What happens when you stop masturbating as doctor gives surprising answer to how often you should do it

As much as certain schools might try to teach you otherwise, masturbation can be pretty healthy.

While there will rightly soon be new rules on the age at which young people can access explicit content on the internet, which may well result in a downturn in the average number, it's fair to say that masturbation is pretty common among adults.

Depending on the way you approach it, with pornography likely to cause problems in the bedroom according to one doctor, it's common consensus among most health professionals that the occasional onanism can be good for us, but how much is too much?

For those of you currently reading this article and pondering whether it's sensible to go again, Dr. Jen Claude revealed her answer to the age-old question in a recent video on her YouTube channel.

How much is too much? (Getty Stock Image)

"Well, I've got some perhaps good news for you," she began. "Before I give you the answer let me remind you that masturbation is perfectly fine, okay? Masturbation actually can be a very healthy part of overall life and fulfilment, so I don't want you to think that masturbation is not okay.

"There's not a top limit threshold. It's nothing like 'oh you can't masturbate more than this amount of times,' there's not a lower threshold, there's not a number of times in a day, a week, a month," she continued.

"Certain people masturbate multiple times a day, some people masturbate only certain times every few months depending on whatever. Some people masturbate when they're in a certain mood, some people masturbate at other times, it just depends."

How do you know if you're masturbating too much?

While there's no set maximum number of times per week or month for self pleasure, there are signs you could be doing it too much.

Claude continued: "The only caveat [is] you can masturbate as much as you want so long as it doesn't interfere with your daily life; it doesn't interfere with your mental wellbeing, it does not interfere with your relationships; interfere with your ability to go to your job or lead a happy, healthy, productive.

Maybe giving it up isn't worth it (Getty Stock)

"In certain situations you can see how masturbation becomes compulsive, in which case we say that you need to be evaluated, you need to discuss this with a licensed professional, okay?"

What happens when you stop masturbating?

If you've spent any time on the internet in the past few years you will probably be familiar with a certain trend that sees men stop doing it for one month, with experts previously explaining the benefits of 'no nut November'.

One man even managed it for a whole year, and explained the changes he saw in his body, many of which were positive.

For those of you who are contemplating going without it for a while, a sex expert has shared some of the changes you could experience by stopping for just a short while.

Most of them seem pretty negative, as we're likely to experience mood swings or uncontrollable urges, with extended arousal also likely.

But patience is a virtue and it seems as if waiting can sometimes pay off, as she also reckons that it will lead to better sex in the long term.