Since the beginnings of recorded history, there is evidence that manual pleasuring – a healthy, natural activity in both men and women – has been frowned upon, or even downright forbidden, as an act that can cause physiological and/or spiritual damage. It is not the aim of this article to address the moral issues related to self-pleasuring, as these are highly individualized. On the other hand, many men have been exposed to an endless mythology about everything that can go wrong due to manual pleasuring, leading to feelings of guilt or fear in men who engage in the practice. Here, some of these myths are addressed, with an explanation as to why they are simply not true; and in addition, we offer some male organ care tips for keeping things healthy.

Myth #1: Manual pleasuring causes blindness

The idea that self-stimulation can lead to loss of sight is centuries old. It is likely that this myth grew up around a need to discourage children from experimenting by threatening them with terrible consequences, but there is no scientific evidence linking the practice to blindness.

Myth #2: Manual pleasuring causes hair loss

This notion may seem reasonable on a certain level. Self-stimulation, as well as partner relations, is linked to increased levels of androgen, which are in turn linked to male-pattern baldness. However, while the urge to get off is linked to androgen, the act itself does not increase androgen levels in the blood, and therefore, arguing that self-pleasure causes baldness is misleading.

Myth #3: Manual pleasuring causes excessive hair growth

The notorious hair-on-the-palms rumor likely falls under the same category as the blindness myth. It is easy to see where a male would be discouraged from experimenting if he were afraid that the evidence would be plainly visible to everyone. However, if this were the case, then most men would have hairy palms, and it is a safe bet that anyone reading this article would be among them.

Myth #4: Manual pleasuring causes infertility

As with the idea of hair loss, it might seem to make sense that spilling seed through manual pleasuring would lead to a loss of fertility. It is true that right after release, a man will not have has many swimmers in the reservoirs, but the supply will quickly rebuild itself. In fact, the “use it or lose it” principle applies here, and men who do not take the opportunity to release every so often may actually have fewer reproductive cells than those who take advantage of the occasional alone time.

Myth #5: Manual pleasuring causes weakness

In some cultures, the release of male fluid (without the benefit of a female partner) is viewed as weakening a man, and those who do engage from time to time may believe that any feelings of fatigue or illness are related to their experimenting with self-pleasure. Again, no scientific link has ever been found between “weakness” and manual pleasuring, so it is likely that any related physiological problems are really all in an individual’s head.

Caring for the manhood and preventing manual pleasuring-related issues

While manual pleasuring is certainly normal, and many of the stories told to prevent males from exploring their bodies simply are not grounded in fact, men can experience some adverse side effects of self-pleasuring – IF they do not exercise some precautions and engage in adequate male organ care.

Vigorous manual stroking creates heat and friction, which can leave the skin feeling raw and chafed. Over time, this causes a thickened, protective layer of skin to develop that can dull sensation and make it more difficult to experience sensory pleasure. In addition, hard pulling or lying on a bed or pillow to self-stimulate creates a risk of bruising and other injury. In order to prevent these issues, a more gentle approach is recommended, and an appropriate lubricant should be part of every session.

To avoid friction injuries and reduce the risk of lost male organ sensation, a high quality male organ health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) can be applied to the skin on a daily basis. Using a moisturizing, vitamin-rich cream as part of the daily male organ care regimen is a good way to improve overall male organ health so that every experience – solo or with a partner – is more satisfying and fulfilling.

Visit www.man1health.com for more information about treating common male organ health problems, including soreness, redness and loss of male organ sensation. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous online web sites.