A guy with only an erect penis can be forgiven for indulging in a little masturbation now and then. It’s fun, the equipment is available, and when there’s nothing else to do, it relieves boredom. There’s nothing wrong with masturbation, but sometimes a guy gets into a situation where he caresses himself too often, or too roughly. Learning to exercise an appropriate amount of masturbation control is necessary for good penis care, as well as getting a guy out of the house once in a while.

If a man has a true masturbation addiction, he should seek the help of a mental health professional. But for garden variety, everyday control problems, here are some suggestions:

– Avoid pornography. This may seem like a no-brainer, but when it comes to the penis, the brain is often not consulted. Masturbation is more likely to occur when a man has an erect penis, and clearly the goal of male pornography is to induce that state of arousal. Many men enjoy pornography while masturbating, but a man who is trying to control things a bit more shouldn’t put obvious temptation in his way.

– Go to the gym. Getting an adequate amount of exercise often increases the chemicals that create satisfaction and happiness, which in turn can make a man feel more interested in doing things he normally wouldn’t otherwise. Since boredom can be a primary motivating factor for masturbating, engaging in and engaging in other distractions can be to your advantage. A man can get the same result by exercising at home, but getting out of the house and going to the gym makes the activity more social.

– Have some juice after the gym. Exercise increases testosterone, which can make a man more sexually inclined. (If you get a frequent boner at the gym, this is one of the reasons.) It’s a good idea to head somewhere after the gym, like a juice bar, to let the feeling cool down a bit.

– Find a hobby. Again, avoiding boredom can be key to controlling masturbation. If all a guy does is sit and watch TV or surf the Internet with no purpose, boredom is likely to set in. (And surfing the net easily leads to a bit of pornography.) This can be a good time to revive old hobbies and interests or develop new ones. A man needs to think of topics that appeal to him and then research them and get started: stamp collecting, model building, walking, biking, gardening, collecting seashells, etc. The list is endless.

– Join the club. Once an interest has been identified, find a local organization of others with a similar interest. Sharing one’s interest with others makes the experience more enjoyable. It’s also a good way to meet other people, possibly someone a man might be interested in.

– Start a relationship. While men masturbate whether in a sexual relationship or not, most men masturbate less frequently when they have regular partnered sex. So being in a relationship can be another way to keep masturbation in check.

As stated, there is nothing wrong with playing with an erect penis; but no guy likes to let masturbation be the controlling factor in his life. Whether you’re an occasional masturbator or someone who indulges frequently, masturbation often leads to a raw or sore penis. For this reason, using a top-tier penis health cream (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) is essential. Choose a cream that includes a combination of a high-end emollient (shea butter is a great option) and a natural moisturizer (like vitamin E) to provide soothing relief. It is also a good idea to select a cream with acetyl L-carnitine, which is neuroprotective; this can help in cases where rough masturbation has caused some loss of sensation in the organ.