How much is too much self-pleasuring? This is a common question men have. Quite simply, the answer is this: When it interferes with a man’s life, he’s doing it too much. While most men worry about the frequency of solo play, it’s important for them to also consider the way in which they engage in it. Certain self-pleasuring methods can interfere with a man’s ability to get turned on by and achieve release with a partner. So, while getting plenty of pumping in can be beneficial to male organ health, going about it the right way is imperative for a man’s romantic life.

The following ways of engaging in self-pleasure have the potential to interfere with a man’s partner-based gratification:

1. Odd Self-Pleasuring Methods

Recently, a study was published that explored the impacts of unusual self-pleasuring practices on a man’s satisfaction with partner-based lovemaking. “Unusual” here meant methods that depart significantly from sensations that can be achieved during sensual activity with someone else. Examples included stimulation by Jacuzzi jets and vacuum hoses as well as self-pleasuring with a flaccid member.

The researchers found that men who engaged in these types of practices reported reduced member sensation, lowered sensual drives, performance dysfunction and difficulty reaching release. A man’s self-stimulation practices, when engaged in frequently, train his male organ and brain what to respond to; if he’s used to these sensations that can’t be replicated during partner activity, then he may find himself unable to perform or obtain pleasure with another person.

2. Visual Aid Overload

There’s no shortage of adult entertainment available to anyone with a computer. The amount, variety and easy access make it a standard go-to for the person who enjoys visual aids during self-pleasuring.

It’s possible to enjoy these aids without having it interfere with a man’s romantic life, but some men get a little too into it. Men who regularly watch very hardcore or violent videos may come to require such things in order to release, and the scenarios featured in these aids can’t always be recreated with a partner. In addition, some men may find themselves requiring increasingly intense and graphic visual stimuli in order to obtain the results they used to get from softer materials. That’s because adult images and videos induce a flood of dopamine, the brain’s feel-good chemical; much as with a substance abuser, the individual may become “tolerant” and require more of the stuff to achieve the same effect.

Treatment

If a man’s solo habits have inhibited his enjoyment and performance abilities with a person in the flesh, there are steps he can take to recover and experience better lovemaking. Though unpleasant, the first step is to take a hiatus from self-pleasuring – one month is a good time period, but if serious addiction to a certain stimulus or to the practice itself is present, a longer stretch may be required. Men can consult a therapist for advice specific to their unique situations.

The second phase of treatment is “self-pleasuring retraining.” Here, men adopt self-pleasuring methods that are more in line with what actually happens with a partner. Manual methods that simulate sensations he could experience with another person and use of less intense visual aids are options.

Keeping it Sensitive

In addition to maintaining one’s sensitivity on a biochemical level, it’s important for men to maintain it on the level of their male organ nerves. Exposure to friction – from self-pleasuring, lovemaking, clothing, etc. – can cause a reduction in the sensitivity of the nerves; also, skin that has been subjected to plenty of wear can grow tough, further deadening sensations. The use of a male organ health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) can combat these causes of lost feeling. Ingredients like Shea butter and vitamin E work to keep the skin smooth, while acetyl L-carnitine provides a neuroprotective boost to keep the male organ responsive.