Dear Patient, Thank you very much for your question. Also I have answered many questions similar to yours. Masturbation is absolutely innocent, harmless and normal sexual response in both males and females. According to an Australian study, men who masturbate frequently are less prone to prostate cancer in older ages. However, masturbation can be very annoying and disturbing once it becomes a compulsion and then it is harmful because you waste your important time that you can spend on other important activities such as studies and sport. When masturbation is a compulsion, it can be due to an anxiety disorder called obsessive compulsive disorder. Many young people who suffer from anxiety practice masturbation frequently as a relief. However, relief you gain from masturbation is only a temporary solution for your anxiety. My advice is to consult your family doctor to treat your anxiety. Meditation, yoga ,regular exercises and anxiety relieving breathing exercises also can be useful for you. Once your anxiety disorder is properly treated, you can get rid of excessive masturbation. However, masturbation is harmful only if it becomes an excessive habit. Otherwise, it is absolutely normal and harmless. I think I answered your question. Do not worry. Good luck! Dr. Dinesh Nuwan Weerasinghe. MD