Is it good for you to masturbation? What the science says

First of all, let’s be honest: 95% of men and 72% of women who read this are only here to feel good about what they already do behind closed doors (hopefully).

But if you’ve been waiting your whole lives for science to give you a reason to enjoy your alone time a little too much, it’s time to cancel your plans and get to work, because AsapSCIENCE says you’re doing yourself no favors by… doing yourself no favors.

Even though there have been rumors that masturbation can cause infertility and even blindness, research has shown that it has a lot of benefits.

At the most basic level, it releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that turns on your brain’s “pleasure center,” and endorphins, which make you feel less pain.

For women, this means that it can help ease the pain of cramping during their period. Plus you’ll get a surge of the hormone prolactin, which will help you fall asleep afterwards.

Men seem to benefit the most, since a high number of ejaculations is linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer. Scientists aren’t yet sure why, but maybe all that ejaculating is clearing more carcinogens out of the prostate.

And this isn’t the only reason why humans and other animals evolved to masturbate. It might seem like a waste of sperm and energy, but studies have shown that getting rid of the older sperm more often could be a way to make the younger ones stronger.

Masturbating, on the other hand, is a surefire way to work out the muscles you’ll need to have sex with a real person. Just be smart about it.

As the boys from AsapSCIENCE explain, if you don’t “mix up your techniques,” you might stop responding to other types of sexual stimulation when you’re not alone.

So, what you do on your own time is up to you, but if you want to get a little sexy, don’t worry, science has your back.