Peyronie’s Disease and Masturbation

Masturbation prominently factors into Peyronie’s disease.   A man will either cause his own Peyronie’s problem when he abusively or violently masturbates , or later as he attempts to cope with the growing sexual frustration and limitation created by  the curved penis of his Peyronie’s disease.

Masturbation is the self-stimulation of the female or male genitals to arouse sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm or sexual climax.  It is commonly performed by touching, stroking, or in some way pleasurably stimulating the penis or clitoris until orgasm occurs.

Peyronie’s disease intersects with masturbation in particular for several reasons:

  1. Older boys and men of all ages can injure themselves during rough masturbation rituals with the potential to lead to Peyronie’s disease, especially if genetically predisposed to develop PD.
  2. Men who are unable or too embarrassed to expose their deformity to their sexual partner often resort to masturbation to release sexual tension, and perhaps in a negative mindset will be abusive to themselves.
  3. Men who are unable to engage in sexual intercourse because of severe penile distortions can receive masturbation from them partner as a way to share sexual pleasure, serving as a substitute for traditional intercourse.
  4. Women who are denied sexual intercourse because of a partner’s severe penile distortion or erectile dysfunction related to Peyronie’s disease can be masturbated as a way to share sexual pleasure, as a substitute for traditional intercourse.
  5. Women who are denied sexual intercourse because of her partner’s emotional and physical withdrawal, thus isolated from the man with Peyronie’s disease, can use masturbation to release sexual tension while he is working out his own problems.

General masturbation comments

At one time or another or all life long, just about everyone masturbates – male and female.  It is an extremely common behavior, even among people with access to sexual intercourse and other erotic outlets with a partner. While in one national study 95% of males and 89% of females reported they have masturbated, those who reported they had never masturbated admitted they would be reluctant to admit it if they did – thus these numbers are probably low.

For young children masturbation is a normal part of youthful exploration, often becoming the first sexual act. Most people continue to masturbate in adulthood, and many do so throughout their lives.  The most common explanation given why people limit or avoid masturbation is the shame and guilt that arises from religious and societal pressure.

Once regarded as a perversion and sign of a mental problem, masturbation is now seen as a normal, healthy sexual activity that is pleasant, fulfilling, acceptable, and safe. Masturbation is only considered a problem under certain circumstances:

  1. Directly or indirectly inhibits sexual activity with a partner.
  2. Causes significant distress if done compulsively and uncontrollably, against the greater desire of the individual to stop.
  3. Interferes with daily activities of life.
  4. Compulsively done in public or at socially inappropriate times.

No longer considered as being harmful, masturbation is thought to improve sexual health and interpersonal relationships, if after learning what is personally pleasurable this knowledge is shared with a partner.  Especially in the situation of Peyronie’s disease many partners use mutual masturbation to develop and refine techniques for a more satisfying sexual relationship, when more traditional sexual outlets are not an option.

Masturbation can contribute to sexual dysfunction in Peyronie’s disease

Men who habitually masturbate in ways that are not common with a sex partner – employing mechanical measures that produce an unusually intense stimulus, stroking with great pressure or unnatural friction, resulting in soft tissue damage of the penis – can become so accustomed and dependent on that particular level or type of stimulus that partner-sex becomes insufficient for sexual arousal and leads to retarded ejaculation.  When a man experiences this sexual dysfunction he finds it difficult or even impossible to climax during more conventional partnered sex.

Michael A. Perelman, PhD, clinical associate professor of psychiatry, reproductive medicine, and urology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and the president of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research states, “Any man experiencing any sexual dysfunction should ask himself if he’s masturbating in ways that produce sensations that differ from those he gets from his partner’s hand, mouth, or vagina.  If so, then he should consider what he could say to her to make the stimulation more similar — and how he could change the way he masturbates to make it feel more similar to what his partner does.”

Safe masturbation in Peyronie’s disease

Generally, the best and safest masturbation you can enjoy by yourself or with a partner is that which is most like vaginal stimulation.  This can be as simple as using the hand in a fist to surround the erection while applying upward and downward stroking, oral stimulus, or sex toys that feel like a vagina.   This kind of masturbation is therapeutic once the Peyronie’s curvature has been corrected and more traditional sexual encounters can be enjoyed once again.

Lastly, because penile injury is thought to be a prime cause of Peyronie’s disease, it is mandatory that all masturbation be gentle and well lubricated to avoid worsening of an already bad situation. For more information, click on “Peyronie’s Disease and Sex.”