NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Masterbation

Masturbation is the manual excitation of the sexual organs, most often to the point of orgasm. It can refer to excitation either by oneself or by another (see mutual masturbation), but commonly refers to such activities performed alone. It is part of a larger set of activities known as autoeroticism, which also includes the use of sex toys and non-genital stimulation. There are also masturbation machines used to simulate intercourse. Masturbation and sexual intercourse are the two most common sexual practices. Some people are only able to achieve orgasm by masturbation rather than sexual intercourse. In the animal kingdom, masturbation has been observed in many mammallian species, both in the wild and in captivity. Download high resolution version (616x1231, 42 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (616x1231, 42 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... A sex organ, or primary sexual characteristic, narrowly defined, is any of those parts of the body (which are not always bodily organs according to the strict definition) which are involved in sexual reproduction and constitute the reproductive system in an complex organism; namely: Male: penis (notably the glans penis... Ecstasy of St Theresa by Bernini has been compared [1] to an expression of sexual delight An orgasm, also known as a sexual climax, is a pleasurable psychological or emotional response to prolonged sexual stimulation. ... Mutual masturbation is a sexual act where two or more people stimulate one another sexually, usually with the hands. ... Autoeroticism is the practice of fulfilling ones own sexual needs without a partner. ... A sex toy is a term for any object or device that is primarily used in facilitating human sexual pleasure. ... A machine is any mechanical or organic device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of tasks. ... A pair of lions copulating in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. ... Sexual behavior is a form of physical intimacy that may be directed to reproduction (one possible goal of sexual intercourse) and/or to the enjoyment of activity involving sexual gratification. ... The Tree of Life stands as a symbol of the park, its base carved with the images of 325 animals. ... Orders Subclass Monotremata Monotremata Subclass Marsupialia Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Subclass Placentalia Xenarthra Dermoptera Desmostylia Scandentia Primates Rodentia Lagomorpha Insectivora Chiroptera Pholidota Carnivora Perissodactyla Artiodactyla Cetacea Afrosoricida Macroscelidea Tubulidentata Hyracoidea Proboscidea Sirenia The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of mammary glands...

Etymology

The word masturbation is believed by many to derive from the Greek word mezea (μεζεα, "penises") and the Latin turbare ("to disturb"). A competing etymology based on the Latin manu stuprare ("to defile with the hand") is said by the Oxford English Dictionary to be an "old conjecture". The esoteric and little-used synonym manustupration is similarly derived from manus stuprare. Etymology is the study of the origins of words. ... Latin is the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a comprehensive multi-volume dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP). ...

Masturbation techniques

Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the genital area against an object, such as a pillow, inserting fingers or an object into the anus (see anal masturbation), and stimulating the penis or vulva/clitoris with electric vibrators, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the nipples while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes use lubricating substances to improve the sensation available. A sex organ, or primary sexual characteristic, narrowly defined, is any of those parts of the body (which are not always bodily organs according to the strict definition) which are involved in sexual reproduction and constitute the reproductive system in an complex organism; namely: Male: penis (notably the glans penis... Pillows redirects here; for information on the Japanese band, see the pillows. ... Male Anatomy The anus, in anatomy, is the external opening of the rectum. ... Anal masturbation is masturbation focusing on the anal area. ... A vibrator is a mechanical device that is designed to generate vibrations. ... Nipple is, generally, the name given to the mammalian nipple, or to things resembling it, such as the tip of an artificial teat or the tip of a grease secreting mechanism in machinery. ... Personal lubricants are used on or around the human body to reduce friction, particularly during intimate sexual acts, but also for medical treatments and procedures. ...

Reading or viewing pornography, or sexual fantasy, are common adjuncts to masturbation in adolescence and adulthood. Masturbation activities are often ritualized. Various fetishes and paraphilias can also play a part in the masturbation ritual; potentially harmful or fatal activities include autoerotic asphyxiation and self-bondage. Pavonazzeto marble sculpture, see Erotic art in Pompeii Pornography (from Greek Ï€Î¿ÏÎ½Î¿Î³ÏÎ±Ï†Î¹Î± pornographia â€” literally writing about or drawings of harlots) is the representation of the human body or human sexual behaviour with the goal of sexual arousal, similar to, but (according to some) distinct from, erotica. ... A sexual fantasy is a fantasy of a sexual nature. ... Ritualization is a behavior that occurs typically in the member of a given species in a highy stereotyped fashion and independent of any direct physiological significance. ... This article concerns the concept of fetishism in anthropology. ... Paraphilia (in Greek para παρά = besides and -philia φιλία = love) is a mental health term recently used to indicate sexual arousal in response to sexual objects or situations which may interfere with the capacity for reciprocal affectionate sexual activity. ... Autoerotic asphyxiation is the practice of self-strangulation, typically by the use of a ligature, while masturbating. ... Self-bondage is the practice of sexual bondage without a partner; that is to say, tying or otherwise restraining oneself for the purpose of sexual pleasure. ...

