Masturbation serves human evolution, says study – 06/18/2023 – Equilibrium

It was thanks to masturbation that the human species got this far. This is what a scientific study published this month in the international journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences indicates. According to the authors, it is possible that self-stimulation is an adaptive trait and has played a key role in the evolution of our species.

Previous work also points to the practice as beneficial to well-being and sexual health, in addition to improving sexual performance.

“Any question involving sex is of interest for the study of our evolutionary process”, says Professor Tiago Falótico, from USP (University of São Paulo).

Masturbation, however, is a behavior that at first glance seems deleterious, a waste of time, energy and resources that does not bring adaptive advantages. In this way, the habit was seen for years as a natural consequence of sensitivity in the genital region. Some specialists even treated it as a pathology. But the new findings shed light on the practice.

To arrive at the results, the study authors gathered information from 400 sources, of which 60% were scientific publications and 40% contributions provided by primatologists and zoo keepers. Then, they crossed the data with the phylogenetic trees of these animals and their coevolution with other traits.

With the results in hand, the researchers raised two hypotheses to explain the role of self-stimulation in the survival game of the species. The first pointed out that the practice increases the chances of fertilization, a phenomenon mainly associated with environments in which many males compete with one female.

The second as a form of infection prevention. When ejaculating, according to experts, male animals clean the urethra, eliminating at least part of possible infectious agents from the region.

Female masturbation, however, was not explored. His motivations still remain unclear to researchers. One of the reasons, according to them, is the lack of scientific data, as there are fewer reports of this behavior in the animal world.

Masturbation occurs naturally among many species in the animal kingdom. Despite not being exclusive to humans, its popularity among us primates is undeniable. According to the new study, self-stimulation has accompanied our evolutionary trunk for about 40 million years. In the period, humans learned to be creative when it comes to having pleasure alone. This is how the use of sex toys to reach orgasm began.

Last year, researchers reported in the scientific journal Ethology how monkeys used stones to manipulate their sex organs. More than an occasional activity, the use of these resources was a recurrent habit of the observed group, mainly among young males. On the other hand, females proved to be more careful when choosing a toy, preferring boulders with sharp edges or textures.

Urologist and professor at UFF (Fluminense Federal University), Rodrigo Barros says that masturbation can bring several benefits to well-being and sexual health. According to him, in addition to being a way to achieve satisfaction without running the risk of STIs (sexually transmitted infections), it is also a way to get to know your body’s erogenous zones better.

As a bonus, ejaculation accompanies the release of neurotransmitters that promote well-being. In some cases, they may also be associated with improved sleep, self-esteem and even sexual performance – benefits well reported in scientific studies. Research among Norwegian men and women of different ages, for example, reveals an association between masturbation and sexual satisfaction.

Urologist Rodrigo Barros warns that compulsive practice can be harmful to fans. “There are people who are more prone to hypersexuality who can become addicted,” he says.

Another risk factor is the practice associated with excessive consumption of pornography, which can generate unrealistic expectations about sex and lead to the so-called idiosyncratic masturbatory style, that is, the habit of a certain type of stimulus that cannot be reproduced during intercourse.

In addition, compulsion can bring problems to everyday life, whether in marital or working life. In these cases, the urologist recommends seeking help from a professional specialist in human sexuality. For others, the recommendation is to follow the example of our ancestors, and continue seeking pleasure with their own hands.