http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Mksmothers&feedformat=atom WikiChristian - User contributions [en] 2024-03-29T13:04:41Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.32.1 http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Church_building&diff=645869 Church building 2008-09-21T05:40:35Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Easton%27s_Bible_Dictionary&diff=645868 Easton's Bible Dictionary 2008-09-21T05:37:38Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Faith&diff=645866 Faith 2008-09-21T05:28:27Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Christian&diff=645865 Christian 2008-09-21T05:27:27Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=WikiChristian:Bible&diff=645864 WikiChristian:Bible 2008-09-21T05:26:59Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Papacy&diff=645863 Papacy 2008-09-21T05:26:01Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Help:Contents&diff=645860 Help:Contents 2008-09-21T05:21:53Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Christian_radio&diff=645859 Christian radio 2008-09-21T05:20:11Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Christian_TV&diff=645858 Christian TV 2008-09-21T05:19:44Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Mission&diff=645857 Mission 2008-09-21T05:18:29Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Grace&diff=645856 Grace 2008-09-21T05:17:59Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Places&diff=645855 Places 2008-09-21T05:17:28Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Christian_doctrine_and_debates&diff=645854 Christian doctrine and debates 2008-09-21T05:16:57Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>'''Masturbation''' refers to [[sexual]] stimulation, especially of one's own [[sex organ|genitals]] ('''self masturbation''') and often to the point of [[orgasm]]&lt;ref name=&quot;webmd&quot;&gt;[http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide Your Guide to Masturbation&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;, which is performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for [[sexual intercourse]]), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.&lt;ref&gt;Based on &quot;masturbation&quot; in ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003&lt;/ref&gt; Masturbation is the most common form of [[autoeroticism]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, and the two words are often used as [[synonym]]s, although masturbation with a partner ([[mutual masturbation]]) is also common. [[Non-human animal sexual behavior#Autoeroticism (masturbation)|Animal masturbation]] has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.petplace.com/horses/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-stallion/page2.aspx Breeding Soundness Examination of the Stallion]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;!--Do not delete this reference. It is a *named reference* and may be used elsewhere in the article:--&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;&gt;Bruce Bagemihl: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0-312-19239-8&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;For further references, see also the main article [[Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)]].&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> {{wiktionarypar|masturbation}}<br /> The word '''masturbation''' is believed to derive from either the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''mezea'' (''μεζεα'', &quot;penes&quot;) or the [[Latin]] ''manus'' (&quot;hand&quot;) and the Latin ''turbare'' (&quot;to disturb&quot;).&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Dally |first = Peter |title = The Fantasy Factor |year = 1975 |pages = 135 |publisher = George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited |ISBN = 0-297-76945-6}}&lt;/ref&gt; A competing [[etymology]] based on the [[Latin]] ''manu stuprare'' (&quot;to defile with the hand&quot;) is said by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] to be an &quot;old conjecture&quot;&lt;ref&gt;OED, s.v. ''masturbation''&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> While &quot;masturbation&quot; is the medical term for this practice, many other terms and expressions are in common use. In the vernacular, terms such as &quot;pleasuring oneself&quot;, &quot;wanking&quot; and &quot;jerking off&quot; are common. See ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]] for many others.<br /> <br /> == Masturbation techniques ==<br /> Ways of masturbating common to members of both sexes include pressing or rubbing the [[genital]] area, either with the fingers or against an object such as a [[pillow]]; inserting fingers or an object into the [[anus]] (see [[anal masturbation]]); and stimulating the penis or vulva with electric [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]]s, which may also be inserted into the vagina or anus. Members of both sexes may also enjoy touching, rubbing, or pinching the [[nipple]]s or other [[erogenous zones]] while masturbating. Both sexes sometimes apply [[personal lubricant|lubricating]] substances to intensify sensation.