I’ve been wondering about this as well. I’m afraid Dr. Lin is fond of the old sales talk : if you can’t convince them confuse them. His website does have ”some merit” but it’s also full of half-truths. So all in all, it’s not even worthwhile reading. It only leads me to deep frustration, because of the trillion links to other pages, one soon gets lost in a maze of mumbo jumbo bringing on bewilderment.

Having said that, yes, it’d be enlightening and possible liberating to hear Dr. Mariano’s thoughts on this topic.

3-4 times a day for several years? You’d be ejaculating bone marrow. 😮

In my late teens, I’ve seen (please don’t fall off your chair) up to 8 times a day. Admittedly this trend wasn’t kept up daily. It only happened on the hot summer days where there were too many gorgeous women showing off their bodies.

I could be in bed with the most beautiful woman under the sun, and I swear to God, I wouldn’t even feel like having sex with her. To any man, this is very hard to even admit. But my perspective is it’s best to face the music. I’m also an eternal optimist.

So now ? I’m down to once ot twice a day depending on how many things I have to do, but why in the world am I still doing it in the first place ??? I mean, I do not even get turned on. Ok, every now and then I do, and then it’s not hard for me to get it up, because I’m then turned on, but when I’m not turned on, then it’s very hard for me to get it up.

Perhaps the only thing that causes me to do it is through habit alone ? Or could it be that desire is there, BUT there’s some biochemical quirk that’s blocking it ? I’m saying this as I have no idea WHY I’m still doing it, since it’s not even fun.

Also, and I should have put this first on my ”account list” it may have become comfort habit instead of comfort food. I’ve been diagnosed with GAD, Dysthymia and ADHD, so perhaps masturbating acts as a innate means to release some anxiety/tension.

Endocrinologically speaking, I should theoretically be easily turned on, since my serum DHT is off the chart. There are other players, but this one is expected to have a major effect.

Does Dr. Mariano look at hormone levels? I have had extensive blood work done under the recommendation of Dr. Michael Overbeck and Shawn Bean. I wouldn’t mind getting a second opinion at some point.

@hardasnails1973 1140 wrote:

I have a few patients that come see us who complain of many years of excessive masturbation (excessive of 3-4 times a day for several years). What kind of damage could be inflicted both neurologically and hormonally on the body? The only way I would look at this would be excessive stress placed on the HPTA resulting in potentially hormonal imbalances. When these patients come in I explain it as a habit that keeps there body in a constant fight or flight mode that never gets disengaged. Over time this behavior results in autonomic imbalance and alternation with in the neurotransmitters. Now we are starting to measure what changes in catecholamines are occuring from this potential destructive behavior. I mention to this people “use or loose it, but never abuse it”.

What effects does excessive masturbation really have on ones mental and physiological well being. I notice in people that masturbate a lot there are numerous zinc, selenium deficiency present. These people tend to have low testosterone and hypothyroidism. One of the myths is that excessive masturbation can cause a zinc deficiency. The more evidence I present the more likely that this is not just a myth, but a real possibility.

I think “excessive masturbation syndrome”, which I would consider a subset of “sexual exhaustion syndrome”, is a condition where there are predisposing underlying problems.

The addition of sexual activity past a certain amount stresses then collapses compensatory mechanisms that had previously allowed one to function well.

If these underlying problems did not exist, then sexual exhaustion syndrome would not occur.

Common underlying problems include thyroid problems, immune system inflammatory activity, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation, chronic infections, nutritional deficiencies, insulin resistance and diabetes, nervous system dysfunction, environmental stress, hypogonadism, etc.

Sexual function involves information processing activity involving the brain’s libido circuits and the primary seeking circuit. There are many intercellular signals involved including dopamine, norepinephrine and oxytocin, testosterone, estradiol, etc. These promote interpersonal connectiveness, sex drive, sexual pleasure and excitement. Dopamine signaling helps trigger the primary seeking circuit to determine the form of sexual behavior that satisfies the libido circuitry. Norepinephrine signaling occurs within the sympathetic nervous system as a component of the libido circuitry. It helps promote excitement during sex. And a pulse of norepinephrine triggers the orgasm.

