Masturbation can increase a male primate’s chances of having offspring, according to a new study.
Research from University College London (UCL) has shown that self-pleasing behaviors can contribute to successful fertilization by increasing pre-sex arousal.
Scientists also say ejaculating after masturbation helps expel low-quality semen, leaving fresh sperm available for copulation.
It may also reduce the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI), the researchers added.
However, the evolutionary benefits of masturbation for women are unclear, scientists say.
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Lead researcher Dr Matilda Brindle said: “Our findings help shed light on a very common but poorly understood sexual behavior and represent a major advance in our understanding of the function of masturbation.”
Masturbation is common among animals but is thought to be more prevalent among primates, including chimpanzees, monkeys and humans.
The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, focused on primates in the wild and in captivity.
Dr. Brindle and her colleagues gathered information from 246 published academic papers and 150 questionnaires to understand when and why masturbation evolved.
They also analyzed private communications of primate experts and zookeepers.
The findings suggest that masturbation most likely existed in the common ancestor of humans and all other primates.