<br /> <br /> Reading or viewing [[pornography]], or [[sexual fantasy]], are often common adjuncts to masturbation. Often people will call upon memories during masturbation. Masturbation activities are often [[ritualization|ritualised]]. Various [[sexual fetishism|fetishes]] and [[paraphilia]]s can also play a part in the masturbation ritual. Some potentially harmful or fatal activities include [[autoerotic asphyxiation]] and [[self-bondage]].<br /> <br /> Some people get [[sexual pleasure]] by [[urethral play|inserting objects into the urethra]] (the tube through which urine and, in men, semen, flows).&lt;ref name=&quot;Alice05&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = |first = &quot;Alice&quot; |title = Go ask Alice!: Cock-stuffing |publisher = Columbia University, New York |date = 2005-02-18 |url = http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3516.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; If these objects are [[Urethral sounding|urethral sounds]], the practice is known as &quot;sounding&quot;.&lt;ref name=&quot;BME06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Various authors |first = |title = Urethral Sound |publisher = Body Modification Ezine |date = 2006-04-21 |url = http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Urethral_Sound |format = html/wiki |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Other objects such as ball point pens and thermometers are sometimes used, although this practice can lead to injury and/or infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;JAAPA06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = McPartlin |first = Daniel |coauthors = Adam P. Klausner, MD; Tristan T. Berry, MD |title = Case report: A foreign body in the urethra |publisher = Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |date = 2005-09-09 |url = http://jaapa.com/issues/j20050901/articles/urethral0905.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt; Some people masturbate by using [[automated erotic stimulation device|machines]] that simulate intercourse. <br /> <br /> Men and women may masturbate until they are close to orgasm, stop for a while to reduce excitement, and then resume masturbating. They may repeat this cycle multiple times. This &quot;stop and go&quot; build-up can achieve even stronger orgasms. Rarely, people quit stimulation just before orgasm to retain the heightened energy that normally comes down after orgasm&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.csis.hku.hk/~bruce/masturb1.html Masturbation, Tantra and Self-love&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;. Doing this could lead to temporary discomfort due to [[pelvic congestion]].<br /> <br /> Austrian psychoanalyst [[Wilhelm Reich]] in his 1922 essay ''[[Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation]]'' tried to identify healthy and unhealthy forms of masturbation. He tried to relate the way people masturbated to their degree of inclination towards the opposite sex and to their psycho-sexual pathologies.<br /> <br /> === Female ===<br /> Female masturbation techniques include a woman stroking or rubbing her [[vulva]], especially her [[clitoris]], with her [[index finger|index]] and/or [[middle finger]]s. Sometimes one or more fingers may be inserted into the vagina to repeatedly stroke its frontal wall where the [[Gräfenberg spot|g-spot]] is located.&lt;ref name=&quot;Keesling99&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Keesling |first = Barbara |title = Beyond Orgasmatron |publisher = Psychology Today |date = November/December 99 (Last Reviewed: 30 August 2004) |url = http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-19991101-000038&amp;page=2 |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> Masturbation aids such as a [[Vibrator (sensual)|vibrator]], [[dildo]] or [[Ben Wa balls]] can also be used to stimulate the vagina and clitoris. Many women caress their breasts or stimulate a [[nipple]] with the free hand, if these are receptive areas for sexual stimulation. Anal stimulation is also enjoyed by some. [[Personal lubricant|Lubrication]] is sometimes used during masturbation, especially when [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] is involved, but this is not universal and many women find their [[Vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]] sufficient.<br /> <br /> Common positions include lying on back or face down, sitting, squatting, kneeling or standing. In a bath or shower a female may direct tap water at her clitoris and vulva. Lying face down one may use the hands, one may straddle a pillow, the corner or edge of the bed, a partner's leg or some scrunched-up clothing and &quot;[[dry hump|hump]]&quot; the [[vulva]] and [[clitoris]] against it. Standing up a chair, the corner of an item of furniture or even a washing machine can be used to stimulate the clitoris through the labia and clothing. <br /> <br /> In the 1920s, [[Havelock Ellis]] reported that turn-of-the-century seamstresses using treadle-operated sewing machines could achieve orgasm by sitting near the edge of their chairs.