All you wanted to know about masturbation

Masturbation is a common and harmless activity. Most boys chance upon masturbation during their adolescence and practice it often. It has no ill effects on the health (body), fertility or sexuality. However, the ‘guilt’ linked with masturbation can be damaging to one’s emotional health and self-esteem.

There is absolutely no suggested ‘numerical’ safety limit as to how often one can or should masturbation in a day. It becomes a matter of concern only when it becomes a compelling ‘preoccupation’ and starts restricting other significant aspects of a person’s life.

For example, if a young student defocuses from his studies/career or stops socializing because all he wants to do is to masturbate, then he may lose out on career opportunities and can also become socially withdrawn, which can create further problems in his life.

Any activity in excess can become an addiction, causing psychological barriers to progress in any area of life.

Masturbation is considered abnormal and/or harmful:

• If it is done in front of others.
• If proper hygiene is not maintained during and after the act. It is important to keep your genitals clean at all times.
• If it is done in a manner that can cause injury to the organ.
• If it is chosen over sexual intercourse in couples, even when the spouse is willing to have intercourse.
• If it becomes an ‘obsession’ and starts affecting other aspects of one’s life.

Keeping a balance in all our roles and activities is the key so that one’s roles as a student, professional, social being or family member remain unaffected and functional at all times.

There are some benefits of masturbation:

• Masturbation gives the person sexual gratification without engaging in sexual activities with others.
• Masturbation relieves sexual tension and helps one become comfortable with one’s own sexuality and bodies.
• Masturbation carries no risks of causing a pregnancy or transmitting STDs.
• Through masturbation, an individual can learn how one likes to be stimulated. It’s important to learn about one’s own body.
  Once in a sexual relationship, the person can share this information with his partner to maximize pleasure.
• For men, masturbation with the stop-start technique (halting stimulation just prior to an orgasm, then touching oneself again once the orgasmic feeling has subsided) can help to develop better ejaculatory control.

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