Pop quiz!

If a guy masturbates, will his penis fall off?

a) Yes! (I knew it.)
b) What’s “masturbate”?
c) Uhmm…I don’t know.
d) Of course not!

If you chose D, you're right. If you chose any other answer, don’t worry. Masturbation is nothing to freak out about. Read on to find out more!

Tickling the taco. Walking the dog. Choking the chicken. No matter what you call it, it’s all the same: touching your own body for sexual pleasure. You’d think that, with all these different names for masturbation, teens would be well informed— yet many of us aren't. In fact, one of the top questions we get at Sexetc.org is whether masturbation will harm you. With so many myths out there, it’s hard not to be confused.

The most common misconception is that masturbation is harmful or “bad” for your health. This is not true at all. Although some people may choose not to masturbate, there’s no scientific evidence that masturbation causes any physical harm. So if you’re concerned, keep in mind that it’s completely healthy and many teens do it. It will not damage your body, make it impossible for you to have kids, stunt your growth or make hair grow on your hands. (You won’t believe some of the things we hear!) And it will most definitely not make your penis (or vulva) fall off. They're called myths for good reason: none of them are true!

Busting Masturbation Myths

Here are some of the most popular misconceptions about masturbation, along with the real deal:

Myth #1: Girls don’t masturbate.

Are you kidding? As a matter of fact, most teens masturbate. Surveys show that 90 percent of males and 59 percent of females have masturbated by age 18. If guys do it, why wouldn’t girls? Masturbation allows girls to experience pleasure in a safe and responsible way, just as it does for guys. And no one’s ever gotten pregnant or caught a sexually transmitted disease from masturbating. Something to think about!

Myth #2: Your penis will shrink if you masturbate.

Masturbation will never stunt your body’s growth or development.

Myth #3: Masturbation can cause infertility, meaning you won’t be able to become pregnant or get someone pregnant.

In the male body, the testicles make new sperm all the time, so masturbating will not make a guy “run out” of sperm or unable to cause a pregnancy. And masturbation doesn’t affect a girl’s ovulation or menstrual cycle at all.

Myth #4: A girl can get pregnant from masturbation.

It is impossible to become pregnant unless sperm enters the vagina. So as long as she’s masturbating alone, she shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

Myth #5: People who masturbate are perverted.

There is absolutely nothing unhealthy about masturbating. It does not mean your mind is weird or “messed up.” Masturbation is a typical way for many teens to feel pleasure, relieve strong sexual urges and learn about their bodies’ responses. And there’s nothing unhealthy about not masturbating. You're healthy if you do and healthy if you don’t.

Myth #6: Only people who "can’t get any” masturbate.

Not true! Many people—single or in a relationship—masturbate when their partners are unavailable. For some, it allows them to learn more about their bodies, so they can communicate better with their partners about what they enjoy sexually.

Myth #7: It’s bad to masturbate every day.

It won’t hurt your body to masturbate every day—or even twice or more a day. It’s really up to each person to decide what feels right for them. The only time masturbation becomes a problem is when it gets in the way of daily activities, such as school, sports, friends or work.

Masturbation feels good, helps us learn what feels good to our bodies and allows us to release sexual tension—all without risking the consequences of unprotected sex. So if you masturbate or not, there's no need to stress!