Male Masturbation Could Increase Chances of Having Offspring, Study Says Science and technology news

According to a new study, masturbation could increase male primates’ chances of having offspring.

According to the University College London (UCL) study, the act of masturbation can contribute to successful conception by increasing arousal before sex.

The scientists also said that ejaculation after masturbation helps excrete low-quality sperm, leaving fresh sperm available for mating.

The researchers added that it could also reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

However, the scientists said the benefits of female masturbation – from an evolutionary perspective – are even less clear.

Continue reading:
What are the symptoms, how to recognize sexually transmitted diseases and how are they treated?
Little-known STIs can increase the risk of cervical cancer in women

The lead researcher Dr. Matilda Brindle said, “Our findings help shed light on a very common but poorly understood sexual behavior and represent a significant advance in our understanding of the functions of masturbation.”

Masturbation is common in animals, but is thought to be more common in primates, including chimpanzees, monkeys, and humans.

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of The Royal Society B, focused on primates, both wild and captive.

dr Brindle and her colleagues gathered information from 246 published scientific papers and 150 questionnaires to understand when and why masturbation evolved.

They also analyzed personal communications from primate experts and zookeepers.

The results suggest that masturbation was most likely present in the common ancestor of humans and all other primates.