Does Masturbation Affect Immunity? We Asked a Sexologist

Who doesn’t enjoy masturbation? Keeping aside the taboo associated with this topic, it is an undeniably pleasurable sexual activity. Moreover, it has numerous health benefits you probably haven’t heard about. It reduces stress, elevates your mood, enhances sexual pleasure, helps you explore your body in a healthy manner and promotes a better sleep cycle.

Despite masturbation being an excellent sexual activity, myths surrounding it remain rampant. So let’s take a look at the flip side. Does masturbation affect immunity in a positive way? Does masturbation affect the immune system by way of strengthening it?

Does Masturbation Affect Immunity?

There have been few studies that look at the potential impact of masturbation on the immune system. Furthermore, they are affected by the gender data gap, so there is almost no information about the alleged effect on male bodies.

One 2004 study, published in the journal Neuroimmunomodulation, asked 11 male volunteers to masturbate until they experienced orgasm. The participant's blood was drawn while they were masturbating and during a control set-up with no sexual activity.

The researchers then measured the presence of various immune system activity markers in the blood — leukocytes, lymphocytes, lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin 6, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha — during control conditions as well as 5 and 45 minutes after the volunteers achieved orgasm through masturbation.

The study discovered that masturbation temporarily increased the activity of some immune system components, specifically leukocytes and natural killer cells, which fight cancer tumour cells and virus-infected cells.

Many media outlets have cited this study over the years to support the idea that masturbation can help improve immune response — but health experts warn that the findings should be taken with a grain of salt.

While the original study's authors conducted a "follow-up," this research did not include the original participants and did not focus on masturbation specifically. The new study, published in European Urology in 2016, included self-reported data from 31,925 male participants who answered ejaculation frequency questionnaires over an 18-year period.

The study sought to determine whether there was a link between the frequency of ejaculation and the risk of prostate cancer. It did discover a "beneficial association" between increased ejaculation and a lower risk of prostate cancer.

However, the study's authors acknowledged limitations, such as the fact that self-reported data can be inaccurate and incomplete, and that "the literature exploring the role of sexual activity in the aetiology of [prostate cancer] is inconsistent."

Why Might Masturbation Influence Immunity?

When the male arousal state is enhanced and certain hormones are released during and after masturbation, immune cells experience a boost. This boost may last up to 24 hours after orgasm, however, its most significant benefits are seen within 60 minutes post orgasm. Hence, researchers have concluded that masturbation effects on the male immune system are short lived, not to be mistaken for long-term, sustained immunity development.

Other Health Benefits of Masturbation

However, this does not negate the fact that masturbation has numerous mental and physical health benefits. Although few studies have been conducted specifically on the benefits of masturbation, some evidence suggests that orgasms reduce stress and blood pressure, boost self-esteem, and relieve pain.

There may not be conclusive evidence linking masturbation to endorphin release in the brain (stress and pain-relieving chemicals). However, it is widely accepted that physical activity aids in producing feel-good chemicals.

Almost any type of exercise can be used to relieve stress. And masturbation is considered physical activity, correct? Endorphins are released during orgasm, and masturbation is a great way to get there. Furthermore, those stress-relieving endorphins can help relieve pain, such as period cramps.

Masturbation may even benefit your relationship in addition to its health benefits. Male participants who achieved orgasm by masturbating had happier marriages and sex lives than those who did not, according to research. Masturbation can help people become more comfortable with their bodies and have higher self-esteem.

Summing Up

In conclusion, it is important to note that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that masturbation has any direct effect on the immune system. While it is true that sexual arousal and orgasm can cause temporary changes in the body, such as an increase in heart rate and the release of certain hormones, these changes are not harmful and do not have any lasting effects on the immune system. As with any aspect of sexual health, it is important to practice safe and consensual masturbation and to prioritise overall physical and emotional well-being. If you have any concerns about the impact of masturbation on your health, it is always a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider or a qualified sex therapist.

References

Philip Haake, Tillmann H C Krueger (2004) Effects of sexual arousal on lymphocyte subset circulation and cytokine production in man (National Library of Medicine) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15316239/