4 myths your patients still believe about masturbation
Key Takeaways
Industry Buzz
“We need to separate clinical hypersexuality from everyday sexual behavior. [Many patients] who attempt abstinence do so not because of true compulsive behavior, but due to guilt of addiction or societal pressure.” — Sangeeta Hatila, MD
“The key is helping patients understand that masturbation is a normal and healthy part of sexual function. When I discuss this with patients, I focus on evidence-based facts while also acknowledging any personal, cultural, or religious concerns they may have.” — Randall Turner, DO
Find more of your peers' perspectives and insights below.
On Nicole Byer’s podcast “Why Won't You Date Me?” Jimmy Kimmel joked that single men should stop masturbating, saying: "Really, what kills ya—and I think especially for guys…— is masturbating. If you've got a, you know, a not-so-great buffet at your house, you're not going to go out for meals." He then claimed two friends quit for a month and soon met their wives.[]
Meant as a joke, his remarks have revived old myths about masturbation harming relationships and health. MDLinx spoke with board-certified psychiatrists Sangeeta Hatila, MD, and Randall Turner, DO, to break down the most common misconceptions patients still believe.
Myth 1: It’s addictive and disrupts partnered sex
As evident from the story above, there is a widespread misconception that masturbation is inherently addictive and detracts from partnered intimacy. While compulsive sexual behavior is a clinical concern in rare cases, routine masturbation is not equivalent to an addiction.
Dr. Hatila stresses, “We need to separate clinical hypersexuality from everyday sexual behavior. In clinical practice, the vast majority of patients who masturbate do not suffer from addiction or impaired relationships.” She goes on to say, "Many who attempt abstinence do so not because of true compulsive behavior, but due to guilt of addiction or societal pressure.”
Myth 2: ‘Semen retention’ boosts vitality
In an online survey of 1,063 male participants, the perceived negative health effects of masturbation were the strongest motivators of abstinence.[]
One study analyzing TikTok and Instagram content revealed that, despite no solid clinical evidence for the benefit of semen retention, the topic was one of the most popular men’s health subjects on these platforms, judged by overall impressions, post counts, and engagement metrics.[]
Unsurprisingly, it was non-physicians who authored all posts on this subject, and these posts recorded a misinformation index of 1.5 (the lowest among examined topics).
Dr. Hatila explains, “This is one of the oldest myths, especially in fitness and athletic communities. Patients worry that ejaculation causes lethargy by depleting protein levels, weakening the body, or reducing muscle growth.”
She further clarifies, “The average ejaculate contains only 5 grams of protein (roughly the amount in a single egg white.) This is negligible compared to daily dietary protein intake in men, ranging from 50 to 150 grams.”
Myth 3: Masturbation causes sexual dysfunction
As Dr. Turner notes, “One of the biggest misconceptions is that masturbation somehow causes erectile dysfunction, infertility, or decreases in testosterone levels.”
However, the empirical evidence tells a different story:
A study in the International Journal of Impotence Research involving 3,586 men found no consistent link between masturbation frequency and erectile function, erectile dysfunction severity, and satisfaction in relationships.[]
Another study found that short-term abstinence, not masturbation, increases testosterone levels slightly.[]
Dr. Hatila adds, “Neuroimaging and hormonal studies confirm that the same physiological pathways activated during partnered sex are engaged during masturbation, with no sign of tissue damage or hormonal imbalance.”
Myth 4: It causes hair loss
"The belief that masturbation causes hair loss is based on pure misinformation, yet so many patients are convinced it’s true," Dr. Hatila says, noting that many patients assume frequent ejaculation depletes protein, thus weakening hair follicles, or that masturbation spikes testosterone, accelerating hair loss. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this—male pattern baldness is genetically driven and influenced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels, not semen loss.
So why do these myths persist? Because there’s very little research on the topic. As one Reddit user put it: "Pubmed does not have A SINGLE paper in its access to journals and books from the 70s to now that talks about masturbation and hair health in the same context."
Dr. Hatila recognizes that clinicians are in the driver's seat when it comes to dispelling masturbation myths: “With no clear scientific answers, patients turn to internet speculation instead of evidence-based medicine… and that makes physicians responsible in properly guiding their patients.”
Dr. Turner’s approach can come in handy while counseling patients: “The key is helping patients understand that masturbation is a normal and healthy part of sexual function. When I discuss this with patients, I focus on evidence-based facts while also acknowledging any personal, cultural, or religious concerns they may have.”
Read Next: These docs say men should have a more equitable role in reproductive health—but are they ready for it?