Does Female Masturbation Cause Hormonal Imbalance?

There are several reasons that you might be wondering, Does female masturbation cause hormonal imbalance? Maybe you’re having trouble conceiving, or you’re suffering from PCOS. Can masturbation be causing your hormonal issues?

So, does female masturbation cause hormonal imbalance?

The short answer is… no.

So please go ahead and enjoy yourself, worry-free.

Starting with the basics: what is masturbation?

Basically, female masturbation is all about using your own hands (or toys… or whatever else you’re into) to please yourself sexually.

And that’s a pretty awesome thing to do.

You get an intimate solo tour of your body and a chance to experiment with what turns you on.

Plus, it’s the safest way to have sex.

That’s because there’s (almost) no chance of getting STDs.

Just wash your toys and store them safely to keep bacterial infections away.

But can female masturbation have any negative effects on your hormones? Let’s explore the evidence.

In this article: 📝

Masturbation and your hormones

Hormones are the chemical messengers that coordinate various processes in your body.

They’re an important part of your growth and development, and play a key role in your metabolism, sexual function, reproductive health, and mood.

A hormone imbalance can happen when you have too much or too little of one or more of your hormones.

This can lead to certain health conditions that require medical treatment.

There are all sorts of reasons why you might have a hormonal imbalance.

Female hormone imbalances can be caused by menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and thyroid problems.

Trauma, stress, and eating disorders can also all affect your hormones.

Some medical procedures, such as treatments for breast cancer, can also result in hormonal changes.

So what about masturbation? Can it have an effect on your hormones?

Well, here’s where things get tricky.

Masturbation does affect your hormones, just not in any way that you should worry about.

Is masturbation good for female hormones?

Masturbation has all sorts of benefits.

Orgasming releases dopamine (the “pleasure” chemical) and oxytocin (the “bonding” hormone).

It also releases serotonin, which may be why you’re relaxed, in a good mood, and in serious need of a nap afterward.

Various studies (this one and this one, for example) showed that sexual arousal and orgasm can lead to a change in your prolactin levels.

This is the hormone that stimulates the development of your breasts and helps out with milk production.

So why do we release prolactin after orgasm?

Well, we’re not 100% sure — but one theory is that prolactin may help you feel sexually satisfied.

Does masturbation cause PCOS?

The simple answer here is — no.

PCOS happens when your ovaries produce an excess of male sex hormones.

This causes a number of symptoms, including irregular periods, ovarian cysts, acne, and thinning hair.

It also increases the risk of fertility challenges.

We don’t know exactly what causes PCOS, but it might have a link to how your body processes insulin. It also appears to run in families.

What we do know is that it’s not masturbation that causes PCOS.

If anything, as this early research shows, it may be the opposite — having PCOS may impact your sex life, including how much you masturbate.

If you think you may be struggling with these symptoms, reach out to your doctor.

There are various treatment options for PCOS — and there is help available if you’re TTC.

Does female masturbation cause infertility?

The answer to this one is as simple as the one before — no.

While there’s definitely still more work to be done in this area, studies have shown that there’s no link between orgasm rate and the number of children you have.

There is some research to suggest that female orgasms and ovulation are linked, mainly because they both involve the release of prolactin.

It may have been true for our evolutionary ancestors that orgasm caused ovulation.

But even if that was once the case, that is definitely not how ovulation works in humans today.

Basically, releasing prolactin when you reach the height of pleasure will have no bearing on whether you ovulate.

Know that if you’re TTC, there are a variety of complex factors that go into it, many of which are entirely beyond your control.

Be kind to yourself.

And if you want to find other women going through the same thing, join our community.

You don’t have to go through this alone.

In the meantime, if you need a little stress relief, may we recommend spending the night in? 😉

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