Masturbation
For most people the first experience with orgasm appears after Masturbation. For others it occurs during sexual intercourse, touching, or dreams. Some adolescent’s believe that masturbation is wrong and experience guilt and other negative feelings after masturbation which they need not at all. Many sex therapists believe that masturbation serves an important function in adolescence by serving as an outlet for sexual tension and makes it easier to experience orgasm during sexual intercourse as an adult.
One of the most important changes in puberty is sexual desire. Hence, masturbation is a natural and one of the safest behaviors which protects from AIDS and sexual problems. So it is an individual choice to masturbate or not and the decision should be made without any guilt, fear or shame.
- Masturbation is not evil, dirty or harmful - it will not make you go blind, drive you insane, turn you in to a pervert, stunt your growth, give you an Sexually Transmitted Disease, make you sterile or get you pregnant.
- Both boys and girls masturbate; it is a normal and healthy part of sexual development.
- Masturbation is a very personal thing and should not be done in public places or around people who are not willing partners (think safer sex activity).
- You are normal if you masturbate, normal if you wonder about it but don’t do it, and normal if you never give it a second thought and don’t do it - it is one of the few things in life that is “normal if you do and normal if you don’t”.
- Masturbation may make sexual intercourse more enjoyable because you will already know what it takes to “please you”.
- Masturbation alleviates stress and releases endorphens (the pleasure hormones) in to your system making you more relaxed.
- Masturbation as exploration of the body is common in children between the ages of three and six, in teens masturbation becomes more sophisticated and sexually motivated.
- Many experts believe that masturbation is more prevalent in the teen years due to a strong fluctuation of hormones; masturbation alleviates the strain of this build up and is a necessary part of development.
Some Common Myths and Facts about Masturbation
Myth
It’s more acceptable for boys to masturbate than girls.
Fact
It’s natural for boys and girls to masturbate - both do it.
A child who masturbates has been exposed to sexual information that is not appropriate for his/her age.
Fact
From birth, children explore their bodies by touching. They learn this feels good. Showing knowledge of sexual acts besides masturbation could mean they’ve been exposed to inappropriate sexual information.
Myth
Masturbation causes acne or loss of eyesight.
Fact
This myth probably ties to the fact that teenagers generally start masturbating around the same time puberty hits, which is also the time of acne and when many teens get glasses.
Masturbation causes sexually transmitted diseases.
Fact
In order for a disease to be ‘transmitted’, you need two people. Mutual masturbation is actually taught in some sex education courses as a way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.
Myth
Masturbation causes hair to grow on your palms.
Fact
About 98% of adults have reported that they’ve masturbated at some time in their lives. I don’t know anyone with hair on their palms. How about you?
Teenagers shouldn’t masturbate often, as they will lose the ability to have children.
Fact
Teenagers tend to masturbate more often than adults as their hormone levels are at the highest they will be in their lifetime.
Still got a question this page doesn’t answer?
Want help for yourself or for a friend?
Get an answer within 24hours
Drop a line to counselor@srhmatters.org or advice@srhmatters.org.