Masturbation is healthy and natural. There are only negative side effects if it is done excessively. There is no exact number of times that is considered excessive. One website I visited said once a week. Another said two or three times a week. I don't agree with either of these. If that were the case, then doctors would advise people not to have sex more than two or three times a week. I believe masturbating more than two or three times a day qualifies as excessive. Also, if a person in a sexual relationship or a married person would rather masturbate than have sex with their partner, it is excessive.
Other than these, the only other disadvantage I can see in masturbating is if a person does it wrong- rubs the urethra, which can cause a urinary tract infection- or if the person masturbates without enough lubrication and irritates the skin.

Masturbation has disadvantages. It affects you physically, intellectually and psychologically.

1. Physically - you may experience these
> You feel weak and tired all the time.
> Have lazy eyes, back problems.
> Think hair that's falling.
> Dry skin.
> Groin, testicular pain.

2. Intellectual disadvantages
> Bad memory
> Fuzzy thinking
> Decreased brain power, energy

3. Psychological disadvantages
> Low self esteem
> Lack of self discipline
> No inner harmony - you feel pessimistic, bad...

I observed these effects on myself and many people (regular Internet users, not "specialists") say the same thing. Try not doing it for a month, and you will see the difference in yourself, your life, your health...
Masturbation does affect you greatly, even though the general view is that "healthy and natural". It may be healthy from one standpoint, but it sucks you out of energy and affects your life badly in more ways in the long term. Choose long term happiness, health and well being over short term bliss. Good luck

I am not trying to begin a debate but I have asked this time and again of those who say masturbation is harmful and I have never received a response with medical proof or studies to support this belief. How is masturbation physiologically different from sex? And if masturbation causes these symptoms, then why doesn't sex cause the same problems?

Please don't listen to anyone that says it's harmful in any way - it's not - in fact in men it's healithier to masurbate at least once or twice a week to improve sperm count! We are animals - animals reproduce - there is nothing different between ejaculating when masturbating and ejaculating when having sex... Do what you want to do! Just perhaps don't see inyternet porn as real life... not all of those men and women are there by their first choice.

Also... to get of the "side effects" mentioned above... You'd have to masturbating all day every day! "Fuzzy thinking"?! Maybe for a couple of minutes afterwards... ;p hehe.

doesnt it make your labia minora bigger depending on waht you do...u can cause friction down there and cause it to become bigger

Hey YouAreSoGreat
Any sexual activity will increase the size of the Labia minora as well as majora. The increases are more or less pronounced for some women but it's mostly a case of swelling of the tissues from sustained arousal causing them to expand. Masturbation that stretches the mouth of the vagina, say using a very thick tool can cause fissuring of the surrounding skin and also contribute to thicker labia minora. Once again most intercourse does this as well. Making sure to allways use proper lubrication will do a lot to mitigate this.