What is masturbation?
Masturbation is the self-stimulation of the genitals to achieve sexual arousal and pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm (sexual climax). It is commonly done by touching, stroking or massaging the penis or clitoris until an orgasm is achieved. Some women also use stimulation of the vagina to masturbate or use "sex toys," such as a vibrator.
Who masturbates?
- In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s Alfred Kinsey first published results of over 15 years of research in human sexual behavior. His studies revealed that approximately 95% of males and 60% of females had masturbated.
- The National Health and Social Life Survey and other research conducted confirm between 48-95% of people masturbate.
- Regardless of cultural attitudes and values, masturbation has been found in all societies.
Are there side effects?
- There are no harmful side effects of masturbation. Medical science has debunked many myths formally associated with masturbation, such as hair growing on the palms, insanity, or that masturbation will drain excessive energy from the body.
- Some people report feeling guilty about masturbating. Negative feelings associated with any behavior canthreaten a person’s health and well being.
- The American medical community pronounced masturbation as normal in the 1972 publication Human Sexuality
Why do people masturbate?
Reasons given by people who masturbate include:
- To experience pleasure
- To relieve tension (sexual tension or general tension)
- To relieve stress
- To engage in sex when a partner is unavailable or does not want to have sex
- To relax
- To learn about what feels good to them and how they like to be stimulated or pleasured
Myths:
The following are myths relating to masturbation that are unfounded in medical and social science.
- Only people, who cannot find sexual partners; or who are socially inadequate masturbate.
- Masturbation leads to physical problems such as mental illness and growing hair on your palms.
- Masturbation “ruins” a person for partner sex.
- Men will run out of semen or sperm if they masturbate excessively.
- Others, including medical doctors and sexual partners, will be able to tell if you masturbate.
Health benefits of masturbation:
A number of studies have proven the benefits of self-pleasuring to mental, social and physical health.
- Masturbation alleviates premenstrual tension for many women.
- Masturbation provides a healthy sexual outlet for people who choose to abstain from sex with partners or who do not currently have available sexual partners.
- Masturbation can be a route to safer sex, to help prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
- Masturbation allows for sexual pleasuring for those who are not ready to engage in vaginal, anal or oral sex.
- Increases blood flow to the genital region, which can help overall sexual functioning.
- Masturbation can induce sleep.
- Masturbation allows people to become familiar and comfortable with their body.
- Masturbation is often suggested as a therapeutic technique for overcoming sexual dysfunction.
- For women, it can help them learn how to achieve orgasm.
- For men, it can help them increase ejaculatory control and manage rapid or delayed ejaculation.
- Masturbation can help alleviate stress.
Can a person become addicted or masturbate too much?
People often wonder about the normal amount of masturbation. Each person must decide for himself or herself how much to masturbate. Professionals agree that there are no physical or mental implications for frequent masturbation, unless it is symptomatic of an obsessive/compulsive disorder (OCD). Symptoms of OCD are repeatedly performing a behavior to the extent that it interferes with daily functioning, professional responsibilities, or personal relationships.
Behaviors that are performed to reduce stress or alleviate tension, including masturbation, are not considered symptomatic of a disorder unless they interfere with a person’s daily personal or professional life or hinder a person from fulfilling their responsibilities and commitments.
References
- Masturbation-From Stigma to Sexual Health. The White Paper, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (2002). http://www.plannedparenthood.org
- Barbach, Lonnie. (2000, 1976). For Yourself: The Fulfillment of Female Sexuality
- Dodson, Betty (1995). Sex for One: The Joy of Selfloving.
- Cornog, Martha (2003). The Big Book of Masturbation.
- Masturbation: From myth to sexual health. (2003) Contemporary Sexuality, 37, 3, pp. i-vii.
31 comments:
REASONS WHY MASTERBATION IS BETTER THAN REAL SEX
* You don't have to look your best.
* You never have to say "I love you", promise to mow the lawn, buy flowers/dinner, lie about the size of your hand's, etc.
