Let’s get real: masturbation isn’t a topic that’s discussed openly. However, everyone has an opinion on it, and more often than not, the views of your friends, family, and even society can influence the way you perceive it. You’ve probably heard that “everyone does it,” yet openly admitting it is still frowned upon.
Even though masturbation is a pervasive topic, it’s not explained well enough. As such, there are way too many false claims, misinformation, and superstitions with little to no scientific backup. Regardless of your age, you may have some questions that desperately need answers, and yet you’ve been afraid to ask them. In this article, you’ll finally find answers to at least some of them. Keep on reading to find out more about the act of self-pleasuring.
Is Masturbation Normal?
Regardless of how the media, people in authority, public figures, and religious groups portray masturbation, it’s a normal activity with which many people have a hands-on (pun intended!) experience. According to the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB) from Indiana University, over 94% of men and 84% of women aged between 25 to 29 have masturbated at least once in their lifetime.
So yes, masturbation is a completely normal activity. On the other hand, experts from OMG Kinky assure that if you don’t like to masturbate, nothing’s wrong with you, either! Different people have different needs, and it’s alright if you’re not interested in self-pleasuring.
Is Masturbation Cheating?
By definition, masturbation is an activity performed by yourself and on yourself, with or without the use of sex toys You’re stimulating your own erogenous zones, potentially to reach orgasm. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to do it alone; some couples find it sexually arousing to watch their partners touching themselves. Nevertheless, experts agree it doesn’t count as cheating.
Self-pleasuring should be a guilt-free activity. In fact, many women need direct clitoral stimulation to reach orgasm. If you’re a female and your male partner feels hurt that you can’t achieve sexual satisfaction during intercourse, consider explaining to him that it’s not always the case. If he truly cares about your needs, we bet he’ll be able to understand!
Does Self-Pleasure Equal Better Sex?
Some people claim that masturbation causes both men and women to lose interest in the intercourse itself and become desensitised to it. That’s not entirely true. Obviously, both partnered sex and masturbation potentially lead to releasing sexual tension. However, masturbation can’t really replace intercourse with a partner, just like eating a meal alone or going for dinner together are two different ways to achieve the same goal.
Masturbation can lead to better sex life if you’re not choosing self-pleasure over partnered sex way too often. If you’re not satisfied with how things are in your bedroom, it would be best to have an honest conversation with your other half.
Is Masturbation Bad for You?
Have you ever heard that masturbation causes blindness, makes your hair grow in weird places or can render you infertile? Maybe you’ve heard similar statements that pretend to be true but are, in fact, unscientific nonsense.
As long as masturbation doesn’t turn into a habit for you, negatively impacting your daily routine and social interactions with others, there’s no scientific evidence that it causes bodily harm (unless you use hardcore tools, but to each their own.) On the other hand, the constant spreading of misinformation and superstitious information can result in psychological damage, especially among young people.
Are Men the Only Ones Who Masturbate?
A belief that only men masturbate is a common misconception, although the act itself seems to be more socially accepted in their case. On the other hand, female masturbation is a topic that’s often avoided or shrouded in unnecessary stigma.
That being said, both men and women of all ages masturbate. Data collected for the NSSHB show that the frequency decreases with age. However, both genders report they masturbate with a certain amount of regularity. Even though women do it less frequently than men, some of them engage in acts of self-pleasure more than 4 times per week.
Are There any Benefits of Masturbation?
Yes, there are! Let’s sum them up real quick:
- Masturbation helps you discover your body.
- It reduces stress and sexual tension.
- It can help you sleep better or fall asleep faster.
- It can alleviate muscle tension and relieve menstrual cramps.
- It can improve body image.
- It can boost your mood.
- It can strengthen pelvic and anal muscles.
- You can’t get pregnant from masturbating.
The Bottom Line
Obviously, there are more questions and doubts about this topic. The answers mentioned in this article are just scratching the surface of the bigger issue, which is misinformation and social stigma surrounding masturbation. However, as you can see, it’s a normal activity for both men and women. As such, it should be discussed more openly instead of being swept under the rug.
Every person is different, which means there’s no right or wrong way to masturbate. Adding to that, everyone has different sexual needs, which is why there’s nothing really wrong with the seemingly excessive frequency of self-pleasuring. As long as it doesn’t disrupt your daily routine, including your work and social life, there’s nothing to worry about.
