By age eighteen years virtually every adolescent male and most adolescent females have practiced masturbation. In the past several decades, there has been no change in the masturbation practices of adolescents. About twenty-five percent of heterosexual adolescent males have had mutual masturbation with another male by age fourteen and about sixty percent of gay males report that practice by age fourteen years. By mid adolescence, most heterosexual males stop mutual masturbation with another male although up to ninety percent of gay males have practiced mutual masturbation by age nineteen years.
Fewer adolescent girls masturbate compared to adolescent boys. Some girls are more likely to engage in premarital intercourse rather than masturbate. Girls planning to enter college are more accepting of masturbation. Regardless of socioeconomic classes, lesbian adolescents masturbate more frequently than their heterosexual counterparts.
There should be no guilt associated with masturbation. It is a normal sexual practice for adolescents whether they are heterosexual, gay, or bisexual. It serves as a release for sexual tension and is a natural way for teens to explore their bodies. While pre adolescent males may masturbate to orgasm, no ejaculation occurs until the start of puberty. There are no bad things that happen from masturbation. One does not become mentally ill from masturbation, hand warts do not occur from masturbation, and teens who have hand warts do not necessarily masturbate.
Masturbation was not always thought of as a normal sexual practice. In 180 A.D., the famous Roman physician Galen warned that masturbation was a habit that could lead to disease. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, physicians recommended a variety of treatments for teens who masturbated in order to cure them of the habit. These treatments included burning of the genitals, circumcision, removal of the clitoris, and even castration. Treatment for masturbation including genital surgery continued in the United States into the Twentieth Century.
Masters and Johnson as well as Kinsey, who were famous researchers of the human sexual response and sexuality studied masturbatory practices in males and females. Their work has advanced the concept that sexuality is an important aspect of development and sexual behavior should be an enjoyable feature of human behavior.
Besides being an outlet for sexual tensions in both male and female adolescents, there are other important considerations to masturbation. One cannot become pregnant from masturbation, nor can one father a child through masturbatory practices. It would be highly unusual to acquire a sexually transmitted infection from masturbation. One does remain a virgin if masturbation is substituted for intercourse. Masturbation allows the adolescent to understand his or her body and sexual response; it also enables the teen to understand what practices give rise to his or her sexual gratification. And masturbation may delay the onset of sexual intercourse. There is no evidence that masturbation leads to early initiation of sexual intercourse for either males or females.
Some adolescent heterosexual couples practice mutual masturbation where the partners masturbate each other. This should be a very low risk for sexually transmitted infections. Theoretically, it may be possible to transfer genital herpes or genital warts by mutual masturbation. However, there is no risk for sexually transmitted disease if you practice masturbation on yourself. Studies have shown that about one third of adolescent virgins, both males and females, have engaged in some form of heterosexual genital sexual activity in the past year. These activities are primarily masturbation with a partner. However, if substances including alcohol or marijuana are used with masturbation, there is increased likelihood that riskier sexual activities including oral sex or intercourse may occur.
Masturbation is not a topic frequently discussed either in families or in physicians’ offices. There is hesitancy to discuss the topic openly or even between partners. This lack of discussion may lead to the perception that masturbation is bad or dirty. But there is some evidence in adolescent boys that suggests a relationship between the report of masturbation and positive self-esteem. One may speculate that boys who masturbate have a better understanding of themselves or boys who are more comfortable with their sexual being may masturbate. And some research has demonstrated for females that their accepting attitudes toward masturbation or mutual masturbation may have a significant and positive influence on their sexual response.
Related topics:
Growth and development, sexually transmitted diseases