&lt;ref&gt;Ellis, Havelock (1927), Studies in the Psychology of Sex (3rd edition), Volume I,; Auto-Erotism: A Study of the Spontaneous Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse; section I; &quot;The Sewing-machine and the Bicycle:&quot; quotes one Pouillet as saying &quot;it is a well-recognized fact that to work a sewing-machine with the body in a certain position produces sexual excitement leading to the orgasm. The occurrence of the orgasm is indicated to the observer by the machine being worked for a few seconds with uncontrollable rapidity. This sound is said to be frequently heard in large French workrooms, and it is part of the duty of the superintendents of the rooms to make the girls sit properly.&quot; {{gutenberg|no=13610|name=Studies in the Psychology of Sex, v. I, by Havelock Ellis}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Women can sexually stimulate themselves by crossing their legs tightly and clenching the muscles in their legs, creating pressure on the genitals. This can potentially be done in public without observers noticing. Some masturbate using only pressure applied to the clitoris without direct contact, for example by pressing the palm or ball of the hand against underwear or other clothing. <br /> <br /> Thoughts, fantasies, and memories of previous instances of arousal and orgasm can produce sexual excitation. Some women can orgasm spontaneously by force of will alone, although this may not strictly qualify as masturbation as no physical stimulus is involved.&lt;ref name=&quot;Koedt70&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Koedt |first = Anne |title = The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm |publisher = Chicago Women's Liberation Union |date = 1970 |url = http://www.cwluherstory.org/classic-feminist-writings/myth-of-the-vaginal-orgasm.html |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=kins&gt;The Kinsey Institute [http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#masturbation Data from Alfred Kinsey's studies]. Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Sex therapists will sometimes recommend that female patients take time to masturbate to orgasm, especially if they have not done so before.&lt;ref name=&quot;Shuman06&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Shuman |first = Tracy |title = Your Guide to Masturbation |publisher = WebMD, Inc./The Cleveland Clinic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date = 2006-02 |url = http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;Knowles02&quot;&gt;{{cite web |last = Knowles |first = Jon |title = Masturbation — From Stigma to Sexual Health |publisher = Katharine Dexter McCormick Library/Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. |date = 2002-11 |url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/masturbation-6360.htm |format = html |accessdate = 2006-07-29}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Male ===<br /> [[Image:Masturbating man2.JPG|thumb|right|A man masturbating]]<br /> Male masturbation techniques are also influenced by a number of factors and personal preferences. Techniques may also differ between [[circumcision|circumcised]] and [[foreskin|uncircumcised]] males, as some techniques which may work for one can be quite painful for the other. <br /> <br /> The most common male masturbation technique is simply to hold the [[penis]] with a loose fist and then to move the hand up and down the shaft until [[orgasm]] and [[ejaculation]] take place. The speed of the hand motion will vary from person to person, although it is not uncommon for the speed to increase as ejaculation nears and for it to decrease during the ejaculation itself. When uncircumcised, stimulation of the penis in this way comes from the &quot;pumping&quot; of the [[foreskin]]. This [[Gliding action#Function of gliding action|gliding motion]] of the foreskin reduces friction. When circumcised, there is more direct contact between the hand and the glans, thus a [[personal lubricant]] is sometimes used to reduce friction. Sometimes, if too much pressure is applied, it may be rubbed sore for a time.<br /> <br /> Circumcised or not, men may rub or massage the [[Glans penis|glans]], the rim of the glans, and the [[frenular delta]]. <br /> <br /> Another technique is to place just the index finger and thumb around the penis about halfway along the penis and move the skin up and down. A variation on this is to place the fingers and thumb on the penis as if playing a flute, and then shuttle them back and forth. Another common technique is to lie face down on a comfortable surface such as a mattress or pillow and rub the penis against it until orgasm is achieved. This technique may include the use of a [[simulacrum]], or artificial vagina.