Masturbation
Masturbation is the act of stimulating one's own genitals for sexual pleasure and is often an individual's first sexual experience. Many people engage in masturbation out of curiosity or as a means to relieve sexual tension, achieve pleasure, and promote relaxation in the absence of a partner. Techniques vary between genders; men typically focus on penile stimulation, while women often stimulate the clitoris or vagina, sometimes using sex toys. Mutual masturbation is also a common practice that provides intimacy for couples across diverse sexual orientations.
Despite its prevalence, masturbation can occasionally lead to negative consequences, particularly in children, where it might indicate underlying anxiety or trauma. In adults, excessive masturbation may reflect self-esteem issues or difficulties in forming intimate relationships. Historically, attitudes toward masturbation have been influenced by misconceptions and societal stigma, with some believing it could cause physical harm. However, contemporary medical perspectives generally reject these views, recognizing masturbation as a normal part of healthy sexuality. Modern sex therapy often incorporates masturbation as a therapeutic tool for those experiencing sexual dysfunctions.
Masturbation
Anatomy or system affected: Genitals
Definition: Manual stimulation of one’s own or another person’s genital organs usually resulting in orgasm without engaging in sexual intercourse
Physical and Psychological Factors
Masturbation refers to the process of stimulating one’s own genitals for pleasure. Masturbation is the first sexual experience for a great majority of people. Some young people inadvertently stumble on sexual arousal and orgasm in the course of engaging in some other physical activity. Others purposely stimulate themselves, aroused by curiosity after reading erotic literature, watching sexually explicit films, visiting specific internet sites, or listening to the imaginary or real sexual adventures of their peers.
Most men and women practice masturbation to relieve sexual tension, achieve sexual pleasure, enjoy sexual stimulation in the absence of an available partner, and experience relaxation. When masturbating, men tend to focus on the stimulation of the penis. Stimulation of the clitoral shaft and clitoral area, and/or the vagina, with a hand or an object, is the method that women most commonly employ. Some women masturbate by using a vibrator or dildo. Mutual masturbation provides a satisfying and pleasurable form of sexual intimacy and release for many couples. It is also one of the most common techniques used by couples of all sexual identities during intimacy.
Disorders and Effects
Under certain circumstances, masturbation may result in some undesirable consequences. If a child masturbates constantly, it may be an indication of excessive anxiety and tension. Compulsive and frenzied masturbation may reflect abuse or maltreatment in a child’s home life. Frequent masturbation may be a child’s way of relieving tension or unconsciously reenacting past or present traumatic sexual episodes. Among adults, excessive masturbation may point toward a lack of self-esteem and the resultant fear and inability to develop healthy intimate relationships with others. Psychiatry, psychotherapy, and sex therapy have proven helpful in successfully alleviating these problems.
Perspective and Prospects
Throughout history, attitudes toward the practice of masturbation have been riddled with misconceptions, guilt, and fear. Fear of masturbation and its supposed harmful effects, such as loss of memory and intelligence, was widespread through the nineteenth century. Semen was considered a vital fluid important for bodily functioning, and wasting it through masturbation was thought to contribute to a weakening of the body and the production of illness. Masturbation was also discouraged by certain religious groups. Medical authorities in the twenty-first century do not find any evidence of physical damage from masturbation. In fact, many modern sex therapists encourage self-stimulation as part of healthy sexuality. In modern sex therapy, masturbation has become part of the therapeutics used in treating certain sexual dysfunctions. Patients with difficulties or inability to have an orgasm are encouraged by their therapists to engage in masturbation. It is widely believed that orgasm, once achieved through masturbation, will eventually generalize and transfer to satisfactory sexual intercourse.
Bibliography
Bockting, Walter, and Eli Coleman, eds. Masturbation as a Means of Achieving Sexual Health. New York: Haworth Press, 2003.
Dodson, Betty. Sex for One: The Joy of Selfloving. New York: Harmony Books, 1996.
Laqueur, Thomas Walter. Solitary Sex: A Cultural History of Masturbation. New York: Zone Books, 2003.
Marcus, Irwin M., and John J. Francis, eds. Masturbation: From Infancy to Senescence. New York: International Universities Press, 1975.
"Masturbation." HealthyChildren.org, May 11, 2013.
"Masturbation." InteliHealth, June 10, 2008.
“Masturbation - Facts About Male & Female Masturbation.” Planned Parenthood, www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sex-pleasure-and-sexual-dysfunction/masturbation. Accessed 23 July 2023.
Rowan, Edward L. The Joy of Self-Pleasuring: Why Feel Guilty About Feeling Good? Amherst, Mass.: Prometheus Books, 2000.
Sarnoff, Suzanne, and Irving Sarnoff. Masturbation and Adult Sexuality. Bridgewater, N.J.: Replica Books, 2001.