Is masturbation healthy?

Yes: Masturbating is perfectly normal. It's a great way to find out about your body and what turns you on. And it's the safest sex there is. The stories about masturbation causing all types of problems just aren't true.

Yes: Normal and natural.

Natural: As long as you're not diverting so much time and emotional energy, this near-universal practice is basically good for you, and only an ideologue would tell you otherwise. It keeps the physical and emotional pressure down, lets you focus on other things, and especially teaches you about your mind and body for marriage and parenthood. Think about the person you love / will marry.

Normal: Unless masturbation interferes with your ability to live your life and function successfully in the world, then feel free to continue. Masturbation is a normal part of life for most people.

It can be: In fact for men there is decreased risk of prostate cancer in groups that have higher ejaculatory frequencies(though you don't have to ejaculate through masturbation!) Again, if it isn't something that you perseverate on and does not impair your normal functioning and sexual relationships, then it usually isn't too much of a concern.

Use it or lose it: Sexual desire is a basic human function, just like hunger and thirst. The appropriate use of that desire is also a part of the "human experience" requiring "higher order thinking skills". Masturbation when there is not a appropriate way to express one's sexuality is both healthy and a "wise choice' with a partner that "one knows best.".

Neither: Masturbation is a normal animal activity. It is neither healthy, nor unhealthful, just typical.

Masturbation: Yes. Masturbation is a normal, common, healthy part of the human experience. The majority of the human race has or does masturbate. There is no good or bad to it. It just is. Masturbation is a way of taking care of one's mental health. It is a tension reliever. It can be joyful. There is no medical or scientific reason to not masturbate.

Generally is: This is near-universal between puberty and establishing an adult romantic relationship, and often after. You learn about your mind & body, you can keep the pressure low and focus on other things you need to do. Superstitious guilt and concerns about political incorrectness have caused enormous grief. Only if you have an unwanted compulsion that obviously interferes life do we need to help you.