IF you’ve been ordered to stay indoors and self-isolate amid the coronavirus outbreak, you could get pretty bored and lonely not being able to socialise – I mean, there’s only so much Netflix you can watch.

So while you make one last dash to the supermarket to stock up on your supply of toilet paper and canned goods, perhaps consider adding some batteries to your shop, because as it turns out, masturbating will not only give you something to do, but it will help keep you healthy – and who are we to go against the doctor’s orders.

But while many people look past the health benefits of indulging in a little self-love, Dr Jennifer Landam, a specialist in hormone therapy, suggests that masturbation might be exactly what you need to strengthen your body’s natural defence forces.