Masturbation may improve a male primate's possibilities of having offspring, based on new analysis.

The act of self-pleasuring could assist with profitable fertilisation by growing arousal earlier than intercourse, the examine by University College London (UCL) stated.

The scientists additionally stated ejaculating after masturbation helps shed low-quality semen, leaving recent sperm out there for mating.

The researchers added it might additionally scale back the chance of contracting sexually-transmitted infections (STIs).

However, the scientists stated the advantages of feminine masturbation - from an evolutionary perspective - stay much less clear.

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Lead researcher Dr Matilda Brindle stated: "Our findings help shed light on a very common, but little understood, sexual behaviour and represent a significant advance in our understanding of the functions of masturbation."

Masturbation is frequent amongst animals however is considered extra prevalent in primates, together with chimpanzees, apes and people.

The examine, printed within the journal Proceedings of The Royal Society B, centered on primate animals, each wild and captive.

Dr Brindle and her colleagues gathered info from 246 printed tutorial papers and 150 questionnaires, with the intention to grasp when and why masturbation advanced.

They additionally analysed private communications from primate consultants and zookeepers.

Findings counsel masturbation was most probably current within the frequent ancestor of people and all different primates.

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