Masturbation, or self-pleasuring, is touching and rubbing parts of your body for sensual pleasure, such as the men organ, scrotum, clitoris, vulva, breasts and anus. Masturbation can involve a person exploring their own body, but can also happen between two people (mutual masturbation). If masturbation is occurring between people (mutual masturbation), consent needs to be given and obtained.
Masturbation is a common behavior that is seen at all ages from childhood, through the teen years and throughout adulthood by people of any gender. It’s a healthy way for people to explore bodies, to find out what feels good sensually, and how to achieve an orgasm.
Sensual pleasure through masturbation can be a very normal part of a person’s sensual experience. How frequent people masturbate is different for each person. It might be several times a day, a week or a month to not masturbating at all. How often a person masturbates is not a problem unless the time spent masturbating is replacing other aspects of a healthy and balanced life – for example school, work, responsibilities, social activities.
Masturbation in children and young people – tips for parents and carers
People of all ages masturbate for different reasons. It may help with relaxation, it may be due to curiosity and body exploration, it may assist in self soothing behaviors or, in most instances, it just feels good.
In Australia, 89% of young people in Years 10, 11 and 12 report that they masturbate. Providing your child with intercourse-positive messages about masturbation is important in normalizing this behavior and reducing feelings of anxiety, fear and shame about bodies and sensuality.
Sensual health benefits of masturbation
Some known sensual health benefits of masturbation include:
- It can release sensual tension and let people explore their sensuality by themselves.
- It’s a form of sensual activity that’s available to people of all genders, including people in partnered relationships, people who don’t have a partner, people who are not having intercourse with their partner, or people who are abstaining from intercourse.
- It lets people become familiar with their own sensual responses, which can help them to communicate their wants and needs to their making love partner or partners.
General health benefits of masturbation
Some general health benefits of masturbation may include that it:
- helps in relaxation
- promotes better sleep
- promotes the release of the brain’s opioid-like neurotransmitters (called endorphins), which cause feelings of physical and mental wellbeing
- reduces stress
- enhances self-esteem and body image.
Myths and taboo around masturbation
Even though masturbation is a common part of sensuality, some people feel ashamed or embarrassed about masturbation, partly because of outdated myths.
Masturbation has been incorrectly blamed for a range of health problems, including:
- infertility
- blindness
- mental health issues
- sensual perversion
- reduced sensual function.
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Tips for parents and carers include:
- Remember that children and young people masturbate for many reasons, including curiosity, exploration and sensory pleasure.
- Remember that masturbation is very common.
- Try to focus on the setting, rather than the activity itself. For example, if your child is masturbating, you can tell them that what they are doing is fine, but remind them it’s a private behavior that they can do in a private place (like their bedroom or bathroom).
- Understand that children may turn to masturbation in times of stress. If your child’s masturbation is affecting other activities, you should find out what is making them anxious or upset.
If you’re concerned about your child’s behavior, you should talk with your doctor or pediatrician.
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