In praise of masturbation
For a long time considered the mother of all vices, masturbation has struggled to shake off its bad image.
© Jupiter
Masturbation was considered shocking for many years and is still a taboo subject today. Until the mid 20th century it was believed that masturbation was the cause of all manner of ills. Female masturbation is even more taboo than male and is something that women rarely admit to. However, some psychoanalysts believe that masturbation is more than just a way of exploring your body and should be seen as a distinct sexual activity.
Doctissimo examines this secretive and most solitary of activities.
Sexual awakening through masturbation
"Masturbation is having sex with someone you love." This quote from Woody Allen reminds us that masturbation is an entirely natural sexual activity. It's a great way of learning about your body but can also be a quite separate erotic act.
Men admit to masturbating frequently during adolescence but this habit often continues throughout life, although masturbation is more of a taboo for women. But masturbation isn't a crude and basic sexual practice and there are many different ways of masturbating. Want to get a handle on masturbation? Then read on!
Essential facts about masturbation
Masturbation is the stimulation of one's own genital organs, resulting in increased sexual excitement and eventually orgasm. It is often performed alone but can be done with a partner - known as mutual masturbation. It helps you learn about your body and your sexual responses.
Everyone has their own way of becoming aroused: some like to fantasize (indulge in erotic scenarios); others don't; and some like to masturbate in the bath or shower etc.
Masturbation can play an important role in one's sex life; it can help you discover your body and become a regular part of your sexual repertoire. However, it's not for everyone and for some, sexual activity only exists within a relationship.
Male masturbation
Many men use their hands to masturbate. A man will gently fondle his penis and testicles, indulging in erotic thoughts or fantasies, until the penis becomes erect. He then grips the penis in his hand and moves the hand up and down the shaft, increasing in speed. Other men prefer to stimulate their penis against a pillow.
When he is sufficiently excited, the man achieves orgasm, however there may be no ejaculation the first few times that an adolescent masturbates.
The man loses his erection soon after ejaculation and the penis becomes flaccid. After orgasm, it may take him some time to get another erection. The amount of time varies according to the individual and usually increases with age. At the age of 20, the refractory period is about 10-20 minutes whereas at 70 it can take up to 3 days.
Female masturbation
Clitoral stimulation is the most common way of becoming sexually aroused. Many women caress their breasts or vulva at the same time and sometimes insert fingers, or other objects into the vagina. Normally, a woman strokes or rubs her clitoris with one or more fingers quickly and rhythmically. She may use saliva or vaginal secretions to avoid irritation, as the vulva does not produce lubrication.
Woman can also become very sexually stimulated by contracting their thigh and buttock muscles (with legs tightly closed). Some women even regard this as the most important part of masturbation.
Some women masturbate by rubbing their vulva against a pillow and contracting their perineal or anal muscles. Others prefer to direct water at the clitoris, using a shower spray.
When sexually aroused the woman's clitoris is enlarged and her vagina lubricated. The excitement increases, finally culminating in orgasm. This intensely pleasurable feeling may or may not be accompanied by involuntary contractions of the perineum.
Could masturbation be good for your health?
Dangerous? Scandalous? Hardly! In fact, the beneficial effects of male masturbation might soon be formally recognized, while the same has not really been studied for women.
For example, certain exercises performed during male masturbation may help prevent premature ejaculation. And even more astonishing is the fact that frequent masturbation may reduce also the risk of prostate cancer. So much for all those myths!
Copyright © 2010 Doctissimo
Posted 30.06.2010
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