Female

Female masturbation techniques are numerous and more varied than those of males. They are influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Download high resolution version (2260x1155, 90 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Masturbation User:Rama/Sexuality drawings Categories: Drawings of sex positions ... Download high resolution version (2260x1155, 90 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Masturbation User:Rama/Sexuality drawings Categories: Drawings of sex positions ... Download high resolution version (1053x954, 168 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1053x954, 168 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

Techniques include stroking or rubbing of the vulva, especially the clitoris with her middle or index fingers, or even index and second fingers. This is pleasurable for most, especially when rubbing the breast and nipples at the same time. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke the frontal wall of the vagina where the g-spot is located. Masturbatory aids such as a vibrator, dildo or Ben Wa balls can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Anal stimulation is also preferred by some because of the thousands of sensitive nerves located in the anus. Lubrication is sometimes used to facilitate masturbation, especially when penetration is involved. Parts of a vulva The external genital organs of the female are collectively known as the vulva (also sometimes called the pudenda). ... A womans clitoris extends from the visible portion to a point below the pubic bone. ... Female internal reproductive anatomy. ... A vibrator is a mechanical device that is designed to generate vibrations. ... A dildo is a penis-shaped device intended for bodily interaction during masturbation or sexual intercourse. ... Ben Wa balls (also known as Chinese Meditation Balls, or Burmese bells) are small, marble-sized metal balls, usually hollow and containing a small weight that rolls around -- used for massage and meditation purposes as well as female masturbation. ... A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of nerve fibers or axons, which includes the glia that ensheath the axons in myelin. ... Personal lubricants are used on or around the human body to reduce friction, particularly during intimate sexual acts, but also for medical treatments and procedures. ... The term penetration can mean several things: In business, penetration is often short for market penetration, the degree to which a product or service is known and/or used among potential customers. ...

Some prefer to masturbate in bathtub, shower, or even hot tub by using warm running water to stimulate the clitoris; or others may straddle a pillow, stimulating the clitoris through the labia and clothing in a manner similar to frottage. Some reach orgasm by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, which creates friction. It could potentially be done in public without observers noticing. A womans clitoris extends from the visible portion to a point below the pubic bone. ... In the context of human sexual behavior, frottage or frotteurism is the act of achieving sexual gratification by rubbing ones (clothed or naked) body against another person. ...

Those who have difficulty reaching orgasm through sexual intercourse may find it easier to achieve an orgasm through masturbation. A pair of lions copulating in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. ...

Male

Males tend to use fewer masturbation techniques. These too are influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between circumcised and uncircumcised males, as some techniques which may work for one can often be quite painful for the other. Download high resolution version (3042x1661, 144 KB) fuck youurself File links The following pages link to this file: Masturbation User:Rama/Sexuality drawings ... Download high resolution version (3042x1661, 144 KB) fuck youurself File links The following pages link to this file: Masturbation User:Rama/Sexuality drawings ... File links The following pages link to this file: Masturbation ... File links The following pages link to this file: Masturbation ... Circumcision is the removal of some or all of the prepuce (foreskin). ...

The most common technique is to simply hold the penis with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until orgasm is achieved. When uncircumsed, stimulation to the penis comes from the pumping of the foreskin up and down the length of the shaft, which usually uncovers and covers the head in the process. This gliding motion of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, on the other hand, the stimulation is from direct contact with the hand; many massage (with some using a personal lubricant to reduce friction) the glans, the rim thereof and the notched indent left over from the removal of the frenulum. Male Anatomy In mammals, the foreskin or prepuce is the retractable double-layered fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers the head of the penis, (the glans penis). ... Gliding action is the term used to describe a possible motion of the foreskin during intercourse. ... Personal lubricants are used on or around the human body to reduce friction, particularly during intimate sexual acts, but also for medical treatments and procedures. ... A frenulum (or frenum) is a small fold of tissue that prevents an organ in the body from moving too far. ...

Another technique is to place the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the shaft and move the skin up and down to produce a pleasureable sensation leading ultimately to orgasm and ejaculation. Illustration of the human male anatomy. ...

A less common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. However, some clinicians have claimed that this is potentially harmful. Such masturbation (informally dubbed traumatic masturbatory syndrome) may result in pain, irritation, or abrasion if performed too roughly. Other techniques include the use of an artificial vagina or simulacrum for masturbation. Many fondle their testicles or other parts of their body while masturbating. Traumatic masturbatory syndrome (TMS) is a proposed sexual dysfunction suggested by Lawrence I. Sank, Ph. ... An artificial vagina is a sex toy designed to simulate the sensation of sexual intercourse on the erect penis. ...

The prostate gland is one of the organs that contributes fluid to semen. As the prostate is touch sensitive, some directly stimulate it using a well-lubricated dildo inserted through the anus into the rectum. Similarly, a partner may provide the masturbation by hand and/or mouth and tongue, or by inserting a well lubricated finger into the anus for direct stimulation of the prostate. Male Anatomy The prostate is a gland that is part of male mammalian sex organs. ... Semen or ejaculate is the fluid discharged from the penis during ejaculation, usually at the time of orgasm. ... A dildo is a penis-shaped device intended for bodily interaction during masturbation or sexual intercourse. ... Male Anatomy The anus, in anatomy, is the external opening of the rectum. ...

