Masturbation won’t cause unsightly hair to grow on your palms, but it may help you boost your immune system and beat off at least one type of cancer. That’s according to two studies that examined the effects of masturbation on the immune system and the incidence of prostate cancer. In this time of COVID-19, travel restrictions, and self-quarantines, many people are looking for every opportunity to bolster their immune systems. Thankfully for most men, one way to stay safer is as close as that hairless palm of your hand, and studies about the positive effects of masturbation on the immune system have been making the rounds on social media.

A 2004 study conducted by the Department of Medical Psychology, University Clinic of Essen, in Essen, Germany, “investigated the effects of masturbation-induced orgasm on lymphocyte circulation and cytokine production in healthy young males.” In good news for single men everywhere, researchers discovered their test subjects had higher white blood cell counts 45 minutes after they had masturbated to orgasm. White blood cells are a key component of the immune system’s defenses against disease and foreign invaders.

Another study from 2004 found that masturbating to orgasm can also help lower the risk of prostate cancer. The study, titled “Ejaculation Frequency and Subsequent Risk of Prostate Cancer,” looked at “the association between ejaculation frequency … and the risk of prostate cancer.” Unlike in the Essen study, researchers here accounted for all forms of ejaculation resulting from not just masturbation but also sexual intercourse and nocturnal emissions. Their findings were encouraging, to say the least. Men who orgasmed more than 21 times a month cut their risk of prostate cancer by 33 percent. A follow-up study on the same group of men, published in 2016, found that those who orgasmed eight to 12 times a month reduced their risk by 10 percent.

With the recent travel bans, suspension of public professional sporting events, and the declaration of a global pandemic, people are taking every chance they get to build up their defenses against COVID-19. In the spirit of offering a helping hand to those in need, many people are sharing the results of these studies with their family, friends, and members of the community. While these findings are not definitive, they could provide a factual scientific basis to consider adding frequent masturbation to your daily health and exercise regimen. Besides making you more relaxed, these studies indicate it might also boost your immune system and lower your risk of prostate cancer.

While the studies did not investigate the effects of orgasms on women, it couldn't hurt to try.