MASTURBATION (ALONE)

Defined:
Masturbation is the touching, caressing or stroking of one's genitals, whether a male or a female, and is extremely common behavior among children, adolescents and adults. A male masturbates by stroking the penis, caressing the scrotum, and touching other parts of his body while doing so. A female masturbates by caressing the vulva, rubbing the clitoris, sometimes
putting their fingers into their vagina, and by touching other parts of their body. Masturbation is often accompanied by fantasizing (thinking sexythoughts).

Negative Consequences:
When masturbation is done alone, there are virtually no negative physical consequences or dangers. There can sometimes be negative mental consequences if the person has been taught by parents or religion that masturbation is sinful, causing them to feel guilty until the learn that MOST people do it. Masturbation can be embarrassing if one is accidentally caught or interrupted, though we hope that this negative consequence will be no more in a bright and sexuallyopen future.

Positive Consequences:
Well, of all sexual behaviors, masturbation certainly has the longest list of benefits... too many to go into detail here (though there are many articles on the numerous health benefits of masturbation in our section titled 'Sex For One, Please' - check it out). Quickly, masturbation is the safest sex that a person can have, and is an excellent outlet for sexual tension, teen hormones, and tension in general. It is also very relaxing and helps people go to sleep faster
and sleep better. It allows a person to get intimately familiar with their own body, their own sexual responses, what areas of their body are most sensitive to touch, and to reach their first orgasm in
a relaxed, confident atmosphere. In males, it also provides a purging of 'old' sperm, keeping their sperm fresh and ready to impregnate a female.

Specific Risks:
Some chaffing and soreness if done too much, guilt if one has been taught negative things about masturbation, and sometimes embarrassment if caught doing it. By the way, if you aren't sore, and it isn't, like, interfering with your usual daily activities and studies, then you are NOT doing it 'too much' (a common question at AAS).