Masturbation : Facts!

Masturbation means touching your own genitals for sexual pleasure. This is a normal, healthy expression of sexuality but about half the people who masturbate feel ashamed or embarrassed about it. This is because masturbation has been maligned for centuries as a deviant, dangerous and sinful practice, and some of the old taboos linger on.

Childhood memories of being ‘caught in the act’ by horrified parents can trouble a person well into their adult years. Some of the known health benefits of masturbation include stress reduction and enhanced immune system function. Other terms for masturbation include solo sex, self loving, self pleasuring and wanking.

Masturbation at different life stages
People who masturbate do it because it feels good. Other issues by age group may include:

• Babies - infants tend to masturbate as part of general body exploration.
• Young children - sexual fantasies don’t usually accompany masturbation at this age. Young children begin to pick up on their parents’ attitudes towards masturbation. If parents react in a mortified way, the child can feel ashamed of their sexual feelings and behaviours.
• Teenagers - many teenagers feel nervous or unsure about their developing bodies and sexual feelings. Mixed messages and misinformation about masturbation from parents and peers can increase the anxiety.
• Adults - some people believe that masturbation is only appropriate for those without partners, but most people with regular partners continue to masturbate throughout their adult life. The idea that adults who masturbate must be sexually deprived or inadequate is simply not true.

How much is too much?
A common concern, especially among teenagers, is the frequency of masturbation. ‘Normal’ ranges from several times per day, week or month to never masturbating at all. The frequency of masturbation isn’t a problem unless it is linked with an obsessive compulsive disorder, where the same activity must be repeated over and over.
Sexual benefits
Some of the known sexual health benefits of masturbation include:

• Solo masturbation is a safe sex practice that carries no risk of sexually transmissible infection and unwanted pregnancy. As part of lovemaking between two people, it is known as ‘mutual masturbation’.
• Sexual tension is released. Masturbation allows a person to express their sexuality by themselves and is valuable if, for example, they don’t have a partner or if sex with their partner isn’t available, or if they want to (or have to) abstain from sex for any reason.
• Being familiar with your own sexual responses allows you to better communicate your wants and needs to your partner.
• Masturbation is a popular treatment for sexual dysfunction; for example, women who don’t orgasm can learn by masturbating. Men who suffer from premature ejaculation can use masturbation to practice control.

Health benefits
Some of the known health benefits of masturbation include:

• Eases some of the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
• Relief from menstrual cramps
• Muscle relaxation
• Helps you to fall asleep
• Promotes release of the brain’s opioid-like neurotransmitters (endorphins), which cause feelings of physical and mental wellbeing
• Reduces stress
• Enhances self-esteem.

Masturbation in young children
Boys generally start masturbating at an earlier age than girls, since the clitoris and vagina are harder to find than the penis. Studies show that the way in which parents react to their child’s masturbation impacts on the child’s sexual attitudes and behaviours in adult life. Suggestions for parents include:

• Young children masturbate for various reasons, including curiosity, exploration and sensory pleasure.
• Reassure yourself that masturbation in young children is normal. It is not a sign of sexual deviancy.
• Focus on the setting, rather than the activity itself. For example, if your child is masturbating in public, tell them that what they’re doing is fine if they do it in private, much like toileting and picking one’s nose are private activities.
• Young children may turn to masturbation in times of stress. If your child is masturbating to the point where playtime and other activities are curtailed, you need to find out what is making them anxious and upset.
• If you are concerned about your child’s masturbatory practices, consult with your doctor or paediatrician.