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Health

04th Oct 2024

Doctor issues warning about popular sex act that could damage your health

Ryan Price

It could be impacting men’s erectile functioning and increasing the risk of ED.

A leading doctor has issued a warning about the dangers of a popular sex act that could have a long-lasting negative impact on men.

Edging is a masturbation technique that can also be used during sex.

It consists of reaching the point of climax before delaying orgasm and beginning again.

It’s a popular technique as it can increase the pleasure and intensity of an orgasm – when it eventually occurs.

It also prolongs sexual activity, be that sex or masturbation, proving a useful technique for people who experience premature ejaculation – allowing individuals to enjoy more arousal before climax. 

However, while this technique has some benefits, it also comes with some health risks.

According to Dr Donald Grant, a GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, prolonged exposure to edging could also have a negative impact on erectile function, increasing the risk of an already widespread condition among men, erectile dysfunction.

While edging remains a popular technique for enhancing sexual pleasure, it’s evidently not without its health risks.

Long-term edging could have a variety of effects on men’s ability to achieve orgasm. Dr Grant went into further detail on this:

Edging can cause desensitisation

“Our bodies quickly get used to our habits and this is no different when it comes to sex and masturbation,” he said. “Through long-term use of the edging technique, our bodies may become desensitised to normal intercourse or masturbation techniques.

“This can have a lasting impact on men’s ability to maintain stimulation, making it more difficult to achieve or maintain an erection – a common sign of erectile dysfunction and may require treatment. 

The technique could impact blood flow

“As edging consists of increasing blood flow to the penis repeatedly without ejaculating, it could lead to problems with erectile function.

“There’s currently a lack of evidence to infer that it could have long-term issues, but repeated edging could lead to penile discomfort and temporary issues achieving orgasms.”

Increased risk of injury 

“Edging promotes long periods of sexual pleasure which can lead to overstimulation and enhance the likelihood of injuries. Repeated masturbation for prolonged periods could irritate the genital area, cause friction or cause tears in the skin – particularly if products such as lube aren’t used.

Dr Grant continued: “It may also lead to testicular tension, also known as ‘blue balls’. To avoid this, limit edging sessions and always use products that help avoid friction.

“Overall, like any masturbation technique or sexual activity, there’s a range of risks to be aware of. Edging varies from person to person in terms of length and frequency. I recommend managing how often this technique is used and combining it with normal sexual intercourse and masturbation techniques to help protect against desensitisation. 

“With the increased risk of injury, it’s also important to use lubricant products to avoid dry skin and chafing. It’s interesting to discover the potential erectile issues men can face when edging – with stimulation and blood flow both impacted in the short term.”