Just as it's healthy to eat good nutritious food, masturbation is healthy and natural. But one must remember that similar to overeating problems (even if you eat good food), too much masturbation MAY BE damaging. However it's difficult to define 'excess' masturbation and therefore there are no studies that conclusively prove that masturbation causes specific harm. Recently, in a pizza-eating contest in my town, the winner consumed 21 slices and went home dancing but another contestant who ate 10 slices had to be hospitalized! Frequency of masturbation/intercourse can not be generalized because, like appetite and the capacity to eat food, sexual desire and the ability to perform is a highly individual endowment. But masturbating in order to induce sleep is a definite no no! After masturbation it is normal to feel sleepy and hence using it as a tool to sleep signifies that there is a possibility of addiction in your case. There are no reports mentioning that masturbation can cause cancer so you need not worry about this matter.

The symptoms that you describe suggest that you had 'prostatitis' and your doctor has treated you accordingly. In case you need additional information, send an email on rsathe@indiatimes.com.

Reviewed by: Scott Gross M. Ed.