45.4 percent of those polled said that masturbating can cause problems in their relationships, and 18 percent said they felt ashamed of their masturbation habits. Interestingly, 20.4 percent of respondents said they masturbate three or more times per day. Which begs the question, when do they find the time to go to work?
Joking aside, we’re huge advocates of getting to know your own body, so we talked with Dr. Elizabeth Waterman, addiction psychologist from Morningside, who gave us details on what we should — and shouldn’t — be worried about when it comes to masturbating, our health, and the health of our relationship.
Sexcerpts: What’s the difference between “normal” masturbation and excessive masturbation?
Dr. Waterman: Regular masturbation is typically a healthy, normal sexual behavior. However, when masturbation or the urge to masturbate begins to interfere with daily functioning or ability to perform responsibilities at work, school, or in your social life, it has likely become a problem that may require professional help to resolve. In addition, if you are in a relationship and your urge to masturbate or the act of masturbating interferes with your sexual relationship with your partner, this also suggests it has become problematic.
Should women be upset if they find out their man masturbates?
Masturbation for men and women is a normal and healthy part of human sexuality. If your partner masturbates, it does not mean they are disinterested in sex with you, nor does it mean they are unsatisfied with their sex life in the relationship. It is a healthy form of sexual release that is personal in nature and usually not indicative of problems in a relationship.
How can couples incorporate masturbation into their sex lives in a healthy way?
It is healthy to provide each other with personal time and space and try to avoid judging each other’s sexual practices. Some couples enjoy integrating masturbation into their foreplay in order to excite each other. This is healthy and natural if both are aligned.
If you think you have a problem with excessive masturbation, what should you do?
Consult a mental health professional with experience in sexual health problems in order to determine if your masturbation or urges to masturbate reflect a significant problem.
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