One problem with the circuitry is the use of norepinephrine as a signal. Norepinephrine has multiple systemic actions aside from sexual function. It is the primary signal for stress (thus sex itself can be considered a stressful, though enjoyable activity). Norepinephrine also triggers energy on demand. It increases thermogenesis. It can lead to changes in thyroid function – up or down. It can lead to insulin resistance, increasing the need for insulin production. It can change renal function, leading to the loss of zinc, iodine and other minerals. It can activate immune system pro-inflammatory signaling. Etc.

If there are underlying problems which already increase stress or demand for norepinephrine signaling, then the sum of these and additional sexual activity can increase norepinephrine signaling excessively leading to the problems one can experience with sexual exhaustion. Some of the changes can lead to positive feedback signaling loops which are self-perpetuating – resulting in a prolonged illness, if triggered. Some of the positive feedback loops prolong sympathetic nervous system, i.e. norepinephrine, signaling. Some changes can result in nutrient deficiencies which cause prolonged dysfunction if not addressed.

In briefly reviewing the symptoms listed on the internet for over-masturbation or sexual exhaustion syndrome, I found the following:

anxiety
depression
insomnia
lack of energy
impaired memory
mood swings
loss of libido
erectile dysfunction
headaches
body pain
blurred vision
flushed face
constipation
frequent urination
dizziness
palpitations
hair loss

Note that these symptoms indicate a systemic problem. Generally, the systems involved include the nervous system, endocrine system, immune system, metabolism and nutrition.

Some simple associations between function and a few of the signals or nutrients that are most often affected are as follows:

Anxiety: norepinephrine, serotonin, cortisol, CRH, thyroid, dopamine, testosterone, progesterone, etc.

Depression: dopamine, inflammatory cytokines, iron, Vitamin A, B-vitamins, vitamin D, testosterone, etc.

Insomnia: norepinephrine, thyroid, cortisol, iron, etc.

Lack of energy: thyroid, inflammatory cytokines, norepinephrine, cortisol, insulin, iron, vitamin A, B-vitamins, salt-intake, etc.

Impaired memory: dopamine, norepinephrine, thyroid, inflammatory cytokines, B-vitamins, Vitamin A, etc.

Mood swings: norepinephrine, inflammatory cytokines, cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, thyroid, iron, Vitamin A, B-vitamins, protein intake, etc.

Loss of libido: norepinephrine, inflammatory cytokines, testosterone, estrogens, thyroid, cortisol, iron, zinc,

Erectile dysfunction: norepinephrine, inflammatory cytokines, testosterone, estrogens, thyroid, cortisol, nitric oxide, protein intake, etc.

Headaches: inflammatory cytokines, norepinephrine, cortisol, etc.

Body pain: inflammatory cytokines, norepinephrine, cortisol, thyroid, iron, aldosterone, etc.

Blurred vision: norepinephrine, thyroid, inflammatory cytokines, iron, etc.

Flushed face: norepinephrine, thyroid, inflammatory cytokines, iron, etc.

Constipation: thyroid, norepinephrine, etc.

Frequent urination: norepinephrine, thyroid, inflammatory cytokines, iron, etc.

Dizziness: norepinephrine, inflammatory cytokines, aldosterone, cortisol, nitric oxide, salt-intake, etc.

Palpitations: norepinephrine, inflammatory cytokines, cortisol, etc.

Hair loss: norepinephrine, thyroid, inflammatory cytokines, testosterone, estradiol, DHT, DHEA, zinc, biotin, etc.

Treatment of sexual exhaustion syndrome would involve assessing and addressing the psychosocial factors, nervous system factors, endocrine system factors, immune system factors, metabolic and nutritional factors that are involved to cause dysfunction once sexual activity is added to the system. Often there are multiple underlying problems. Generally, mental dysfunction (e.g. sexual dysfunction) indicates the presence of multiple underlying problems, often involving multiple body systems.

I’ve been dealing with the same issues for over the past year or so. I live in New Jersey and would like to see Dr. Overbeck and Hardasnails. Can someone send along the contact details? Is he located in Conshohocken, PA?

Thank You.