Ejaculation of semen is sometimes controlled by wearing a condom or by ejaculating into an artificial vagina, a sock, a tissue, or the toilet. A controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the perineum, a spot about half way between the scrotum and the anus, just before ejaculating. This can redirect semen into the bladder. However, the technique may cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum. A dry orgasm is one that is reached by withholding ejaculation (or by those too young to ejaculate). Proponents of tantric sex say that this is a learnable skill that can shorten the refractory period. Illustration of the human male anatomy. ... Semen or ejaculate is the fluid discharged from the penis during ejaculation, usually at the time of orgasm. ... A condom is a device, usually made of latex, that covers a mans penis during sexual intercourse to avoid pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. They are also known as prophylactics, as well as a number of colloquial or slang terms, such... The muscles of the male perineum In anatomy, the perineum is the region between the genital area and the anus in both sexes. ... The scrotum (human variant shown) is a thin extension of the abdomen that contains the testes and helps regulate their temperature. ... Male Anatomy The anus, in anatomy, is the external opening of the rectum. ... A dry orgasm is a sexual climax that does not result in ejaculation. ... Tantra (Sanskrit: loom), tantric yoga or tantrism is any of several esoteric traditions rooted in Hindu and Buddhist philosophy. ... Refractory period in biology Biologically, a refractory period is the amount of time it takes for an excitable membrane to be stimulated and then be ready for stimulus again. ...

Males who can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips are said to be capable of autofellatio. Autofellatio is oral sex performed by a man on himself Autofellatio_2. ...

Historically, some have seen a connection between circumcision and masturbation frequency, which remains a debated topic. In a 1410-man survey in the United States in 1992, Laumann found that: "A total of 47% of circumcised men reported masturbating at least once a month vs 34% for their uncircumcised peers."

Masturbation frequency, age and sex

It is understood that most people begin masturbating when reaching adolescence. Many scholarly and clinical studies have been done on the matter, and many informal surveys have asked the question. A 2004 survey by Toronto magazine NOW was answered by an unspecified number of thousands. [1] The results show that an overwhelming majority of the males – 81% – began masturbating between the ages of 10 and 15. Among females, the same figure was a more modest majority of 55%. It is not uncommon however to begin much earlier, and this is more frequent among females: 18% had begun by the time they turned 10, and 6% already by the time they turned 6. Being the main outlet of child sexuality, masturbation has been observed in very young children. In the book Human Sexuality: Diversity in Contemporary America, by Strong, Devault and Sayad, the authors point out, "A baby boy may laugh in his crib while playing with his erect penis (although he does not ejaculate). Baby girls sometimes move their bodies rhythmically, almost violently, appearing to experience orgasm." The Abduction of Psyche by William-Adolphe Bouguereau Adolescence is the transitional stage of development between childhood and full adulthood, representing the period of time during which a person is biologically adult but emotionally not at full maturity. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... }|135px|City of Toronto, Ontario Official Flag]]|Coat Image=[[Image:{{{Coat Image}}}|135px|City of Toronto, Ontario Coat of Arms]]}} {{Canadian City/Disable Field={{{Disable Motto Link}}}}} Motto: Diversity Our Strength {{Canadian City/Location Image is:{{{Location Image Type}}}|[[Image:{{{Location Image}}}|thumbnail|250px|City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Location. ... Child and youth sexuality refers to sexual behavior and activity among children. ... Ecstasy of St Theresa by Bernini has been compared [1] to an expression of sexual delight An orgasm, also known as a sexual climax, is a pleasurable psychological or emotional response to prolonged sexual stimulation. ...

According to the Canadian survey cited above, the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. This decline is more drastic among females, and more gradual among males. While females aged 13-17 masturbated almost once a day on average (and almost as often as their male peers), adult women only masturbated 8-9 times a month, compared to the 18-22 among men. It is also apparent that the ability to masturbate declines with age. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation six or more times per day, while men in middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day, on a daily basis.

(It should be noted that the survey results do not include a demographic breakdown of the respondents, so it is uncertain how reliable these results are.) In part this is due to the fact that females are less likely to masturbate while in a sexual relationship than men. Both sexes occasionally engage in this activity, however, even when in sexually active relationships (or happily married). In general, individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are.

Health and psychological effects

It is being increasingly recognised in mental health circles that masturbation can relieve depression and lead to a higher sense of self worth. Masturbation can also be particularly useful in relationships where one partner wants more sex than the other - in which case masturbation provides a balancing effect and thus a more harmonious relationship.

Both from the standpoint of avoiding unwanted pregnancy and that of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases, masturbation is the safest of sexual practices. There is no credible scientific or medical evidence that manual masturbation is damaging to either one's physical or mental health, with the exception of some cases of Peyronie's disease and traumatic rupture. In such instances, aggressive manipulation (e.g. inversion during adolescence, bending or twisting) of the penis and subsequent injury to the tunica albuginea or corpus cavernosum results in a localised fibromatosis, distorting the erectile appearance. Contrary to popular myth, masturbation does not cause blindness. However, lending some basis to the origin of the myth, zinc is both required to transport vitamin A from the liver to the retina, see [2] and [3], and is excreted in relatively high amount in semen. Thus, it is not inconceivable that in zinc-deficient or vitamin A-deficient environments excessive masturbation could have caused night blindness. A pregnant woman Human pregnancy refers to the process by which a human female carries a live offspring from conception until childbirth. ... Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), are diseases that are commonly transmitted between partners through some form of sexual activity, most commonly vaginal intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex. ... Peyronies disease is a rare connective tissue disorder involving the growth of fibrous plaques in the soft tissue of the penis affecting as much as 1% of men. ... The tunica albuginea is the tough fibrous covering of the testicles. ... A corpus cavernosum is one of a pair of a sponge-like regions of erectile tissue which contain most of the blood in the male penis during erection. ... Categories: Move to Wiktionary | Medicine stubs ... General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Density, Hardness 7140 kg/m3, 2. ... Retinol, the dietary form of vitamin A, is a fat-soluble, antioxidant vitamin important in vision and bone growth. ... The liver is an organ in vertebrates, including humans. ... Human eye cross-sectional view. ... Semen or ejaculate is the fluid discharged from the penis during ejaculation, usually at the time of orgasm. ...