* If you use your other hand it feels like someone else.
* You can use both hands and have and orgy.
* You don't have to promise to call in the morning.
* As long as you're careful you'll never end up with the wet spot.
* You can make it last for hours, if you do it a certain way.
* You can do it wherever there is a public toilet which has a private cubical.
* You don't need to make an appointment in advance.
* It doesn't really make you go blind, not unless your hand slides off the end and you poke yourself in the eye.
* It's cheaper...you don't have to use those pesky condoms.
(Just thought I'd keep it real, and lend a 'hand')
Good article Doc, and Bronx is obviously talking from years of experience.
Well I just heard it through the grapevine...but I also heard it's safe sex,& it saves you money in the long run.... But I surmise that you would already know that Senor...
I like it. It lets me concentrate on the kinky things that uniquely turn me on. My mate is 10 years younder than me but has long since decided she wanted no more of sexuality. I don't feel that way, but I respect her wishes, so my affair with Rosy Palm lets me remain chaste to her, because I would explode if I just shut it down. And now I can explore all the kinky wild fantasies that I can dream of without ever cheating on my wife.
Touché Bronx.
for really safe sex - always wear a rubber glove
A father hears a lot of noise coming from his sons room, suspecting what is going on he runs to the door and tell his son to quit what he is doing or he will go blind, There is a pause and his son replies, what do you mean I will go blind? The father explains that if a boxer receives to many blows to the head he will get a detached retina and will go blind, to which the son replies, but dad I'm just masturbating I'm not banging my head against the wall.
Funny.
How about, "Dad, I'm not hitting THAT head."
When I do it, I wear a condom, AND a rubber glove, who knows where either of those things have been.:)
If you don't know - well, there's some new medications for Alzheimers that you might find useful... {8>D)=
The ultimate rejection -- your hand falls asleep
Now THAT's funny!
But wouldn't it feel better if your hand fell asleep?
You mean to tell me its OK and I shouldn't be ashamed? Well that just took the zing out of it!
There is nothing wrong with a little self love.
Dear God don,t let Huckabee find out about this.....?
All the way through High School I carried a picture of my favorite sex partner in my wallet....my right hand.
The other day my wife caught me texting my hand, I think she's on to us!
At least it'll never be unrequited.
Wet dreams are better than masterbation, because your subconscious knows what you REALLY like. But, the older one gets, the fewer wet dreams become, kind of like flying dreams. Of course, I'd rather have a regular flying dream than a sexy wet dream, as crazy as that might sound.
Damn, I haven't had a flying dream since I ended up dreaming about flying way up in the sky over Los Angeles with a young Japanese girl, passing by clouds and getting cold, and, then, getting scared. I never should have gotten scared, that seems to have ended those wonderful dreams. OH well.
Exactly--it's called "the stranger"!
But wouldn't it feel better if your hand fell asleep
just like a teacher correcting grammer while I'm doing my hammer
1- "fell asleep "implies its was tired after the fact
2- "falls asleep" means it got bored during the act
Just a little change in tense can make you tense
Thats called the stranger, didn't you ever watch the movie gone in sixty seconds? As compared to the movie come in sixty seconds, that was on a different channel.
Well actually, what you're saying makes sense cuz you know what I learned in Psychology class in college? The flying dreams are sexual or that you are having an orgasm. So I guess it would be strongly related to the wet dream! :D
so AG you dream alot about flying with Fred T, I surmise LOL
Hey, how come there's no picture next to this story like all the other ones. I feel a little cheated.
Since women have vibrators, does the mean men have wankel engines?
for all the fundies here- "love thy neighbor as you would love yourself" - would that make me the neighborhood handyman?
My mother caught me once - told me I'd go blind if I kept doing it - I told her it felt so good could I do it just until I needed glasses
im a teacher and i caught my 11 year old student masturbating during class the other day--don't know if I should tell her I saw or not..
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