Flying solo, double-clicking the mouse, whipping the one-eyed wonder weasel … no matter what you call it, masturbation is one of the most heavily debated sexual acts of this century and the last.

Until recently, masturbation has been regarded by many as something wrong, immoral and something to be avoided. A few decades ago, frequent masturbation was thought to be caused by things like spicy foods. Believe it or not, corn flakes and graham crackers were actually developed in the 19th century by doctors Sylvester Graham and John Harvey Kellogg for the purpose of preventing masturbation, specifically in young children. The myths don’t stop there.

Other statements out there claim masturbation will make you grow hair on your palms, and that it will cause acne and sexual dysfunction. Some also believe masturbating will cause you to go blind, deaf, insane or infertile. Luckily, science has disproved these myths.

Medically, there is next to nothing harmful about “flying solo.” In fact it is the safest form of sexual activity. There is no risk of pregnancy, and there is virtually no risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease through this activity, even though there have been myths that state otherwise.

The only exception to this is cold sores. It is possible, though very rare, to give yourself genital herpes if you touch your genitals for any reason after touching your own cold sore without washing your hands first. Again, it’s rare, but it is possible, so just be mindful of your hands if a cold sore is present.

Despite what many people believe, masturbating is not just for the people out there who “can’t get any.” It is actually quite normal for people in relationships to still masturbate. Sometimes people’s sex drives just don’t match up exactly right, and there is no problem with fixing that little dilemma on your own. Just make sure you aren’t forgoing sex with your partner in order to masturbate.

It is also common for people in a relationship to masturbate in front of each other. This practice allows you to show your partner what you want and how you want it, which leads to a much better sex life for both of you.

One of the best things about masturbation is that it helps you learn about your own body. Knowing how and where you like to be touched is pretty important when it comes to having a satisfying sex life. Having a basic knowledge of how your body responds and functions allows for much more successful sexual exploration when a partner is involved.

For example, masturbating can help us learn how to control our orgasms, and therefore control the length of time a sexual encounter will last. It helps us learn when to speed up, slow down or change course altogether. Masturbation can also teach us what we absolutely don’t like, which helps to avoid some awkward and unpleasant situations.

There are also significant health benefits related to masturbation. According to a 2007 research study summarized in Sexual and Relationship Therapy, both men and women can reap the benefits of solo sex. For men, masturbating can decrease risk of prostate infection, improve overall health of the prostate, and increase immune system function. For women, masturbation can help ease cramps and backaches associated with menstruation.

Other studies cited in this article show that sexual arousal in general can help ease chronic back pain for women and can increase women’s pain threshold, and what better, safer way to obtain that arousal than through masturbation?

For both men and women, sexual arousal to orgasm is a great stress reliever because of the endorphins it releases. It is also a great sleep aide because of its relaxing nature. Releasing sexual tension can also help a person stay focused on daily tasks for the same reasons that it helps relieve stress and helps us sleep.

Unfortunately, a person can have too much of a good thing. It is possible to become dependent on your own hand in order to achieve orgasm, and for women especially, it is possible to become dependent on a vibrator. The best way to combat this is to just abstain from masturbating for a period of time. If reaching orgasm is still difficult or impossible after a week or so, see a doctor, because this could be a sign of something much more serious.

Even with all of these wonderful new facts about masturbation, there are still those out there who are absolutely opposed to it in any context, form or situation. There is nothing wrong with that. It is an opinion that exists in the world, and that’s fine.

As with all other sexual activities, masturbation just isn’t everyone’s thing. On the other hand, however, there are those who think it’s one of the greatest discoveries on Earth, and that’s completely OK, too.

According to Sex Etc, a sexual health Web site, 80 percent of males and 59 percent of females have masturbated at some point by age 18. In other words, whether you have masturbated or not, you’re perfectly normal. Have a safe, pleasurable weekend!

Leah Hirsch is a Students 2 Students Peer Educator HIV/AIDS Counseling, Testing and Referral Intern for Johnson County Public Health.