Most people don't like to talk about masturbation. But it's something that, statistically, many of these same people do.
According to a 2016 study from sex toy company Tenga, 95% of men and 81% of women have masturbated in their lifetime.
If you are among these people, you may be pleased to learn that masturbating doesn't just feel good — it's actually pretty good for you, too. Here, Jessa Zimmerman, a certified sex therapist and author of "Sex Without Stress," explains the unexpected health benefits of masturbating.
1. It improves heart health.
"Similar to exercise, masturbation gets your blood pumping," Zimmerman told INSIDER. "This is good for heart health and may contribute to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and weight gain."
This doesn't mean that masturbating is equivalent to running a marathon and, because of this, you shouldn't think of it as a replacement for exercise. But it definitely can't hurt to enjoy as a supplement to your regular exercise routine.
2. It helps you sleep better at night.
If you sometimes have trouble sleeping, masturbating could help knock you out.
"After orgasm, we're normally more relaxed," Zimmerman told INSIDER. "We're also bathed in endorphins and oxytocin, the feel-good hormones that can help us get to sleep easily and sleep more deeply."
Read more:10 sleeping habits that are sabotaging your chance at a good sleep
3. It reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
"Men [who masturbate] have a reduced risk of prostate cancer, presumably through flushing of toxins through ejaculation," Zimmerman told INSIDER.
This checks out. According to a Harvard Health Professionals study, men who ejaculated 21 times or more in a month experienced a 33% lower risk of prostate cancer compared to men who ejaculated four to seven times a month.
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