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17 Ways Masturbation Helps (Or Hurts) You

There's a lot you may not know about getting down with your bad self.

Masturbation is like leftover pizza: While you would prefer to get something fresh and hot, if you're hungry it will do just fine. But how much do you really know about "alone time"? They say you can't love someone else unless you love yourself first, so here are some random facts about getting down with your bad self.

1. The good news: Guys, if you regularly "flush out" your pipes when you're over 50, it lowers your risk of prostate cancer, according to a Harvard Medical School study.

2. The bad news: While you're still under 50, frequent masturbation could be the result of a high sex drive, which may be linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer.

3. The University of Sydney found that masturbation leads to a lower chance of diabetes and insomnia. Maybe because you aren't eating candy during that time?

4. Careful, though. If you go at it too hard, you can fracture your own penis.

5. According to the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, 80 percent of males have masturbated by age 17, as opposed to 58 percent of females -- and those who do are more likely to have sex and use condoms.

Related: Everything You (N)ever Wanted To Know About Condoms

6. By adulthood, those numbers rise to 92 percent of men and 62 percent of women.

7. During the Victorian era, many doctors believed masturbation was a disease -- and to stop themselves, they would wear a Jugum Penis. Behold the horror:

Phisick.com

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8. Seventy percent of married people admit to masturbating. For better and for worse.

9. According to a Kinsey Institute survey, 38 percent of people say they watch porn merely as a distraction, and 43 percent "because I can fantasize about things I would not necessarily want in real life."

10. Proponents of masturbation can't decide whether May 7 or May 28 is International Masturbation Day. Heck, why can't we just celebrate both days?

11. Fifty-three percent of women use toys when masturbating. Whatever your gender, just be sure to take them out afterward.

12. More than 7 million Fleshlights have been sold worldwide.

13. Every year, between 500 and 1,000 people die from autoerotic asphyxiation in the U.S. alone. Maybe have a spotter?

Related: 22 Facts To Make You Feel Better (Or Worse) About Your Sex Life

14. Earlier this year, Apple nixed an app called "Happy Fun Time" that taught women how to masturbate through a cartoon vulva.

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15. According to Planned Parenthood, masturbation is an effective way to "relieve menstrual cramps and muscle tension."

16. In 1994, under pressure from Republicans, President Bill Clinton fired U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders for suggesting that masturbation should be taught to help prevent AIDS.

17. Only 46 percent of women report having an orgasm within three minutes from masturbation. Ninety-nine percent of men could probably have an orgasm while reading this sentence.

Head to itsyoursexlife.com for serious answers to your serious questions about sex and relationships

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