Women’s sexual health - Masturbation

Go forth and masturbate

History wasn’t too kind to the practice of masturbation. Throughout periods of time, masturbation was condemned as a sinful perversion, and anybody caught in the act was severely punished. Masturbation used to be ridden with myths and misconceived ideas which were further insinuated with unfounded medical fallacies. But thanks to so much hype built around it, more and more people were curious about this gleeful activity making it more widespread. Just because the masturbation topic remained quite a taboo for many years, this did not stop it from being popular. Still, even with masturbation courting history with an ill reputation, it proved to be quite an advantageous leisure towards a healthier body and a spicier sex life.

Masturbation is the manual manipulation of the sexual organs for excitation and eventually to the point of orgasm. It can either be performed by oneself with or without the aid of paraphernalia, or be done with the presence of another, which is also called ‘mutual masturbation.’

Our adventure with masturbation did not start when we first became horny. Actually, it started as early as during our stage of infancy, around 4 years of age. This is the period that is described as the "phallic phase" by the renowned Sigmund Freud during the late 19th century. According to his study, it is during this phase that a child discovers with his natural curiosity that touching the genitals elicits a great feeling. At that innocent stage, there is already a great deal of sexual pleasure felt and experienced.

Freud suggested taking this phase with extra caution for the child since it denotes special attention. The parents who give out any reprimand or rebuke to a masturbating child, might leave the impression that he or she is dirty or naughty. This is the crucial stage that can set the long-term basis for sexual impairments that will be experienced later in one’s adult life.

Women are said to experience greater guilt with regard to masturbation. A lot of girls get told by their parents not to fondle their genitals during their infancy. If the little girl persists, this may lead to something as serious as a physical punishment in the way of slapping or hitting. Such kind of punishment only induces feelings of guilt and unworthiness in the child. It further instills fear that when done again, may eventually involve worse punishments. A parent must be sensitive in handling a child’s encounter with pleasing oneself for this type of parental action, even if done only once, can be sufficient to bring out psychosexual deterrent during the adult stage. For your part, if you feel psychologically disturbed with masturbation, try to recall your childhood years and attribute some of your inhibitions to how you were brought up.

However, though we started it in our childhood years, it is when we reach adolescence that masturbation reveals its full potential as a powerful tool for self-gratification. When explored during one’s growing up years, masturbation can be a prime and good source of sexual gratification, not only for boys but also for girls. Masturbating paves the way for a young adolescent girl to begin to discover her own sexual capacity. It can also help her determine her own sexual pleasure through willful orgasms, in a very intentional, utterly pleasurable manner.

Luckily, for our generation, masturbation is no longer something that is considered as illegal or wrong, else we would grow up to be sexually handicapped. Slowly, we have begun to see how masturbation is an avenue for self-love and discovery. Other sexual matters are now discussed in a more natural manner and taken as a part of daily living. Nevertheless, we have to admit that even in such modern times, there are still some who find it difficult to accept masturbation as a part of the human sexual development.

I strongly encourage you to not hesitate in exploring yourself through masturbation. This will allow you to learn how to get the highest intensity of pleasure and discover how you can be aroused. This will ultimately benefit your sexual life in the long run as you can direct your partner on how to please you the most. And when he can’t, you can always take matters “into your own hands,” so to speak.

Ultimately, sex cannot be learned from books alone, or from how the Kama Sutra dictates things to you. We have different erogenous zones and turn-on points and no one in the world can know this better than your own self.