<br /> <br /> There are many other variations on male masturbation techniques. Some men place both hands directly on their penis during masturbation, while others use their free hand to [[fondle]] their [[testicles]], [[nipples]], or other parts of their body. Some may keep their hand stationary while pumping into it with pelvic thrusts in order to simulate the motions of [[sexual intercourse]]. Others may also use vibrators and other sexual devices more commonly associated with female masturbation. A few extremely flexible males can reach and stimulate their penis with their tongue or lips, and so perform [[autofellatio]].<br /> <br /> 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 finger or [[dildo]] inserted through the [[anus]] into the [[rectum]]. Stimulating the prostate from outside, via pressure on the [[perineum]], can be pleasurable as well. Some men, also, enjoy [[anal sex|anal]] stimulation, with fingers or otherwise, without any prostate stimulation.<br /> <br /> Semen is sometimes ejaculated onto a [[facial tissue|tissue]] or some other item.<br /> <br /> A somewhat controversial ejaculation control technique is to put pressure on the [[perineum]], about halfway between the [[scrotum]] and the [[anus]], just before ejaculating. This can, however, redirect semen into the bladder (referred to as [[retrograde ejaculation]]). If repeated on a regular basis, this technique could cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum.<br /> <br /> == Mutual masturbation ==<br /> [[Image:Geiger-masturbation-mutuelle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johann Nepomuk]], [[watercolor]], 1840.]]<br /> {{Main|Mutual masturbation}}<br /> ''Mutual masturbation'' is a [[sexual act]] where two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands. <br /> <br /> It is part of a full repertoire of sexual intercourse, where it may be used as an interlude, [[foreplay]] or as an alternative to penetration. For some people, [[non-penetrative sex]] or frottage is the primary sexual activity of choice above all others. Participants who do not want full sexual intercourse thus still enjoy a mutual sexual act.<br /> <br /> Mutual masturbation is practiced by people of all [[sexual orientation]]s. If used as an alternative to penile-vaginal penetration, the aim may be to preserve [[virgin]]ity or to prevent pregnancy. Some people choose it as it achieves sexual satisfaction without actual sex, possibly seeing it as an alternative to [[casual sex]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation frequency, age and sex ==<br /> Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, e.g., one's resistance to [[sexual tension]], [[hormone]] levels influencing [[sexual arousal]], sexual habits, peer influences, health and one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture.&lt;ref&gt; E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&amp;db=pubmed&amp;dopt=Abstract&amp;list_uids=7396686&amp;query_hl=21&amp;itool=pubmed_docsum]&lt;/ref&gt; Medical causes have also been associated with masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Bladder calculus presenting as excessive masturbation.&quot; ''Ceylon Med. J.'' 2006 Sept., 51(3):121-2.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Excessive masturbation after epilepsy surgery.&quot; ''Epilepsy Behav.'' 2004 Feb., 5(1):133-6.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;&quot;Severe impulsiveness as the primary manifestation of multiple sclerosis in a young female.&quot; ''Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci.'' 2005 Dec., 59(6):739-42.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Different studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans. [[Alfred Kinsey|Alfred Kinsey's]] studies have shown that 92% of men and 62% of women have masturbated during their lifespan.&lt;ref name=kins/&gt; Similar results have been found in a British national probability survey. It was found that 95% of men and 71% of women masturbated at some point in their lives. 73% of men and 37% of women reported masturbating in the four weeks before their interview, while 53% of men and 18% of women reported masturbating in the previous seven days.&lt;ref name=gerr&gt;Gerressu, M., Mercer, C.H., Graham, C.A., Wellings, K. and Johnson, A.M. (2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&amp;Cmd=ShowDetailView&amp;TermToSearch=17333329 Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey]. ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', Published online.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an explicit modeling film involving female masturbation. One month later, all subjects again completed the same questionnaire. Subjects in the experimental group also completed a questionnaire evaluating aspects of the film. Results indicated that the experimental group reported a significant increase in the average monthly frequency of masturbation, as compared to the control group. This same group, however, reported that the film had no effect on sexual attitudes or behavior.&quot;<br /> <br /> A 2004 survey by [[Toronto]] magazine [[NOW (magazine)|''NOW'']] was answered by an unspecified number of thousands.