Masturbation. A night in for one. Playing with your hand or flicking the bean. Eurgh. Bean.
Whatever you want to call it, you’re aware of it and you probably do it yourself. The history of masturbation isn’t exactly a pleasant one as it used to be considered destructive to living a good and moral lifestyle; so it didn’t just make you a bad person in the eyes of society, but it was also thought to damage your state of mind. All that power in one hand…, Of course, masturbating doesn’t cause you any physical harm (unless you’re a bit too, erm, vigorous) and it most definitely doesn’t mess with your psychological state in the way that the Victorians believed that it did. But don’t worry because it’s common, it doesn’t make you dirty and it’s instinctive behaviour for both men and women.
But here are some fun facts that you might not have known about the act of masturbation.
10. Humans Aren’t The Only Species To Masturbate
Did you think that you were the only living species on this planet that has needs, sexual needs? Just because you have a conscious, the ability to think rationally and walk and talk, does make you any different from the likes of birds, apes and horses. That’s right, you all have one thing in common: you love to jerk off. Whenever these animals feel like they’re in the mood for some lovin’, they’ll just do it, there and then. They don’t even care if anyone is watching. And that’s definitely the biggest difference between you and these animals; it’s not that you can’t fly, it’s because you don’t like an audience.
9. How Many Times A Month Do People Masturbate On Average?
After looking at a number of recent surveys that people have taken to investigate how many times men and women masturbate in a month, this is the conclusion. Men masturbate more than women and they started at a younger age. Most women didn’t start until their late teens or 20s until they were mature enough for sex in the first place. The reason behind it wasn’t primarily for pleasure wither, it was because they wanted to become more comfortable with their own bodies. So women masturbate on average around 5 times a month, whereas as men find the time to do it around 12. Be honest, you thought those numbers were going to be higher didn’t you?
8. Make Sure You Use Lubrication
The whole point of masturbating is to feel comfortable in your own skin, boost your confidence in the bedroom and to discover what feels good and what doesn’t. Many people don’t even need to orgasm because they’re too busy concentrating on what feels good. However, if you’re using your own saliva as lubricant, it’s probably not the best idea. This is because it can disrupt the bacteria and cause yeast infections.
7. It’s A Form Of Mild Cardio
For women at least, and it’s very, very mild. Your heart rate still increases along with your breathing and you’ll even find yourself sweating. You also know that you can have a guaranteed orgasm without getting pregnant or contracting an STI. But for boys, masturbating is very different to sex, and it’s not because of that one obvious reason. When men ejaculate on their own, their body responds differently to it. They have a lower sperm count and it doesn’t give them the added health benefits of what having sex gives. But there are other health benefits that ‘come’ with this act. It can lower the risk of diabetes, reduce back or leg pain, reduce the risk of a heart attack and it even makes your hair shinier. You’re doing it now aren’t you? All in the name of your health of course…
9. How Many Times A Month Do People Masturbate On Average?
After looking at a number of recent surveys that people have taken to investigate how many times men and women masturbate in a month, this is the conclusion. Men masturbate more than women and they started at a younger age. Most women didn’t start until their late teens or 20s until they were mature enough for sex in the first place. The reason behind it wasn’t primarily for pleasure wither, it was because they wanted to become more comfortable with their own bodies. So women masturbate on average around 5 times a month, whereas as men find the time to do it around 12. Be honest, you thought those numbers were going to be higher didn’t you?
8. Make Sure You Use Lubrication
The whole point of masturbating is to feel comfortable in your own skin, boost your confidence in the bedroom and to discover what feels good and what doesn’t. Many people don’t even need to orgasm because they’re too busy concentrating on what feels good. However, if you’re using your own saliva as lubricant, it’s probably not the best idea. This is because it can disrupt the bacteria and cause yeast infections.