The only side-effects recorded are that repeated masturbation may result in tiredness or soreness, which tend to make repeated masturbation self-limiting in any case, and that the volume of ejaculate is temporarily reduced in men after multiple ejaculations until normal seminal volume is regained in a day or so. Nevertheless, people from a socially conservative or religious background and other sensitive persons may experience attendant feelings of guilt during or after masturbation. Social conservatism is a belief in traditional morality and social mores and the desire to preserve these in present day society, often through civil law or regulation. ... Guilt is a concept used in various ways in various contexts. ...

Solitary masturbation carries no risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. Masturbation with a man and a woman can result in pregnancy only if semen contacts the vulva. Any masturbation with a partner can theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted disease by contact with bodily fluids, and such contact should be avoided with any partner whose disease-negative status is uncertain. Objects inserted into the vagina or anus should be clean and of a kind that will not scratch or break. Care should be taken not to fully insert anything into the anus - any object used should have a flared or flanged base; otherwise retrieval can require a visit to the emergency room. Most modern dildos and anal plugs are designed with this feature. Semen or ejaculate is the fluid discharged from the penis during ejaculation, usually at the time of orgasm. ... Parts of a vulva The external genital organs of the female are collectively known as the vulva (also sometimes called the pudenda). ... A dildo is a penis-shaped device intended for bodily interaction during masturbation or sexual intercourse. ...

In 1994, when the first woman appointed US Surgeon General, Dr. Joycelyn Elders, mentioned as an aside that perhaps it ought to be mentioned in school curricula that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign, with opponents asserting that she was promoting the teaching of how to masturbate. Many believe this was the result of her long history of promoting controversial viewpoints and not due solely to her public mention of masturbation. [4] 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... Surgeon General can have several different meanings. ... Minnie Joycelyn Elders (born August 13, 1933) was the United States Surgeon General from September 8, 1993 to December 31, 1994, most famous for her outspokenness on sensitive issues of public health. ... In education, a curriculum (plural curricula) is the set of courses and their contents offered by an institution such as a school or university. ...

On July 16, 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of The Cancer Council published a medical study [5] which concluded that frequent masturbation by males may help prevent the development of prostate cancer. The study also indicated that this would be more helpful than ejaculation through sexual intercourse because intercourse can transmit diseases that may increase the risk of cancer instead. See, for example, Risk Factors in Cervical Cancer. July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men in the United States. ... Cervical cancer is a malignancy of the cervix. ...

Masturbation in history and society

Antiquity

There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric rock paintings around the world, though these are entirely matters of interpretation. Most early people seem to have connected human sexuality with abundance in nature. A clay figurine of the 4th millennium BC from a temple site on the island of Malta, depicts a woman masturbating. However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common. Download high resolution version (1000x700, 207 KB) This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Download high resolution version (1000x700, 207 KB) This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ... A kagema moonlighting as a sex worker toys with his client, a samurai, while enjoying the favors of the serving girl. ... Ukiyo-e (usually written 浮世絵, meaning pictures of the floating world, but also 憂き世絵, pictures of the sad world) are paintings developed in the Edo period (1603–1867), many of them becoming widespread as woodblock prints in Japan in the 18th and 19th centuries (late Edo period). ... For other uses of the term Shunga see Shunga (disambiguation) Shunga ((春画) is a Japanese term for erotic pictures. ... Hishikawa Moronobu (1618-1694) was the son of a well-respected dyer and gold- and silver-thread embroiderer in the village of Hodamura, Awa Province, near Edo Bay. ... Events First Portuguese governor was appointed to Macau The Swedish city Karlskrona was founded as the Royal Swedish Navy relocated there. ... Cave, or rock, paintings are paintings painted on cave or rock walls and ceilings, usually dating to pre-historic times. ...

Male masturbation became an even more important image in ancient Egypt: when performed by a god it could be considered a creative or magical act. The ancient Greeks had a more natural attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered masturbation a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. Map of Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt was an organized civilization of the Nile Valley from around 3300 BC until the conquest of Alexander the Great in 332 BC, although recent excavations reveal a cattle-herding society of peoples living in the region as early as 6000 BC. By 4000 BC...

Religion

In many religions, such as Catholicism, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Judaism and Islam, masturbation is regarded as a sinful practice. The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists masturbation as one of the "Offenses Against Chastity" and calls it "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action" because "use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose." It goes on to caution that extenuating factors could exist, such as immaturity, habitual, or psychological problems. This article considers Catholicism in the broadest ecclesiastical sense. ... The Salt Lake City temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... Judaism is the religious culture of the Jewish people. ... Islam listen? (Arabic: al-islÄm) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions, and the worlds second largest religion. ... Sin has been a term most usually used in a religious context, and today describes any lack of conformity to the will of God; especially, any willful disregard for the norms revealed by God is a sin. ... The Catechism of the Catholic Church, or CCC, is an official exposition of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, first published in French in 1992 with the authorization of Pope John Paul II.[1] To correspond exactly with the official text in Latin,[2] which appeared in 1997, five... Sexual abstinence or chastity is the practice of voluntarily refraining from sexual intercourse and (usually) other sexual activity. ... Marriage is a relationship and bond, most commonly between a man and a woman, that plays a key role in the definition of many families. ...

