What are the most common masturbation techniques for men with erectile dysfunction?
Executive summary
Most common masturbation techniques recommended or used by men with erectile dysfunction include manual stop–start (edging), mindful or graded masturbation exercises aimed at gaining control over erection and arousal, and use of sex toys or devices (vibrating sleeves, strokers) and vacuum pumps as adjunctive tools for erection or rehabilitation [1] [2] [3] [4]. Clinical sources caution that masturbation can help for psychologically driven ED and penile rehabilitation after surgery, but medical causes often require medical treatments such as drugs, pumps, or implants [5] [4].
1. Manual “stop–start” and edging: retraining timing and control
A core, evidence-linked technique is the stop–start (edging) method — masturbating to near-orgasm, pausing until arousal subsides, then repeating several times before allowing ejaculation — a practice explicitly recommended to increase ejaculatory control and to retrain the sexual response, and it’s commonly used by therapists working with sexual dysfunctions [1] [6].
2. Mindful, graded masturbation exercises: focus on sensation, not pornography
Therapeutic programs advise mindful masturbation exercises where the goal is to get and then intentionally lose erections multiple times while attending only to physical sensations (no porn or fantasy), which aims to reduce anxiety-driven responses and rebuild a predictable arousal pattern useful in partnered sex [2] [7].
3. Toys and strokers: augmenting sensation when full rigidity is absent
Many men with ED turn to vibratory masturbators, sleeves and strokers that provide intense local stimulation and can be effective even with partial rigidity; reviews and retailer advice suggest devices like the Pulse Solo or masturbation sleeves can help induce orgasm or facilitate pleasurable solo sessions when erection quality is reduced, though individual responses vary [3] [8].
4. Vacuum pumps and penile rehabilitation: restoring blood flow and tissue health
Penile pumps (vacuum erection devices) are commonly used as practical tools to draw blood into the penis to create an erection and are recommended clinically as part of penile rehabilitation after prostate procedures because increased blood flow during masturbation or use of a pump helps maintain tissue health [5] [4].
5. Technique variety, lubrication and position: practical tweaks that matter
Simple changes—altering grip pressure, switching hands, changing body position, using adequate water-based lube, and experimenting with stimulation on the glans versus shaft—are widely recommended to find sensations that work with a semi-erect penis and to avoid habituated techniques that don’t translate to partnered sex [9] [10] [8].
6. When masturbation is therapeutic — and when it’s not enough
Masturbation can be therapeutic for ED rooted in anxiety or as part of rehabilitation after surgery, but it is not a proven preventative for medically driven ED and many men will still require medical treatments (medications, devices, or implants) depending on vascular, neurologic, or endocrine causes; sources stress discussing persistent ED with clinicians [5] [4].
7. Caveats, conflicting claims and commercial incentives
Readers should note conflicting emphases across sources: sex-education outlets and clinics stress behavioral retraining and mindful practice [2] [7], whereas product-focused reviews and retailers understandably highlight devices and toys that sell better and may overstate benefits for every user [3] [8], and clinical reviews underline that evidence is mixed for masturbation preventing ED while supporting its role in specific rehab contexts [5] [6].