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nowtoronto.com/minisites/loveandsex/2004/s_survey_results.php NOW's Love and Sex Guide 2004]&lt;/ref&gt; 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%. (Note that surveys on sexual practices are prone to ''self-[[selection bias]]''.) 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, &quot;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]].&quot; <br /> <br /> The ''NOW'' magazine survey has it that the frequency of masturbation declines after the age of 17. Many males masturbate daily, or even more frequently, well into their 20s and sometimes far beyond. 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. Adolescent youths report being able to masturbate to ejaculation around six times per day, though some men in older middle age report being hard pressed to ejaculate even once per day. On the other hand healthy 21-28 year old males are able to masturbate at least 8-10 times per day if they are not stressed. The survey does not give a full demographic breakdown of respondents, however, and the sexual history of respondents to this poll, who are readers of an urban Toronto lifestyle magazine, may not extend to the general population.<br /> <br /> It appears that females are less likely to masturbate while in a [[heterosexual]] relationship than men. Popular belief asserts that individuals of either sex who are not in sexually active relationships tend to masturbate more frequently than those who are; however, much of the time this is not true as masturbation alone or with a partner is often a feature of a relationship. Contrary to conventional wisdom, several studies actually reveal a positive correlation between the frequency of masturbation and the frequency of intercourse. One study reported a significantly higher rate of masturbation in gay men and women who were in a relationship.&lt;ref&gt;Heilborn, M.L. and Cabral, C.S. (2006). [http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0102-311X2006000700011&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso&amp;tlng=en Sexual practices in youth: analysis of lifetime sexual trajectory and last sexual intercourse]. ''Cad Saude Publica, 22, 7,'' pp. 1471-81. Epub 2006 Jun 14.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=gerr/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Menon, A., McAllister, R.H., Watson, W. and Watson, S. (2006). [http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/125 Increased libido associated with quetiapine]. ''Journal of Psychopharmacology, 20, 1,'' pp. 125-7.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2002 May;27(4):489-503.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Among some cultures, such as the [[Hopi]] in [[Arizona]], the [[Wogeno]] in [[Oceania]], and the [[Dahomeans]] and [[Namu]] of Africa, masturbation is encouraged, including regular masturbation between males. In certain [[Melanesian]] communities this is expected between older and younger boys. One interesting twist is the [[Sambia]] tribe of [[New Guinea]]. This tribe has rituals and rites of passage surrounding manhood which involve frequent ejaculation through [[fellatio]]. Semen is valued and masturbation is seen as a waste of semen and is therefore frowned upon even though frequent ejaculation is encouraged. The capacity and need to ejaculate is nurtured for years from an early age through fellatio so that it can be consumed rather than wasted. Semen is ingested for strength and is considered in the same line as mothers' milk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/Joepages/The%20Sambia.htm The Sambia]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Other cultures have rites of passage into manhood that culminate in the first ejaculation of a male, usually by the hands of a tribal elder. In some tribes such as the Agta, Philippines, stimulation of the genitals is encouraged from an early age.&lt;ref&gt;Cited by Hewlett, B. S. (1996) Diverse contexts of human infancy, in Ember, C. &amp; Ember, M. (Eds.) Cross-Cultural Research for Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall&lt;/ref&gt; Upon puberty, the young male is then paired off with a &quot;wise elder&quot; or &quot;witch doctor&quot; who uses masturbation to build his ability to ejaculate in preparation for a ceremony. The ceremony culminates in a public ejaculation before a celebration. The ejaculate is saved in a wad of animal skin and worn later to help conceive children. In this and other tribes, the measure of manhood is actually associated more with the amount of ejaculate and his need than penis size. Frequent ejaculation through masturbation from an early age fosters frequent ejaculation well into adulthood.&lt;ref&gt;The clinical outcome of childhood masturbation. Turk J Pediatr. 2000 Oct-Dec;42(4):304-7.