Masturbation

It's Normal to Masturbate!

Despite all of the rules and taboos placed around masturbation, there is nothing unnatural about it at all. Everyone is born with genitalia; it is only natural that people experiment with touching their genitals during the course of their lives. Children do it in the first year of life without any instruction or other prior learning. They touch their genitals because it brings them physical pleasure; they are not yet aware that society has negative thoughts about it. Many parents take society's view and stop their children from engaging in the tabooed behavior. Instead, parents should be helping their children see the difference between things that can be done in private versus those not done in public. Parental discomfort and embarrassment play key roles in influencing the way parents talk to their children. Even the most educated parents may have difficulty discussing masturbation, so it is no wonder that many children view masturbation as a bad thing. Guilt and misinformation have been associated with masturbation for hundreds of years. It is only recently that people have begun to accept that masturbation is natural in humans and other species. Sex therapists encourage people to use masturbation as a good way to learn about their bodies and the types of stimulation that best arouse their sexual feelings. We should value masturbation as a learning process and overcome the strong taboos of the past.

Once a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

People have been told for hundreds of years that masturbation is a bad thing, and some were even told that it poses health risks. Many people do not stop to question the validity of these messages. There are actually many benefits associated with masturbation. It can help to relieve stress and tension, help you to go to sleep, and it has been proven to aid in alleviating menstrual cramps. It helps you learn what kind of stimulation turns you on. It can also be viewed as a good workout for your cardiovascular system, and can improve self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-awareness. Masturbation also allows people to remain sexually active throughout the course of their entire life, partner or not!

Understanding Your Sexuality

Masturbation is an excellent way to learn about your sexual anatomy and unique sexual likes/dislikes and responses. Through experimentation (which is a normal activity), you can touch all the parts of your body and find out what brings you the most pleasure. This knowledge will help both you and your partner (future or present) to have a good sex life. Sex toys and lubricants help you explore and discover what gives you the most pleasure, allowing you to approach sex with a partner with more confidence and satisfaction.

Free to be Sexual

Self-pleasuring is a form of sexual expression. Masturbation is sex. It is safe sex, since you cannot become pregnant or contract an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) while masturbating. You are asserting your identity as a sexual being every time you masturbate. You are casting off the taboos and negative thoughts from ancient belief systems and celebrating your sexuality. You will not go blind or be punished, as many old wives tales claim; instead, masturbation provides us with a way to escape the world and enter into the private world of our sexual selves.

You Put Your Hand Where?

For a description of various masturbation techniques for males and females, check out our Sex For One page!

Actual Testimonials

My mom encouraged me to masturbate when I was growing up. She said that it would help me learn more about myself and what I enjoyed sexually. I do not have any anxieties about masturbation.

-J. Price


My dad caught me masturbating when I was 13. He freaked out and said that I was a dirty boy and punished me harshly. From that time on, I feared masturbation and anything associated with sexual pleasure. I have felt much confusion and turmoil since then and have learned that it is important to foster good feelings about self-pleasuring in order to have a healthy sex life.

-M. Harris


Next to running, masturbating is my favorite way to clear my mind and relieve stress.

-K. Blane


My friends and I all thought it would be cool to go and buy vibrators. I felt so nervous and dirty the first time I used mine, and just could not relax and enjoy myself. It took several attempts to finally become comfortable with playing with myself via the vibrator. Once I relaxed, I loved it and was able to learn what I liked or did not like for pleasurable sexual stimulation. My sex life and confidence has improved dramatically since then, and I recommend a vibrator to anyone not achieving the levels of pleasure that they desire during sex!

-T. Marshall


I went to a Catholic school through 8th grade where sex education was virtually non-existent. We were taught that masturbation would send us to Hell because we were committing a great sin. Since then, I have learned that masturbation is a positive expression of my unique sexuality and is perfectly normal. No more praying to God for forgiveness every time I engaged in my self-pleasuring activities!

-P. Hasek


Other Names For Masturbation

Many people have different slang labels for masturbation. The following is a brief list of some of the other names masturbation is known by:

Guys:

Girls:

Resources

For more information regarding masturbation and the attitudes and views surrounding it, check out these great websites:

Created October 25, 2010