Throughout history and into our not-so-distant past, masturbation has been one of the most forbidden sexual acts, and harmful myths are still present in today’s society. However, the Kinsey Institute recognizes that masturbation IT IS the most common form of sexual play and between 62% of women and 92% of men are turned on through solo sex on a regular basis. Long live the majority. But it makes you wonder why some people still fear self-pleasure.
Learn 10 facts, taboos, and myths about masturbation that you probably don’t know, so you can make an informed decision about whether masturbation is right for you.
1. Many cultures have condemned masturbation for various reasons. The oldest were the ancient Taoists who believed that the “shedding of seeds” endangered the survival of humanity. This is because they thought that men only had a limited amount of sperm, and the sperm contained the life force or “chi”. However, today we know that men produce 50,000 sperm per minute, so those old stigmas no longer make sense.
2. Masturbation is associated with “onanism” in Christianity (Genesis 38: 9) when Onan refuses to have sex with his brother’s widow and spills “his semen on the ground to prevent her from producing offspring.” However, it was the “coitus interruptus” or premature abstinence that was the real sin committed and not masturbation.
3. Over the centuries, masturbation was thought to be an epidemic and all manner of physical and mental ailments were attributed to it, from back pain to blindness, hysteria and insanity, epilepsy and death. Terrible “cures” included shock therapy, chastity belts, male and female circumcision, physical restraints, and much more sinister devices built to “discourage” erections. Today, sexologists agree that masturbation is a normal and natural act that promotes vitality and health. In fact, most believe “that the lack of masturbatory experience may be related to psychopathology, rather than to the practice of autoeroticism,” which is in stark contrast to past views.
4. Interestingly, two food manufacturers endorsed more negative attitudes about masturbation in the early 1900s. Graham (Graham Cracker) and cereal developer John Harvey Kellogg are leading a healthy food crusade against sexual excess, including masturbation. Think about that the next time you eat your morning cereal.
5. Some of the more ridiculous myths about masturbation include that it is addictive, that it will reduce your arousal over time, make you infertile or impotent, blind you, cause insanity, grow hair on your palms, stunt your growth, make you have acne and it will make you lose your virginity. The truth is that masturbation is pleasant, healthy and sane. And no, you won’t become a werewolf either.
6. Masturbation is not just a pleasant hobby; in fact, it can improve your relationship. Rather than destroying that “special” aspect of sexuality, masturbation actually enhances it by creating intimacy, allowing for sexual exploration and increased communication. It can also stimulate the imagination and be an erotic activity that partners can share together. In fact, sexologists say that masturbation establishes a healthy philosophy about sex and helps to lose sexual inhibitions that can prevent them from having a satisfying sex life with their partners by gaining confidence and self-esteem.
7. Unlike many “feel good” things like drugs and food, masturbation has no negative side effects. Masturbation is really healthy for your body. Research shows that masturbation has numerous health benefits and improves prostate health in men, reduces premenstrual cramps in women, provides a healthy release of sexual tension, and is the ultimate in safe sex. Masturbation also improves the function of the immune system; helps reduce the signs of aging, menopausal symptoms, obesity, and can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis in older women by increasing bone mass.
8. Guilt is the number one reason most people avoid masturbation and have trouble reaching orgasm. The greatest barrier to successful sexual pleasure is mental distraction from guilty thoughts, taking it away from the moment, away from body sensations, and not allowing the pleasure to breathe. But our negative views on masturbation and sex – that it is dirty or immoral is simply untrue.
9. Many sexologists agree that masturbation is natural, and censoring or repressing it can be harmful, resulting in destructive obsessions, low self-esteem and can even lead to intimacy problems.
10. Masturbation is natural. Did you know that animals masturbate? Birds do it, bees do it, and even chimpanzees do it. And cats and rats, elephants as confident as you were born, the only one who does not is the unicorn.