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is becoming accepted as a healthy practice and safe method for sharing pleasure without some of the dangers that can accompany intercourse. It is socially accepted and even celebrated in certain circles. Group masturbation events can be easily found online. [[Masturbate-a-thon|Masturbation marathons]] are yearly events and are occurring across the globe. These events provide a supportive environment where masturbation can be performed openly among young and old without embarrassment. Participants talk openly with onlookers while masturbating to share techniques and describe their pleasure.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.masturbate-a-thon.com Masturbate-a-thon by The Center For Sex &amp; Culture]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/masturbation-marathon-london_index.html viewlondon.co.uk article on Masturbation Marathon London]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Evolutionary utility ==<br /> Masturbation may increase fertility during intercourse. <br /> <br /> Female masturbation alters conditions in the vagina, cervix and uterus, in ways that can alter the chances of conception from intercourse, depending on the timing of the masturbation. A woman's orgasm between one minute before and up to 45 minutes after insemination favors the chances of that sperm reaching her egg. If, for example, she has had intercourse with more than one male, such an orgasm can increase the likelihood of a pregnancy by one of them.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last = Baker |first = Robin |title = Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex |publisher = Diane Books Publishing Company |date=June 1996 |isbn = 978-0788160042}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate manipulation by females and a function for the female orgasm. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p887, 23p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768816}}&lt;/ref&gt; Female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections by increasing the acidity of the cervical mucus and by moving debris out of the cervix.&lt;ref name=Ejaculate_manipulation_by_females/&gt;<br /> <br /> In males, masturbation flushes out old sperm with low motility from the male's genital tract. The next ejaculate then contains more fresh sperm, which have higher chances of achieving conception during intercourse. If more than one male has intercourse with a female, the sperm with the highest motility will [[Sperm competition|compete]] more effectively.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite paper |author = Thomsen, Ruth |title = Sperm Competition and the Function of Masturbation in Japanese Macaques |publisher = Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |date=October 2000 |url = http://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/archive/00000105/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Baker |first = Robin R. |coauthors = Bellis, Mark A. |year = 1993 |month = Nov |title = Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. |journal = Animal Behaviour |volume = 46 |issue = 5 |pages = p861, 25p |url = http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&amp;cpsidt=3768815}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last = Shackelford |first = Todd K. |coauthors = Goetz, Aaron T. |year = 2007 |month = Feb |title = Adaptation to Sperm Competition in Humans. |journal = Current Directions in Psychological Science |volume = 16 |issue = 1 |pages = p47-50 |url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00473.x}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Health and psychological effects==<br /> === Benefits ===<br /> The physical benefits of masturbation and having an orgasm or ejaculating creates heightened arousal while [[epinephrine]] courses through the body, producing the flushed face, shallow breath and post-climactic [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is held in many mental health circles that masturbation can relieve [[clinical depression|depression]]{{Fact|date=September 2008}}, stress and lead to a higher sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]] (Hurlbert &amp; Whittaker, 1991). 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.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = July 2007}} However, the alleged benefits of masturbation must be qualified with the acknowledgment that the practice is just as likely to exacerbate feelings of loneliness. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Mutual masturbation]], the act by which two or more partners stimulate themselves in the presence of each other, allows a couple to reveal the &quot;map to [their] pleasure centers&quot;. Witnessing a partner masturbate is an educational activity to find out the method a partner pleases him- or herself, allowing each partner to learn exactly how the other enjoys being touched.