The word "onanism" refers to the story of Onan, who was obliged but refused to consummate a levirate marriage with his dead brother's wife: Onan (אוֹנָן Strong, Standard Hebrew Onan, Tiberian Hebrew ʾÔnān) is a person described in the Bible (book of Genesis). ... As a verb, consummate means to bring something to its completion, such as a transaction, concept, plan or action. ... Levirate marriage is the practice of a woman marrying one of her husbands sons or brothers after her husbands death, in order to continue his line. ...

The interpretation of early Christianity is that Onan transgressed by shirking his duty in using coitus interruptus to avoid impregnating his brother's wife. The Christian interpretation, however, appears to have changed considerably over the centuries to focus on the physical act of Onan spilling his seed. This is also the traditional Jewish interpretation. Semen or ejaculate is the fluid discharged from the penis during ejaculation, usually at the time of orgasm. ... Genesis (Greek: Γένεσις, having the meanings of birth, creation, cause, beginning, source and origin) is the first book of the Torah (five books of Moses) and hence the first book of the Tanakh, part of the Hebrew Bible; it is also the first book of the Christian Old Testament. ... Coitus interruptus, also commonly called the withdrawal method, the natural method, pull and pray, belly shot, or pulling out is an unreliable method of contraception in which, during sexual intercourse, the man removes his penis from the womans vagina just before he reaches orgasm. ... Semen or ejaculate is the fluid discharged from the penis during ejaculation, usually at the time of orgasm. ...

The first divergence appears in the early doctrine put forth by St. Augustine, who argued that sexual intercourse for pleasure—and by extension, self-contraception—was immoral because it was an exercise in lust, and that lust beyond the ends of procreation led to sin (On Marriage and Concupiscence). St. ... A pair of lions copulating in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. ... The word lust means sexual desire (this meaning is sometimes metaphorically extended to other forms of desire, e. ... Sin has been a term most usually used in a religious context, and today describes any lack of conformity to the will of God; especially, any willful disregard for the norms revealed by God is a sin. ...

St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest theologians of the Catholic Church, went further and taught that masturbation was a graver sin than rape. In his masterwork, the Summa Theologica, he divides the sin of lust into six categories: simple fornication, incest, adultery, seduction and rape and "the unnatural vice", further subdivided into masturbation, zoophilia, homosexuality and non-procreative heterosexual sex. He then explains that "the unnatural vice," including masturbation, is clearly worse than the other five types of lust-based sins, for it is a sin against both nature and reason, whereas rape is merely a sin against reason alone. This hierarchy of sin was repudiated by the Catholic Church fairly recently; Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) praised Aquinas' "invincible" arguments in his 1879 encyclical Aeterni Patris, claiming that "reason, born on the wings of Thomas, can scarcely rise higher, while faith could scarcely expect more or stronger aids from reason than those which she has already obtained through Thomas." Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225 - March 7, 1274) was a Catholic philosopher and theologian in the scholastic tradition, who gave birth to the Thomistic school of philosophy, which was long the primary philosophical approach of the Roman Catholic Church. ... The Summa Theologica (also widely known as the Summa Theologiae) is the most famous work of St. ... Fornication refers disapprovingly to any sexual activity outside of the confines of marriage, obviously including pre-marital sex. ... Incest among humans is sexual activity between close family members. ... Adultery is generally defined as consensual sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their lawful spouse. ... Seduction is the process of deliberately enticing another person into an act (see motivation). ... Vice is the opposite of virtue. ... Leda and the Swan, a 16th century copy after a lost painting by Michelangelo, 1530 (National Gallery, London) Zoophilia (from the Greek Zoon, animal, and Philia, friendship or love) is a paraphilia, defined as an affinity or sexual attraction by a human to non-human animals. ... Homosexuality may refer to: A sexual orientation characterized by aesthetic attraction, romantic love, and sexual desire exclusively or almost exclusively for members of the same sex or gender identity. ... A sperm attempting to fertilize an egg Fertilisation (also known as fertilization and syngamy) is fusion of gametes to form a new organism. ... Pope Leo XIII, born Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Pecci (March 2, 1810–July 20, 1903), was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, having succeeded Blessed Pius IX on February 20, 1878 and reigning until his own death. ...

The "sin of Onan"—by way of Aquinas and those who followed him—became both synecdoche and euphemism for the many forms of non-procreational sex that were deemed sinful, an association that followed other attitudes toward sexuality across the Reformation and into the Protestant faiths. Synecdoche (pronounced sin-EK-duh-kee) is a figure of speech that presents a kind of metonymy in which: A part of something is used for the whole, The whole is used for a part, The species is used for the genus, The genus is used for the species, or... A euphemism is an expression intended by the speaker to be less offensive, disturbing, or troubling to the listener than the word or phrase it replaces. ... The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ...

Protestant theologians only began shunning these teachings toward the middle of the 20th century, with some today even taking pro-masturbation viewpoints. Masturbation, however, is still viewed in Catholic dogma and by many denominations as an act of self indulgence and a sin of the flesh, making it a contentious issue to this day. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Dogma (the plural is either dogmata or dogmas) is belief or doctrine held by a religion or any kind of organization to be authoritative. ...

Some scholars of Islam consider masturbation to be haraam (forbidden) in Islam, making its acceptability within Islamic societies uncertain. [6] Islam listen? (Arabic: al-islÄm) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions, and the worlds second largest religion. ... Haraam is an Arabic word, used in Islam to refer to anything that is prohibited by the faith. ...

