Masturbation
Masturbation is when you stimulate your genitals with your hands to get sexually aroused.
Until recently, masturbation was seen as taboo and not to be talked about. There were also lots of scare stories about it, like it would make you mad, or make you go blind. Or, make you grow hair on your hands. Of course, all of these are pure fiction - masturbation can do you no physical or emotional harm.
Nowadays, there is a completely different view about masturbation. It's perfectly normal and although most people won't admit it, extremely common. Masturbation is the safest sex of all - you don't have to worry about catching any sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy.
What is masturbation?
Men generally masturbate by rubbing their penis in their hand, or gripping it between their thumb and one or two fingers. Masturbation comes naturally to many men, because they are used to touching their penis when they go to the toilet.
Women masturbate by rubbing their clitoris with their fingers and may insert fingers or another object, such as a sex toy, into their vagina. For some women, masturbation doesn't come as naturally as it does with men. Their genitals are hidden away and not as obvious.
When it comes to masturbation, there is no set way of doing it. Take the time to discover what feels good and do whatever feels right for you. If you don't like to masturbate, don't worry - everyone is different. Masturbating is safe as long as you don't use any dangerous or dirty objects. You don't want to catch an infection or get an injury, or worse still, have to explain a nasty injury at A&E.
Can masturbation improve my sex life?
For women who have trouble having an orgasm during sex, masturbation provides an opportunity to find out what makes you feel good. You can then use what you have learnt when you have sex, by telling your partner what you want them to do. For men, masturbation is a good way of learning how to control orgasm.
This is especially helpful if you experience premature ejaculation (when you come quickly and can't control it). Try to recognise when you are about to come, then stop what you are doing for a few moments. If you can repeat this a few times before you orgasm, you should soon learn how to control when you come.