Pornhub made an amazingly interesting post to celebrate Masturbation Month.

If there’s anything we love more than porn, it’s alliteration, and May is masturbation month! To celebrate the essence of our bread and butter, we’re taking a look at the history of flicking the bean, beating the meat, DJing the downstairs club, distributing literature… you know … masturbating!

Sex toy retailer Good Vibrations began “International Masturbation Day” and “International Masturbation Month” in 1995 when former United States president Bill Clinton fired Surgeon General Dr. Jocelyn Elders for suggesting masturbation should be taught in sex ed curriculums in schools. We now celebrate this month in hopes of spreading the word that masturbation is a topic worth discussing with people of all ages and a very real and normal part of life!

Masturbation remains to this day an act that is free, pleasurable, accessible and helps, above all else, to allow people to get to know their bodies better. With May being a month that is closely associated with sexual awakening, there is no better time to put the spotlight on something as misunderstood as masturbation. Unfortunately, we live in a society where many people still harbor guilt about masturbation and hesitate to embrace the beauty of this practice to the fullest.

Since the dawn of time, masturbation has been a topic that has dealt with a fair amount of controversy and misunderstanding. At times deemed inappropriate or blasphemous, masturbation is perpetually under scrutiny by vast selections of the population who may not have a full grasp of the good that it can bring. As the adage goes, to understand the present, we must look to the past!

Going as far back as ancient Egypt, positive references to masturbation are abundant. Masturbation was praised and exalted by the ancient Egyptians, even finding a place in their creation tale as it is said that the God Atum brought the world into existence through masturbating.

Even one of the Pharaohs was known to participate in a ceremony where he would bring fertility to the Nile by masturbating into its waters annually. In contrast to this point of view, other religions have slammed masturbation as a godless act worthy of punishment. In Judaism, the Torah forbids male masturbation based on the tale of Onan, who was ordered to marry the widow of his dead brother but chose to instead waste his seed on the ground and not create further offspring. He would subsequently end up killed by God for being wasteful.

The Babylonians and Zoroastrians believed that masturbation was akin to the destruction of a life and equated it with death. The Ancient Greeks bared a more lenient attitude towards it, feeling that it was a good relief for when a sexual partner was not available.

Masturbation may have many detractors, but it doesn’t take a Pornhub Blog Writer to know that jacking and jilling off have tons of benefits. In addition to the release of an orgasm at its culmination, this polarizing act can also play a pivotal role in several other aspects of both physical and mental health. Among the benefits of masturbation are things such as strengthening the pelvic floor, which some women report leads to stronger orgasms.

The release of an orgasm has also been associated with pain relief; many people find it beneficial for alleviating cramps associated with menstrual cycles.

Masturbation can also help alleviate stress and improve a person’s mood, making them feel happier overall as it causes the brain to respond in a way that is pleasurable and decreases the parts responsible for fear and anxiety. Due to its ability to alleviate stress and anxiety, masturbation before bed can also improve sleep and sleep quality, allowing REM sleep to be achieved faster and the body to recover better. In contrast to helping with sleep quality, masturbation can also make you feel more energized; while the evidence remains sparse at the moment, it’s not hard to fathom that the relaxing effect of experiencing an orgasm will leave the body primed to tackle the day ahead.

While the jury is still out on the following points, some find that frequent and regular masturbation can contribute to increasing one’s libido, as the rush of endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin released during the act leave The Masturbator wanting more. It is also believed that those who masturbate more frequently can last longer in bed, as the human body takes a while to recover and accept sexual stimulation, building up a greater tolerance to sexual release. Regular solo sessions also help to stave off premature ejaculation. When it comes to reproducing, masturbation also has no negative impact on the quality of sperm produced by the men. We’re not doctors, but it’s worth trying to remedy that pain in your ass with a different pain your ass if ya know what I mean.

When looking at it from a relationship standpoint, some may feel that it could compromise their relationship, but it can be beneficial for strengthening your connection. Knowing what you like and how you like it to be done can make you more confident and comfortable with a sexual partner. Watching pornography together and pointing out the things you like/don’t like can also make for a fun session with less pressure.

Masturbation remains the safest and most reliable form of safe sex that is readily available to just about anyone at any time. Unfortunately, masturbation continues to be considered taboo despite years of progressive social thinking and scientific studies disproving harmful and false information about the practice. These taboos often stem from beliefs that masturbation is wasteful, immature, lewd, or even the result of demonic possession!

Despite men having a seemingly infinite source of semen, there are those who believe that any drop that is not used for the sake of impregnating a woman is nothing short of a crime, which could not be further from the truth. Propaganda has allowed for puritanical views to prevail for tremendous periods of time, despite all the readily available evidence that points to the contrary. A moral divide exists that leaves many facing the duality of shutting away their desires for masturbation for the sake of doing what they were taught is the morally acceptable option.

While masturbation is still fighting to gain a foothold as a normalized and acceptable practice, things are moving in the right direction as people are becoming more sex-positive, and quality sex education is becoming more accessible. And if you were wondering if there’s such a thing as too much masturbation, the consensus from health and sex experts is that unless it’s getting in the way of living a normal life, wanking as frequently or as little as you want is healthy and normal. Pornhub averages 150 million daily visitors from around the world, so no, you’re not alone!

So how can we continue to take steps towards removing the negative stigmas around masturbation? Education, reflection, and dialogue! Ask yourself questions about your masturbation habits; why do you do it? Are their negative connotations attached to your reasoning, and are you open to addressing them? Are you embracing pleasure or preoccupied with guilt? What do your friends have to say about the topic? While sexuality can be difficult to discuss with other people, it’s worth exploring on your own so you can enjoy this natural gift to its fullest.

Don’t forget that sex work is real work, and the people behind the videos you masturbate to are real humans who work hard to create a pleasurable experience for you. Regard and treat content creators with the respect and dignity they deserve; after all, they help contribute to all those health benefits associated to masturbating! Pornhub’s Sexual Wellness Center also hosts a plethora of articles addressing the one-man-dance, including this Q&A with clinical psychologist Dr. Laurie Betito.

So happy masturbation month wankers, and remember, if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love someone else, can I get an amen?