Medical attitudes

The first use of "onanism" to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be Onania, an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. In it was a bombastic but novel tirade, drawing on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the "heinous sin" of "self-pollution". After dire warnings that those who so indulged would suffer impotence, gonorrhea, epilepsy and a wasting of the faculties (included were letters and testimonials supposedly from young men ill and dying from the effects of compulsive masturbation) the pamphlet then goes on to recommend as an effective remedy a "Strengthning Tincture" at 10 shillings a bottle and a "Prolific Powder" at 12 shillings a bag, available from a certain shop in London. Impotence or, more clinically, erectile dysfunction is the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis for satisfactory sexual intercourse regardless of the capability of ejaculation. ... Gonorrhoea (USA spelling: gonorrhea, slang term the clap) is among the most common curable sexually transmitted diseases in the world caused by the Gram-negative bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. ...

One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in Onania was the notable Swiss physician Samuel-August Tissot. In 1760, he published L'Onanisme, his own comprehensive medical treatise on the purported ill-effects of masturbation. Citing case studies of young male masturbators amongst his patients in Lausanne, Switzerland as basis for his reasoning, Tissot argued that semen was an "essential oil" and "stimulus" that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause "a perceptible reduction of strength, of memory and even of reason; blurred vision, all the nervous disorders, all types of gout and rheumatism, weakening of the organs of generation, blood in the urine, disturbance of the appetite, headaches and a great number of other disorders." 1760 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Lausanne (46° 31′ 10″ N 6° 37′ 56″ E) is a city in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, situated on the shores of Lake Geneva (French: Lac Léman), and facing Évian-les-Bains (France). ... Rheumatism or Rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the bones and joints. ...

Though Tissot's ideas are now considered conjectural at best, his treatise was presented as a scholarly, scientific work in a time when experimental physiology was practically nonexistent. The authority with which the work was subsequently treated—Tissot's arguments were even acknowledged and echoed by luminaries such as Kant and Voltaire—arguably turned the perception of masturbation in Western medicine over the next two centuries into that of a debilitating illness. A hypothesis (= assumption in ancient Greek) is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. ... Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant (April 22, 1724 – February 12, 1804) was a Prussian philosopher, generally regarded as one of Europes most influential thinkers and the last major philosopher of the Enlightenment. ... Voltaire François-Marie Arouet (November 21, 1694 – May 30, 1778), better known by the pen name Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, deist and philosopher. ...

This continued well into Victorian Era, where such medical censure of masturbation was in line with the widespread social conservatism and opposition to open sexual behavior common at the time. [7] There were recommendations to have boys' pants constructed so that the genitals could not be touched through the pockets, for schoolchildren to be seated at special desks to prevent their crossing their legs in class and for girls to be forbidden from riding horses and bicycles because the sensations these activities produce were considered too similar to masturbation. Many "remedies" were devised, including regularly eating corn flakes (most likely propagated by W. K. Kellogg, whose brother John Harvey Kellogg was outspoken against masturbation), The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatments, infibulation, restraining devices like chastity belts and straitjackets, cauterization or—as a last resort—wholesale surgical excision of the genitals. Routine neonatal circumcision was thought to be widely adopted in the United States and UK at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also History of male circumcision). In later decades, the more drastic of these measures were increasingly replaced with psychological techniques, such as warnings that masturbation led to blindness, hairy hands or stunted growth. Some of these persist as myths even today. Download high resolution version (1024x963, 312 KB)Excerpt from US Patent 995600 by Jonas E. Heyser, depicting a lockable male anti-masturbation belt. ... Download high resolution version (1024x963, 312 KB)Excerpt from US Patent 995600 by Jonas E. Heyser, depicting a lockable male anti-masturbation belt. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about: United States Wikinews has news related to this article: United States United States government Official website of the United States government - Gateway to governmental sites White House - Official site of the US President Senate. ... A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a government to a person for a fixed period of time in exchange for the regulated, public disclosure of certain details of an invention. ... Download high resolution version (768x1128, 250 KB)Page 1 from US Patent 995600 by Jonas E. Heyser, depicting a lockable male anti-masturbation belt. ... Download high resolution version (768x1128, 248 KB)Page 2 from US Patent 995600 by Jonas E. Heyser, depicting a lockable male anti-masturbation belt. ... Download high resolution version (768x1128, 203 KB)Page 3 from US Patent 995600 by Jonas E. Heyser, depicting a lockable male anti-masturbation belt. ... Download high resolution version (768x1128, 649 KB)Page 4 from US Patent 995600 by Jonas E. Heyser, depicting a lockable male anti-masturbation belt. ... Download high resolution version (768x1128, 731 KB)Page 5 from US Patent 995600 by Jonas E. Heyser, depicting a lockable male anti-masturbation belt. ... Download high resolution version (768x1128, 100 KB)Page 6 from US Patent 995600 by Jonas E. Heyser, depicting a lockable male anti-masturbation belt. ... Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her Accession to the Throne, June 20, 1837) gave her name to the historic era. ... Conservatism is any of several historically-related political philosophies or political ideologies. ... Corn flakes are a food made by combining cooked maize (called corn in North America) along with sugar and vitamins. ... Will Keith Kellogg, usually referred to as W. K. Kellogg, (April 7, 1860 – October 6, 1951) was a U.S. industrialist in food manufacturing. ... John Harvey Kellogg (1852-1943) Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (February 26, 1852 – December 14, 1943) was a medical doctor in Battle Creek, Michigan who ran a sanitarium using holistic methods, with a particular focus on nutrition, enemas and exercise. ... Infibulation, in its modern use of the word, is the practice of surgical closure of the female labia majora by sewing them together to seal off the female genitalia, leaving only a small hole for the passage of urine and menstrual blood. ... A female William Jones belt A chastity belt is a locking item of clothing that prevents the wearer from engaging in sexual intercourse and possibly masturbation. ... A Posey straitjacket A leather straitjacket A straitjacket is a garment shaped like a jacket with overlong sleeves. ... Hot cauters were applied to tissues or arteries to stop them from bleeding. ... Excision means to remove as if by cutting. It can be a euphemism for Female circumcision. ... Circumcision is the removal of some or all of the prepuce (foreskin). ... It has been variously proposed that circumcision began as a religious sacrifice, as a rite of passage marking a boys entrance into adulthood, as a form of sympathetic magic to ensure virility, as a means of suppressing (or enhancing) sexual pleasure, as an aid to hygiene where regular bathing...

Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at the the beginning of the 20th century when H. Havelock Ellis, in his seminal 1897 work Studies in the Psychology of Sex, questioned Tissot's premises, cheerfully named famous men of the era who masturbated and then set out to disprove (with the work of more recent physicians) each of the claimed diseases masturbation was purportedly the cause of. "We reach the conclusion," he wrote, "that in the case of moderate masturbation in heatlhy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow." (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Havelock Ellis (February 2, 1859-July 8, 1939) was a British doctor, sexual psychologist and social reformer. ... 1897 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Over the course of the next three decades, medical opinion of masturbation began to change, with many authorities abruptly reversing—often inexplicably—their condemnation of it. Today, modern medicine recognizes that there is no significant harm (short term or long term) caused by the practice of masturbation and regards it as a normal part of human sexuality. Medicine is a branch of health science concerned with maintaining health and restoring it by treating disease. ... Human sexuality is the expression of sexual feelings. ...

Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts, incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of Scouting for Boys warning against the dangers of masturbation. By 1930, however, Dr. F. W. W. Griffin, editor of The Scouter, had written in a book for Rover Scouts that the temptation to masturbate was "a quite natural stage of development" and, citing Ellis's work, held that "the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error." Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB (February 22, 1857 - January 8, 1941) was a soldier, writer and founder of the world scouting movement. ... For professional sport scouts, see Scout (sport). ... Scouting for Boys: A Handbook for Instruction in Good Citizenship Through Woodcraft is the first book on Scouting. ... Havelock Ellis (February 2, 1859-July 8, 1939) was a British doctor, sexual psychologist and social reformer. ...

Law

In Western countries masturbation tends to be legal, even by children, as long as nobody else is involved and no image is made. However, a few jurisdictions in the U.S. do have laws against the sale of masturbatory aids.[8] These laws are largely unenforced. For alternative meanings for The West in the United States, see the U.S. West and American West. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about: United States Wikinews has news related to this article: United States United States government Official website of the United States government - Gateway to governmental sites White House - Official site of the US President Senate. ...

Masturbation in a public place, and in cases where somebody else is unexpectedly confronted with it, is usually indecent exposure. According to some historic chronicles, it has not always been so. One definition of public space or a public place is a place where anyone has a right to come without paying an entrance or other fee. ... Indecent exposure is the display of parts of the human body without clothing in a manner that is contrary to local custom and law. ...

Laws may vary for masturbation as part of a performance, as visitor of a live or screen performance, as participant in a sex party, etc. An auto-erotic performance is adult entertainment performance consisting of the act of an individual masturbating to climax on a stage for the entertainment of a crowd of people. ... For the music group, see Orgy (band). ...

Euphemisms

Because masturbation is often an uncomfortable topic among peers, a huge variety of euphemisms and dysphemisms have been invented to describe it. Some of the more common euphemisms are self-pleasuring, playing with oneself, and self-gratifying, all of which are gender-neutral, and fingering oneself, which is exclusively female. A euphemism is an expression intended by the speaker to be less offensive, disturbing, or troubling to the listener than the word or phrase it replaces. ... In language, both dysphemism (from the Greek dys Î´Ï…Ï‚= non and pheme Ï†Î®Î¼Î· = speech) and cacophemism (in Greek cacos ÎºÎ±ÎºÏŒÏ‚ = bad) are rough opposites of euphemism, meaning the usage of an intentionally harsh word or expression instead of a polite one. ...

Common dysphemisms include fapping, touching yourself at night, jerking off, going to see rosey palm and her five daughters, shaking hands with the unemployed, meeting the bishop, or the more descriptive bashing the bishop, choking the chicken, pounding your pud, playing pocket pool, stroking it, wanking, jacking off, pulling off, beating your meat, whacking off, spanking the monkey, and pulling your wire (British & Commonwealth English, used particularly in Southern Africa) to describe male masturbation.

Jilling off,flicking the bean, petting the kitty, flicking the bic, polishing the pearl or feeding the horse are often used to describe female masturbation. Male masturbation in Cantonese and standard Chinese translates as hitting the airplane, or in popular slang in Taiwan as polishing the gun or firing the pistol. The Turkish expression translates literally to pull 31.

The term frig which is often used as a 'polite' euphemism for the word fuck originally referred to female masturbation.

