Masturbation.  It’s a subject many people feel uncomfortable talking about.  Masturbation is touching and handling your sex organs in a way that creates pleasurable sexual feelings.  It doesn’t make you sterile or weak.  A lot of these myths are still around even though today we know that masturbation is not physically harmful.  Some figures show that as many as 90% of the total male population masturbates, as does 35% to 65% of the total female population.

      In early adolescence, certain hormone changes take place in your body and you start feeling tension, primarily in the sex organs.  This tension builds up and you can feel very uncomfortable until you find a way to release it.  Masturbating is one way to release this tension.  It’s an outlet for the strong sexual urges that develop during early adolescence.  Masturbation is not physically harmful, but it’s not uncommon to feel guilty or anxious about it.

     Some traditional religions and cultures disapprove of the practice of masturbation.  If you are concerned about this, we strongly recommend that you seek the counsel of your priest, minister or rabbi.  Some people feel masturbation is okay for them as long as they don’t over do it.  It becomes something to worry about when it develops into the main interest and activity of your life.  If you don’t develop normal friendships or don’t have a social life, but instead spend all of your spare time alone masturbating, it may indicate a serious problem.  The problem, however, is not, masturbation but lack of social development.  It’s like watching television or eating, if that’s all you do, it shows you’re having problems dealing with other parts of life.

     Many people have sexual thoughts or fantasies about all sorts of things while they are masturbating.  They may feel guilty about these thoughts.  Whatever these fantasies are, it’s important to remember there is nothing to feel guilty or afraid of, they are only daydreams.   Strong sexual urges help create them.

     Most people, males and females, use their hands to stimulate themselves when masturbating.  This is a safe way to masturbate.  However, some people choose to use objects.  If these objects are dirty, an infection could result.  If you would like to talk further about masturbation, you may want to talk to your family doctor, nurse practitioner, school nurse, parents or other trusted adult.