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The Age of Masturbation

Embarrassed young lady covering face

Is there any harm in self-arousal if nearly every­one else is doing it? This is some­thing parents should discuss with their adoles­cent children.

Publish 16 November 2021
⚠️ Use Discretion: Mature subject matter.

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Do You Masturbate?

[NSFW] Forgive such a personal question. It is not meant to be salacious. Your mental response, either way, is private. Long considered a deviant practice of pubes­cent boys, you may now recognize masturba­tion as a main­stream norm. You might be surprised by the statistics and consequences. It is not limited by gender or adoles­cence. Very adult men have been caught with their pants down—on camera. [1]

Masturbation Frequency

More than a century ago, the medical and psychiatric communities sought to expunge what the clergy could not. From the late 1700s through the mid-1800s, doctors perpetuated the notion that masturbation was a heinous sin causing mental illness. The precept was fed by a large number of patients openly masturbat­ing within insane asylums. [2]

Clitoridectomy was a remedy for female masturbation for several years in the 1860s. During the late 1800s, treatment fell from favor as investigations in psychiatry and sexology made it clear the practice was nearly universal. [2]

Though not limited to males, the gender with the most testosterone practices with greater frequency. There is a difference between a male nocturnal (seminal) emission and masturba­tion. The former occurs during a dream. Masturbation requires conscious effort.

According to statistics by FiveThirtyEight, 7.9% of women between the ages of 25–29 masturbate two to three times a week. [3] By contrast, 23.4% of men in the same age group do. The Kinsey Institute study reveals more than half of American women ages 18–49 masturbate at least once every three months. [4]

Masturbation survey

There is no daily monitoring—though I wouldn’t rule it out as becoming a feature of Alexa, HomeKit, or fitness trackers in the future. For now, data pertains to focus-group respondents. If you ask for life­time occurrence, expect statistics to rise over 75% across all genders.

We cannot connect every aberrant behavior to the pandemic. But some spring into the spotlight as a result of it. Sheltering in place has brought about more casual business attire and some associated activities. Shoes, bras, and pants are walking away from virtual boardroom meetings.

Some viral exposure is accidental. You might want to blame it on being dressed only from the waist up. [5] A woman began disrobing to take a shower without realizing she was still connected to a virtual meeting. A partially dressed mom entered her bedroom where a preschooler had initiated a conference call with her boss.

Other people working from home schedule time for personal arousal between Zoom meetings. [6] The frequency of a practice makes it common, not normal. Many politicians and actors received treatment for sexual addiction, before the lockdowns. [7]

Consequences of Masturbation

Depending upon who you ask, masturbation is either good or bad. Sex therapists attempt to assuage negative emotions by normalizing the practice. They cite benefits like gaining familiarity with one’s eroge­nous zones with cardio­vascular stimulation, endorphin release, and stress reduction. [4] You gain similar benefits from running around the block (without the climax).

Could heightening personal grati­fica­tion nurture addiction or hedonism? The combination of three neural pathways creates a powerful catalyst for masturbation addiction: [8]

  1. Arousal includes pleasure and intensity.
  2. Numbing produces a calming, relaxing, soothing, or sedative process.
  3. Fantasy focuses on escape through obsession, preoccupation, and ritualization.

Some people masturbate to the point of injury. The guilt they feel for lack of self-control may be identified as self-abuse. Masturbation addiction is not within the psychology reference DSM-5. Yet, obsession, paraphilia, depression, and emotional detachment may require counseling. [9]

Embarrassed female
If you enter a room and see your child masturba­ting, leave immediately. But what do you say later?

A focus on personal climax can inter­fere with romance during normal sexual relations. Some couples complain of mates who would rather practice onanism than coitus. Accompanying fantasies might also lead to promis­cuous­ness and infidelity.

The multibillion-dollar sex industry exploits sex toys, magazines, books, movies, strip clubs, and prostitution. The goal of the industry is to remove the boundaries of societal morals. Sex items that brought censorship and proscription a few years ago now escape scrutiny. [10] Most people try to set personal limits on sexual depravity. But the promise of a better orgasm can be an enticing slippery slope to traverse.

Sex toys can end up in compromis­ing positions. An Arizona woman got an active vibrator stuck within her bladder. Emergency room personnel routinely extract a long list of autoeroticism devices from vaginas and rectums. This includes dildos, fruits, vegetables, bottles, and sports equipment. [11] In one Swedish study, 40% of retained foreign rectal objects in a large Stockholm hospital requiring removal under anesthesia were sex toys. [12]

Masturbation is a topic best discussed by parents with their prepubescent children—before it becomes a practice. Youths benefit from maintain­ing some innocence. Preserve intimate moments for a life partner to strengthen the marriage bond. Couples can then associate the orgasmic experience with someone they love, other than themselves. Adults who feel obsessed with excessive self-pleasure may seek the direction of a licensed therapist or, if they have one, their mates.

Many people continue attending video­conferences sans pants. Some of them take intimate advant­age of the occasion. Abstaining from auto­eroticism might prevent accidental exposure of embarras­sing devices or personal activities while tele­conferencing. [13] Beware of emails offering remote technical support, cover your webcam lens when not in use, [14,15] and wear some pants around the house.

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To support the writing of useful articles about individual, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.

ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about individual. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.

ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may remit a small donation.

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