Reviewed By Dr. Gauttam S Prajapati MBBS, D.P.M. (Psychiatry)
Myths about masturbation have been around for ages. Even today, masturbation is taboo in many cultures, and people avoid discussing this even in private. Lack of sexual health awareness combined with the shame and stigma associated with masturbation promotes the spread of misinformation about it. Yet, it is a known activity in the lives of both men and women. An article published by the National Library of Medicine cites that 80% of men and women regularly masturbate.
In this article, we will be demystifying a common myth: masturbation affects hair growth. So, if you want to learn more about the topic, read on.
How Does Masturbation Affect Hair Growth?
Hair is an essential part of who we are and our body image. So, if hair loss is one of the side effects of masturbation, that would mean choosing between pleasure and our identity. Let us put an end to this dilemma once and for all.
No, masturbating does not cause hair loss. There is no scientific evidence supporting the myth that masturbation affects hair growth.
One leading misconception that leads to this myth is that masturbating affects the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the male body. DHT is a male sex hormone that’s the main factor responsible for male pattern baldness. However, masturbation has no direct link with increasing or decreasing the levels of DHT in the male body.
Are There Any Risks Associated With Masturbation?
No study or medical research has proven that there are harmful effects of masturbation. Yet, as a general rule of thumb, anything excess can be harmful. There could be a few side effects of excessive masturbation.
- Engaging in excessive masturbation can interfere with our attention spans and capacity for concentration. It might, in turn, hamper our studies, progress in schools or colleges, office work, and in other aspects of our lives.
- Another side effect of excessive masturbation is that it causes emotional turmoil in romantic relationships. One partner might feel neglected or unseen if the other partner masturbates too often.
- A psychological effect of masturbation is guilt. Masturbating often can make the person feel ashamed of enjoying it too much.
- Masturbating often can also lead to swollen and injured genitals. Indulging in rough masturbation can also bring about decreased sexual sensitivity.
Thus, masturbation is an act of pleasure that should be treated as such. It cannot be harmful to our physical health, but it is crucial to remember there is an appropriate limit for everything.
Does Masturbation Lower Protein Levels?
The myth that masturbation affects hair growth might stem from the fact that semen is rich in protein, and with each ejaculation, the body loses semen and, with it, some protein. But the following statistics will put this myth in perspective.
100 ml of semen contains about 5.04 gm of protein. Each ejaculation consists of approximately 3.3 to 3.7 ml of semen. So, the loss of protein through each ejaculation is almost negligible. Such a small amount of protein loss cannot deprive our bodily systems of nutrients or affect hair nourishment to cause hair loss.
Myths Surrounding Masturbation
Many unscientific myths about masturbating are quite infamous. Most of them are baseless and have no supporting evidence. Some of the common myths revolving around masturbation are:
- It can lead to blindness.
- It can cause infertility in women.
- It can cause impotence in men.
- It can damage genitalia, causing erectile dysfunction in men.
- It can cause hair growth on palms.
The only reason blatant myths have been around for so long is that everybody is hesitant to talk about masturbation openly.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, when done in moderation, there are no side effects of masturbation. On the contrary, the effects of masturbation on our bodies can be positive and healthy. It can relieve people from stress, help to strengthen and maintain the bodily functions of men and women, and is a safe way to attain sexual satisfaction without the risk of contracting STDs. Thus, masturbating does not affect our hair or cause hair loss.
If you suffer from hair loss and have heard the myth that masturbation affects hair, you might be worried. But we hope that this article has burst this myth for you. There could be multiple reasons for your hair loss, ranging from male pattern baldness, stress, harmful products, environmental factors, diet, etc., but masturbation is not the culprit.
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