GETTING TO KNOW YOUR BODY
WHAT IS MASTURBATION?
Masturbation is self- stimulation of genitals for sexual pleasure, often to the point of orgasm or ejaculation. Both girls and guys can masturbate.
WHY DO PEOPLE MASTURBATE?
Masturbation happens as early as infancy, when a baby touches his or her genitals and the body automatically responds with a pleasurable feeling. Masturbation often continues as a normal, healthy and safe form of sexual development. People have different reasons to masturbate, including curiosity, hormonal urge for sexual stimulation, and desire to avoid STDs or unwanted pregnancy.
HOW DOES MASTURBATION WORK?
Masturbation allows people to explore and understand their bodies and their reaction to sexual stimulation. For a lot of people, this helps in two specific ways:
- The person may be able to make healthier decisions about what they do or do not feel comfortable with when thinking about becoming sexually active with a partner;AND
- When they become sexually active with a partner, they may be better able to talk to their partner about what sexual activity they are comfortable with as well as what does and does not feel good.
FACTS ABOUT MASTURBATION
- It is completely normal to masturbate.
- It’s completely normal to think about masturbating.
- It’s completely normal NOT to masturbate.
Everyone has their own opinion about masturbation and while there’s no harm in different opinions, it’s important to decide how you feel about it. There are lots of myths about masturbation. Some of the myths you might hear are:
- “Masturbation is dirty”
- “Masturbating will make your sperm count lower so you won’t be able to get a woman pregnant”
- “Masturbation is only for people who can’t find a sex partner”
- “Masturbating will make you go blind”
SO NOT TRUE!
It’s hard to decide how you feel about something when the information around you might not be accurate. Also, some people aren’t comfortable talking about masturbation so getting the information you need might leave you feeling confused. Ultimately, trust your instincts and know where (like this website) you can go to find the info you need!
ADVANTAGES
- It’s a natural progression of sexual development;
- It allows you to begin to understand your body’s response to sexual stimulation;
- It’s extremely effective against STDs and unintended pregnancy when there is no contact with sexual bodily fluids.
DISADVANTAGES
- There can be stigma attached to masturbation, which makes it difficult to talk about with healthcare providers, parents, friends and partners;
- Some people have guilt or anxiety about masturbating which may be because of conflicting religious or moral beliefs.
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