Masturbation Guide

What is masturbation?

The definition of masturbation is the excitation of one's own or another's genital organs, usually to orgasm, by manual contact or means other than sexual intercourse.

Masturbation refers to sexual stimulus, particularly of one's own genitals and often to the point of orgasm, which is performed manually, by other types of physical contact (except for sexual intercourse), by use of objects or equipment, or by some mixture of these methods. Masturbation is the most common form of autoeroticism, and the two words are often used as synonyms, although masturbation with a partner (mutual masturbation) is also common. Animal masturbation has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.

Masturbation Techniques

Ways of masturbating universal to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the genital area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a pillow; inserting fingers or an object into the anus (see anal masturbation); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric vibrators, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the nipples or other erogenous zones while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes use lubricating substances to intensify sensation.

Reading or viewing pornography, or sexual fantasy, are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories, during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often ritualised. Various fetishes and paraphilias can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include autoerotic asphyxiation and self-bondage.

Some people get sexual enjoyment by introducing objects into the urethra (The urethra is the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows.) If these objects are urethral sounds, the practice is known as "sounding." Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers may be used. This practice can cause injury and infection.

Some people masturbate by using machines that simulate intercourse.

Some people may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This "stop and go" method is practiced in order to achieve even stronger orgasms.

Rarely, people stop stimulation just before orgasm to retain a heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm due to the release of prolactin hormone. A hazard of this technique is pelvic congestion.

Austrian psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich in his 1922 essay "Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation" focused on healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. In it he related the posture of the person masturbating to psycho-sexual pathologies, e.g. a male who masturbates lying on the back using only his hand as the active force, he would deem an unfavourable prognosis for achieving orgastic potency.