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation |title = Masturbation key to healthy, functional sexual relationships |date = [[April 19]] |year = 2007 |url = http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/04/19/masturbation_key_to_.php |accessdate = September 2007}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 2003, an Australian research team led by Graham Giles of [[The Cancer Council Australia]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x/abs/ Sexual factors and prostate cancer]&lt;/ref&gt; concluded that frequent masturbation by males appears to 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 [[Cervical cancer#Causes|risk of cancer]] instead. Also, frequent ejaculation is more easily obtained and sustained over time with the aid of masturbation.<br /> <br /> A study published in 1997 found an inverse association between death from coronary heart disease and frequency of orgasm even given the risk that myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction can be triggered by sexual activity. Excerpt, &quot;The association between frequency or orgasm and all cause mortality was also examined using the midpoint of each response category recoded as number of orgasms per year. The age adjusted odds ratio for an increase of 100 orgasms per year was 0.64 (0.44 to 0.95).&quot; That is, a difference between any two subjects appeared when one subject ejaculated at around two or more more times per week than the other. Assuming a broad range average of between 3 to 5 ejaculations per week for healthy males, this would mean 5 to 7 ejaculations per week. This is consistent with a 2003 Australia article on the benefits against prostate cancer.&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | title = Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study<br /> | date = December 20<br /> | year = 1997<br /> | url = http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7123/1641<br /> | accessdate = July 2007 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Masturbation is also seen as a sexual technique that protects individuals from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Support for such a view, and for making it part of the American sex education curriculum, led to the dismissal of US Surgeon General [[Joycelyn Elders]] during the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Sexual climax, from masturbation or otherwise, leaves one in a relaxed and contented state. This is frequently followed closely by drowsiness and sleep – particularly when one masturbates in bed.<br /> <br /> Some professionals consider masturbation to function as a cardiovascular workout.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | coauthors = Benjamin Graber, Scott Balogh, Denis Fitzpatrick and Shelton Hendricks<br /> | title = Cardiovascular changes associated with sexual arousal and orgasm in men<br /> | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment<br /> | volume = 4<br /> | issue = 2<br /> | pages = 151-165<br /> | publisher = Springer Netherlands<br /> | date = June, 1991<br /> | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/m28k5475630n5872/<br /> | doi = 10.1007/BF00851611<br /> | id = 1079-0632 (Print) 1573-286X (Online)<br /> | accessdate = 2004-12-28 }}&lt;/ref&gt; Though research is still as yet scant, those suffering from cardiovascular disorders (particularly those recovering from myocardial infarction, or heart attacks) should resume physical activity (including sexual intercourse and masturbation) gradually and with the frequency and rigor which their physical status will allow. This limitation can serve as encouragement to follow through with physical therapy sessions to help improve endurance.<br /> <br /> === Blood pressure ===<br /> Both sex and masturbation lower blood pressure. A small study has shown that in one test group, recent full intercourse resulted in the lowest average blood pressure in stressful situations. Masturbation then led to lower blood pressure than did no recent sexual activity.&lt;ref&gt;Brody, Stuart. &quot;Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.&quot; ''Biological Psychology'', Volume 71, Issue 2, February 2006, pages 214-222.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Insertion ===<br /> Objects inserted into the vagina, anus/rectum or urethra 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 medical intervention. Modern [[dildo]]s and [[Butt plug|anal plugs]] are designed with this feature.<br /> <br /> === Pregnancy ===<br /> Masturbation involving both a man and a woman (see ''[[Non-penetrative sex#Mutual masturbation|mutual masturbation]]'') can result in pregnancy only if [[semen]] contacts the [[vulva]]. Masturbation with a partner can also theoretically result in transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by contact with bodily fluids.<br /> <br /> === Problems for males ===<br /> A man whose penis has suffered a blunt trauma or injury during intercourse may rarely sustain a [[penile fracture]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3415.htm eMedicine article on Penile Fracture and Trauma]&lt;/ref&gt; or suffer from [[Peyronie's disease]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.aafp.org/afp/990800ap/549.html American Academy of Family Physicians article on Peyronie's Disease: Current Management]&lt;/ref&gt; [[Phimosis]] is &quot;a contracted foreskin (that) may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back&quot;.