7. It’s A Form Of Mild Cardio
For women at least, and it’s very, very mild. Your heart rate still increases along with your breathing and you’ll even find yourself sweating. You also know that you can have a guaranteed orgasm without getting pregnant or contracting an STI. But for boys, masturbating is very different to sex, and it’s not because of that one obvious reason. When men ejaculate on their own, their body responds differently to it. They have a lower sperm count and it doesn’t give them the added health benefits of what having sex gives. But there are other health benefits that ‘come’ with this act. It can lower the risk of diabetes, reduce back or leg pain, reduce the risk of a heart attack and it even makes your hair shinier. You’re doing it now aren’t you? All in the name of your health of course…
6. The Vibrator Was Invented To Cure Hysteria
Symptoms of hysteria included fainting, anxiety, fatigue, depression and emotional instability. So how were these symptoms treated? By female arousal of course. Doctors would make house calls to women who were suffering from hysteria and would treat this diagnosis by giving them a ‘healing massage.’ That’s right, husbands would pay another man to pleasure their wives and that’s because women were not supposed to enjoy sex or be sexual people. But sexual stimulation was only acceptable if there was a medical reason for it. Seems legit. Of course, not all doctors would use penetration as a way of making their clients orgasm and using their hands all of the time began to tire them out. In comes the vibrator. These magical devices were strictly kept in doctor’s offices for medical purposes only, but then bigger companies started manufacturing them and began to sell them in very subtle advertising spots in women’s magazines. Unfortunately, this treatment didn’t actually cure the hysteria as clients kept on making repeat appointments with their doctors… Hysteria as a disease was eventually made obsolete in the 1950s.
Symptoms of hysteria included fainting, anxiety, fatigue, depression and emotional instability. So how were these symptoms treated? By female arousal of course. Doctors would make house calls to women who were suffering from hysteria and would treat this diagnosis by giving them a ‘healing massage.’ That’s right, husbands would pay another man to pleasure their wives and that’s because women were not supposed to enjoy sex or be sexual people. But sexual stimulation was only acceptable if there was a medical reason for it. Seems legit. Of course, not all doctors would use penetration as a way of making their clients orgasm and using their hands all of the time began to tire them out. In comes the vibrator. These magical devices were strictly kept in doctor’s offices for medical purposes only, but then bigger companies started manufacturing them and began to sell them in very subtle advertising spots in women’s magazines. Unfortunately, this treatment didn’t actually cure the hysteria as clients kept on making repeat appointments with their doctors… Hysteria as a disease was eventually made obsolete in the 1950s.
5. There’s A Reason Why Some Vibrators Look Like A Rabbit
Most women who own a Rampant Rabbit want to explore their sexuality, that’s a given. But it’s also probably because it provides them with a penetrative and clitoral orgasm, but it also looks like a freaking bunny rabbit! Who would have thought that a vibrator could be cute? The Japanese, that’s who. In Japan, it’s illegal to create sex toys that actually look like a penis, so they designed the rabbit vibrator instead and also showed the Japanese government their middle finger at the same time.
4. People Don’t Tend To Remember The Last Time They Masturbated
4. People Don’t Tend To Remember The Last Time They Masturbated
Unless it was last night or two minutes ago, can you really remember the last time that you had a party for one? However, this is more common with men as it is with women because every time a man ejaculates, they lose vital neurochemicals involved with concentration and memory. Having said that, the other reason that people don’t tend to remember the last time that they jerked off can potentially be attributed to the thought process that masturbation is still seen as taboo and inappropriate. They might not even own up to it. But still, it’s not like everyone marks the calendar after they’ve gotten a little bit frisky with themselves.
3. It Will Make You Better And More Confident In Bed
And not just with yourself. Many people get offended if their partner masturbates, but sometimes you just need to feel comfortable in your own skin. And because you’re able to figure out what you like, you’re able to tell your partner too, making it a much more enjoyable experience when you’re in bed together. You’ll also know your limits and it will eventually make you more comfortable having sex in the long term.
3. It Will Make You Better And More Confident In Bed
And not just with yourself. Many people get offended if their partner masturbates, but sometimes you just need to feel comfortable in your own skin. And because you’re able to figure out what you like, you’re able to tell your partner too, making it a much more enjoyable experience when you’re in bed together. You’ll also know your limits and it will eventually make you more comfortable having sex in the long term.
2. There’s No Such Thing As ‘Too Much’
When it comes to masturbation, there’s no such thing as right, wrong, too little or too much. As long as you’re healthy, sexually satisfied and confident, then no one is going to tell you to stop or to do it more often. However, the only time it will become a problem is if you feel like you can’t function without doing it. If you find yourself skipping work to pleasure yourself or you’re turning away from your partner to spend more time alone in the bedroom, then you should seek some professional advice.
1. But Back In The Day, It Could Have Killed You
In 1656, you could have been executed if you were caught masturbating. In Connecticut, the New Haven Law meant that if someone else witnessed you participating in this act, then it was up to jurors to decide whether or not you would get to live or die. But in 2013, Miley Cyrus pretty much did it with a rubber glove on stage in front of thousands. How times have changed… Is an orgasm really worth dying for? Probably.
