As the annual no-masturbation challenge known as ‘No Nut November’ draws to a close, it’s a great time to remember all the positives about masturbation. From improving health and self-esteem to experiencing pleasure, engaging in masturbation has a number of benefits.
A recent nationally representative US survey looked at the most common reasons for masturbation, and we’ve included five of the most common in the table below [1]. Among these most frequently reported causes, there were few gender differences between men and women.
No data for No Nut November
No Nut November started when a group of men online challenged each other to see if they could go an entire month without masturbating. Their goal? To experience purported benefits of mental focus, increased testosterone levels and self-improvement. The challenge has garnered a huge following, particularly on Reddit. And in recent years, some women have begun to enter the competition.
However, despite the number of people who have taken the challenge, little to no research supports the claim that abstaining from masturbation produces these benefits. In fact, most research suggests the exact same opposite (ie that engaging in self-pleasure has more benefits than abstinence).
The many benefits of masturbation
When you have an orgasm, your brain is released endorphinswhich can make you feel happy and sleepy after climax [2]. This is why some people turn to masturbation as a way to relax or help them sleep. In this way, masturbation can be a way to temporarily relieve stress and anxiety [3].
Research has also found that masturbation is linked to higher self-esteem [4], perhaps because it can be a way to help you better understand and feel comfortable with your body. In the aforementioned US national survey, women were significantly more likely than men to report masturbation as a way to explore their sexuality. Masturbation is a form of sexual self-exploration that can tune you into your sources of pleasure and also facilitate sexual function. In fact, people who masturbate tend to have an easier time getting aroused and reaching orgasm in general [5]. As a result, self-pleasure can even enhance sexual satisfaction from sex, because you know what feels good and what kind of stimulation you need.
In addition to the pleasure and mental health benefits, there may also be physical health benefits from masturbation. For example, frequent ejaculation is associated with a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer [6]The second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men.
Sexual performance and scientific solutions
Another myth associated with No Nut November is that masturbating too often or too intensely can reduce sexual function, such as the ability to maintain an erection and the ability to receive sexual pleasure from a partner. However, this claim has not been substantiated. In fact, researchers have discovered that there is no link between masturbation frequency and erectile dysfunction [7]. Interestingly, researchers found that greater participation in online anti-masturbation communities was actually associated with worse erectile dysfunction symptoms [8]
Some people posting on the November No Nut Subreddit say they are taking part in the challenge as a way to reduce their porn “addiction”. Porn addiction is not a recognized medical or psychological diagnosis, and research finds that it is generally not the porn use itself that leads to problems. Rather, he feels morally conflicted about porn consumption. So while a break from porn may provide some temporary relief for people distressed about their porn use, it is unlikely to resolve the underlying feelings of sexual shame that lead people to describe themselves as “porn addicts”.
Recent research investigating the relationship between porn consumption and erectile dysfunction among those participating in anti-porn and anti-masturbation groups found that stress is more often the predictor of erectile challenges, while porn consumption did not influence this relationship [9].
No Nut November may be one way some people choose to develop a sense of community online. However, the basis for the challenge is not rooted in science and instead appears to be based on the mistaken belief that masturbation is inherently unhealthy.
As masturbation and sexual performance can have a complex relationship with sexual shame, stigma, and anxiety, more effective solutions may include self-reflection, more education about masturbation and sexual performance, or a conversation with a sex therapist.
To learn more about the history of masturbation and the myths surrounding it, check out our recent Essential Listen episode, The Truth About Masturbation, with Dr. Erik Sprankle.
This post was written in 2022 by Emily Mendelson, Co-Managing Editor of Sex and Psychology and revised in 2023 by Bethany Lumsdaine, Co-Managing Editor of Sex and Psychology.
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Image Credits: Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash
Bibliographical references:
[1] Herbenick, D., Fu, Tc., Wasata, R. et al. Prevalence, Frequency, Causes, and Correlates of Partnered Sex Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a US National Cohort Survey. Arch Sex Behav 52, 1317–1331 (2023).
[2] Mitrokostas, S. (2019, January 25). See what happens to your body and brain when you have an orgasm. ScienceAlert.
[3] Leuner, B., Glasper, ER, & Gould, E. (2010). Sexual experience promotes adult hippocampal neurogenesis despite an initial increase in stress hormones. PloS One, 5(7), e11597.
[4] Planned Parenthood. (2022). Is masturbation healthy?
[5] Carvalheira, A., & Leal, I. (2013). Masturbation among women: Associated factors and sexual response in a Portuguese community sample. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 39(4), 347–367.
[6] Rider, JR, Wilson, KM, Sinnott, JA, Kelly, RS, Mucci, LA, & Giovannucci, EL (2016). Ejaculation frequency and prostate cancer risk: Updated results with an additional decade of follow-up. European Urology, 70(6), 974–982.
[7] Rowland, DL, Castleman, JM, Bacys, KR, Csonka, B., & Hevesi, K. (2022). Do pornography use and masturbation play a role in erectile dysfunction and relationship satisfaction in men? International Journal of Impotence Research1–10.
[8] Prause, N., & Binnie, J. (2023). Iatrogenic Effects of Reboot/NoFap on Public Health: A Preregistered Research Study. Sexuality, 0(0).
[9] Prause N, Binnie J. Reboot/NoFap Participants Erectile Concerns Predicted by Anxiety and Not Mediated/Modulated by Pornography Viewing. Journal of Psychosexual Health. 2022;4(4):252-254. doi:10.1177/26318318221116354