Humour and masturbation

Masturbation, mainly male masturbation, has long been the subject of humour. Even in the early Twentieth Century, Mail Pouch Tobacco advertisements in some cases featured a boy baby reaching into his diaper, with the caption, "He's found his mail pouch." Humor (humour in British English) is the ability or quality of people, objects or situations to invoke feelings of amusement in other people. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s The 20th century lasted from 1901 to 2000 in the Gregorian calendar (often from (1900 to 1999 in common usage). ...

In 1879, Mark Twain gave a humorous talk at the Stomach Club in Paris entitled Some Thoughts on the Science of Onanism, which concluded with the thought "If you must gamble your lives sexually, don't play a lone hand too much." This talk was not published until 1943. 1879 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was a famous and popular American humorist, writer and lecturer. ...

Some famous wits have commented on masturbation, as in P. J. O'Rourke's quote: "Sophisticated persons masturbate without compunction. They do it for reasons of health, privacy, thrift and because of the remarkable perfection of invisible partners." P.J. ORourke Patrick Jake ORourke (born November 14, 1947) is an American political satirist, journalist, and writer. ...

Woody Allen, in the film Annie Hall, asserts "Don't knock masturbation. It's sex with somebody I love!" Also, in the film Love and Death, Woody has a wild off-screen, 5-minute encounter with a princess; she tells him, "You are a great lover!" and he answers, "Well, I've done a lot of practicing on my own!" Woody Allen (born December 1, 1935), is an American short story writer, screenwriter, and film director whose large body of important work and cerebral style have made him one of the most widely respected and prolific filmmakers in the modern era. ... Annie Hall is a 1977 film directed by Woody Allen from a script by Allen and Marshall Brickman. ... Love and Death is a 1975 comedy by Woody Allen starring Woody Allen and Diane Keaton which is a satirical take on Russian epic classic novels. ...

Dorothy Parker reportedly said she had a parrot she named "Onan" because it was always "spilling its seed". Dorothy Parker (born Dorothy Rothschild) (August 22, 1893 – June 7, 1967) was an American writer and poet best known for her caustic wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th century urban foibles. ...

Humorous songs have been written about masturbation, such as Chuck Berry's hit song, "My Ding-a-Ling". This song has no sexually explicit lyrics, but is clearly intended as a double entendre: "This here song / it ain't so bad / the cutest little song / you ever had / Those of you / who will not sing / you must be playin' / with your own ding-a-ling!" It was in Berry's playlist for years, but was not committed to vinyl until 1972, whereupon it shot to number 1 on the Billboard chart. Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (born October 18, 1926), better known as Chuck Berry, is a highly influential American guitarist, singer and composer. ... My Ding-a-Ling was a 1972 novelty hit record for Chuck Berry, and his only US number one. ... A double entendre or innuendo is a figure of speech similar to the pun, in which a spoken phrase can be understood in either of two ways. ... 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... An example of a Billboard Magazine. ...

Some other musical references to masturbation are the song "I Touch Myself" by Divinyls, sung in one of the final scenes in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the Cyndi Lauper song "She Bop," and the 1970s disco song "Imaginary Lover" by Atlanta Rhythm Section. One of Billy Joel's early tunes, "Captain Jack", contains the line "Your sister's gone / she's on a date / and you just sit at home / and masturbate." Christina Amphlett and Mark McEntee on the cover of their 1991 self titled album Divinyls are an Australian rock music band. ... Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, directed by Jay Roach, is the first film of the Austin Powers series. ... Cyndi Lauper CD single Stay Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper (born June 22, 1953), better known as Cyndi Lauper, is a singer whose melodic voice and wild costumes have come to epitomize the 1980s, the decade in which she first came to fame. ... Atlanta Rhythm Section (sometimes ARS) is an American southern rock band. ... Billy Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. ...

There are much older songs on the subject, including this old parody on a classic operatic tune (sing to the tune of "Funiculì, funiculà"):

In recent years, there have been many masturbation jokes in movies, such as in American Pie, where the pie (more or less of the title) is used as a masturbation object to generate humour. A famous scene in There's Something About Mary has Ben Stiller "cleaning the pipes" before a big date to calm his nerves. Film refers to the celluloid media on which movies are printed Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general. ... American Pie is a 1999 film, the first by director Paul Weitz, the film was written by Adam Hertz. ... Theres Something About Mary, released in 1998 by 20th Century Fox, is a combination of romantic comedy and gross-out film directed by Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly (the Farrelly brothers). ... Ben Stiller (born November 30, 1965 in New York City) is an American comedian, actor, and film director. ...

There can be too much of a good thing, though. Self-pleasuring can become addictive. Lenny Bruce, who was well-acquainted with addictions, had this bit of advice: "If you're going to stop masturbating, you can't 'taper off'. You've got to quit, cold jerky!" Lenny Bruce (October 13, 1925 – August 3, 1966), born Leonard Alfred Schneider, was a controversial American stand-up comedian and satirist of the 1950s and 60s. ... Cold turkey is a term describing the actions of a person who gives up his habit or addiction at a single moment, rather than through gradually easing the process through tapering off or supplemental medication. ...

Contents

Etymology

Masturbation techniques

Female

Male

Masturbation frequency, age and sex

Health and psychological effects

Masturbation in history and society

Antiquity

Religion

Medical attitudes

Law

Euphemisms

Humour and masturbation

See also

References

External links

General

Female

Male

History