Masturbation
What is masturbation?
Strictly speaking, masturbation is sexual activity involving only one person. It
is sexual self-stimulation, often, but not necessarily, involving manipulation
of the sexual organs by hand. In the US this is commonly known as "jacking off."
In the UK the term "wanking" is common. In NEPALI , it's known as "HASTAMAITHUN". The term "jilling off"
is sometimes used to mean female masturbation.
"Mutual masturbation" is a slightly incorrect term that means using the hands to
stimulate another person. More correctly, this would be called "manual sex," and
it is only "mutual" if each partner stimulates the other.
Group masturbation is
masturbation in a group of two or more people. This is sometimes known as a
"circle jerk." In a.s.m. "Jacks" applies to clubs or parties for the purpose of
group masturbation, usually involving only males, "Jack-and-Jill" is applied to
parties and clubs for people of both sexes, and "Jills" would be the term for
parties or clubs for women only. Sometimes group masturbation involves mutual
masturbation and sometimes it doesn't. In organized groups there usually are
rules that make clear what is allowed and what isn't.
Historically,
masturbation has considered all three kinds of activities to be
on-topic. In general, however, when there is no other clue given about what is
meant, the word "masturbation" by itself means sex involving only one person.
How does a man masturbate?
The most common method
is by wrapping the fingers around the erect penis and then stroking it up and
down until ejaculation. Another common method is to rub the erect penis against
something, like a mattress, a pillow, or a sex toy, until ejaculation. While
male masturbation tends to be focused on one sexual part, namely the penis, it
is common and normal for it to be accompanied by stimulation of other areas.
How does a woman masturbate?
The most common method
is by caressing and massaging the clitoris with hands and fingers until orgasm.
This stimulation is often accompanied by similar caressing, massaging, and
touching of other sensitive areas, such as the breasts, the vaginal lips, and
the interior of the vagina itself.
How many men/women masturbate?
The best studies of this
subject are now quite old. They found approximately 95% of men and about 60% of
women claim to have masturbated. There is reason to think the figures for women
would be higher if another comprehensive study were done today.
This does not say how
many people masturbate regularly. There are great variations in frequency of
masturbation between individuals, and even for one person, the frequency of
masturbation varies from time to time.
Can I masturbate too much?
Generally the answer is
no.
Masturbation usually
involves friction, the possibility of blisters and friction burns exists, but
this possibility can be greatly reduced with use of lubricants.
In other words, nothing
about masturbation is inherently damaging, and nothing about it becomes damaging
just because it is done very often. On the other hand, nothing about
masturbation provides an exemption from the physical laws governing any other
form of physical activity. You CAN masturbate too much in the same way that you
could run too much, or bike too much, or type too much. So, if your hand is
cramping, or you are rubbing yourself raw, or it is starting to hurt, stop for a
while.
Most people are less
likely to masturbate too much than they are to run too much or to work out too
much or to play tennis too much, because most people will lose interest in
masturbation (temporarily) after they have an orgasm. But because sexual issues
are still highly sensitive ones in our society, many people who are in no danger
of masturbating too much will worry about it.
There are some very rare
psychological disorders in which people masturbate almost constantly, but people
who worry about masturbating too much are many times more common.
