Masturbation causes insanity or infertility is a myth

How widespread is the taboo?

Let’s be honest at some point, almost every young person has heard this warning: “If you keep touching yourself, you’ll go mad!” or “Ah, you want to become infertile?” From the playground to family meetings, this myth spreads faster than gossip. The fear is real, but is there any truth to it? Short answer no!

Why does this myth exist?

• Cultural & religious fear: Many traditional beliefs and religious teachings discourage self-pleasure, turning it into a scary taboo.
• Lack of sex education: Instead of facts, people spread baseless stories to scare young people into “behaving.”
• The old ‘spiritual weakness’ argument: Some believe masturbation drains a person’s energy and makes them weak.

What is the impact of the myth?

• Shame and guilt: People feel bad about a natural act, leading to unnecessary stress.
• Misinformation: Many believe in magical consequences instead of understanding how the body works.
• Lack of proper sex education: If people are too scared to ask questions, they remain misinformed about their own health.

How can we combat the myth?

• Education: Science says masturbation is normal and has no link to infertility or mental illness.
• Honest conversations: Parents, teachers, and health professionals should share facts, not fear.

What’s the bottom line?

Masturbation does not cause madness, infertility, or bad luck. The only thing it might do is help relieve stress—so why the panic? Instead of scaring people, let’s teach them real science. After all, knowledge is power, not something to fear.