Masturbation

Techniques

Masturbation is the self-stimulation of one's own genitals for sexual pleasure. This can be done with the hands or fingers, by pressing against an object like a pillow, or by inserting fingers or an object into the vagina or anus. An electric vibrator may also be used on the penis or vulva, and can be inserted as well. People often touch, rub, or pinch their nipples or other sensitive areas during the act.

Lubricants are sometimes applied to make the motion smoother. Fantasies, pornography, or other erotic material can spark the urge to masturbate and are frequently used to enhance the experience. Some individuals engage in urethral play, or "sounding," by inserting objects like urethral sounds, ballpoint pens, or thermometers into the urethra, though this carries risks of injury or infection.

Sex machines are also used by some to mimic intercourse. A technique called "edging" involves bringing oneself close to orgasm, then pausing to reduce arousal before resuming, often repeating this cycle to build toward a more intense climax. For females, manual masturbation typically involves stroking or rubbing the vulva, especially the clitoris, with one or two fingers.

One or more fingers may also be inserted into the vagina to stimulate the front wall, where the G-spot is thought to be. Aids like vibrators, dildos, or Ben Wa balls can provide additional stimulation to the vagina and clitoris. Many women also caress their breasts or stimulate a nipple with their free hand, and some enjoy anal stimulation. While personal lubricant is often used, especially during penetration, many women find their own natural lubrication sufficient.

Cultural history

Masturbation, the act of stimulating one's own genitals for sexual pleasure, has been understood very differently across religions, laws, social debates, activism, and scientific study. Cultural taboos around it have shifted dramatically over time and place. Prehistoric rock art from around the world shows both men and women masturbating. The ancient Sumerians were notably relaxed about sex, believing masturbation boosted sexual potency for everyone.

They did it alone and with partners, and men sometimes used a special oil called puru-oil, likely mixed with powdered iron ore to increase friction. In Sumerian myth, the god Enki created the Tigris and Euphrates rivers by masturbating and ejaculating into their dry beds. Similarly, the ancient Egyptians saw divine masturbation as creative: the god Atum supposedly made the universe by masturbating to ejaculation.

The ancient Greeks considered masturbation a normal, healthy alternative to other sexual activities. Most of what we know about Greek views comes from surviving comedies and pottery. The playwright Aristophanes frequently referenced it, and vase paintings often show satyrs masturbating.

The philosopher Diogenes of Sinope, a Cynic, famously masturbated in public, which people found shocking. When criticized, he replied that he wished easing hunger were as simple as rubbing his belly. In non-Western traditions, some teachers of Traditional Chinese medicine, Taoist meditation, and martial arts claim masturbation lowers yang energy in men but does not harm women's yin, and they even describe female masturbation tools. Meanwhile, several ethnic groups in the African Congo Basin—including the Aka, Ngandu, Lesi, Brbs, and Ituri—have no word for masturbation in their languages and find the concept puzzling.

Views on masturbation

Despite strong scientific and medical evidence that masturbation is a healthy and common activity for both men and women, social shame around it remains widespread. In 2013, a 14-year-old boy in San Diego named Matthew Burdette died by suicide after a classmate secretly filmed him masturbating in a school restroom and shared the video. Research from 1994 showed that half of all adults who masturbate feel guilty about it, and a 2000 study found that teenage boys are still often too embarrassed to admit they do it.

In 2009, the UK’s National Health Service in Sheffield released a leaflet with the slogan “an orgasm a day keeps the doctor away.” It suggested that alongside eating five portions of fruits and vegetables and exercising three times a week, people should consider having sex or masturbating twice a week. The leaflet, called Pleasure, was aimed at parents, teachers, and youth workers to update sex education by focusing on enjoyment rather than just safe sex and relationships. Its authors argued that experts had ignored the main reason people have sex.

That same year, the Spanish region of Extremadura started a 14,000-euro campaign encouraging “sexual self-exploration and the discovery of self-pleasure” for people aged 14 to 17. It included leaflets, flyers, a fanzine, and workshops on masturbation techniques, contraception, and self-respect. The slogan “Pleasure is in your own hands” angered local right-wing politicians and challenged traditional Catholic views, while officials in neighboring Andalucia expressed interest in copying the program.