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/phimosis.htm netdoctor.co.uk article on Foreskin contraction (phimosis)]&lt;/ref&gt; In these cases, any energetic manipulation of the penis can be problematic.<br /> <br /> === Compulsive masturbation ===<br /> [[Sigmund Freud]] argued that every normal child usually experiments with many types of [[autoerotic]] sexual stimulation. Social repressions of sexuality reached their peak in the [[Victorian era]] when popular authors wrote books threatening young children with [[mental deficiency]] or [[insanity]] if they indulged in any form of masturbation. Actually there is no scientific evidence of any causative relationship between autoeroticism and any form of mental disorder. Though mentally disturbed persons characteristically show poor judgment in expressing sexuality, this may be understood as a symptom rather than a cause.<br /> Each child however, must learn the appropriate social and legal limitations relating to expressing sexuality.<br /> Masturbating frequently presents no physical, mental or emotional risk in itself,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/Sexhealth/articles/masturbating.htm University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education article on masturbation]&lt;/ref&gt; but masturbation can be used to relieve boredom or stress. In either case, as with any &quot;nervous habit&quot;, it is more helpful to consider the causes of the boredom or of the stress, rather than try to repress the masturbation.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.chmed.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&amp;menu=1907&amp;page_id=142&amp;PHPSESSID=a76dc0f6fb1882506f5666b63fb98062 Childrens Medical Office of North Andover, P.C. article on Masturbation in Early Childhood]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> There is some discussion between professionals and other interested parties as to the existence or validity of [[sexual addiction]]s. Nevertheless, there are lists of warning signs such as when sexual activity affects a person's ability to function in everyday life, or is placing them at risk, for example, of pursuing illegal or destructive activities. Very frequent and compulsive masturbation may be seen as a sign of sexual addiction.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/probs_sexaddiction.shtml BBC Relationships: Addicted to sex]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in history and society ==<br /> === Antiquity ===<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.&lt;ref&gt;&quot;The [[Ħaġar Qim]] woman is... masturbating, with one hand languidly supporting her head. &quot; Taylor, Timothy. ''Uncovering the prehistory of sex'', British Archaeology, no 15, June 1996: [http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba15/ba15feat.html].&lt;/ref&gt; However, in the ancient world depictions of male masturbation are far more common.<br /> <br /> From the earliest records, ancient [[Sumer]] had a relaxed attitude toward sex, and masturbation was a popular technique for enhancing potency, either alone or with a partner.&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah. ''The Mythology of Sex''. Macmillian 1996, ISBN 978 0028612072&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Dening, Sarah, ''The Mythology of Sex'' [http://www.ishtartemple.org/myth.htm Chapter 3]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> 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 god [[Atum]] was believed to have created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation, and the ebb and flow of the [[Nile]] was attributed to the frequency of his ejaculations. Egyptian [[pharoahs]], in response to this, were at one time required to masturbate ceremonially into the Nile.&lt;ref&gt; Johnathan Margolis, &quot;O: The intimate history of the orgasm&quot;, 2003. p134&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The ancient [[Greeks]] had a more relaxed attitude toward masturbation than the Egyptians did, regarding the act as a normal and healthy substitute for other forms of sexual pleasure. They considered it a safety valve against destructive sexual frustration. The Greeks also dealt with female masturbation in both their art and writings. One common term used for it was ''anaphlan,'' which roughly translates as &quot;up-fire&quot;.<br /> <br /> [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, credited the god [[Hermes]] with its invention: he allegedly took pity on his son [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who was pining for [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] but unable to seduce her, and taught him the trick of masturbation in order to relieve his suffering. Pan in his turn taught the habit to young shepherds.&lt;ref&gt;Dio Crysostom, ''Discourses,'' iv.20&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Religious views ===<br /> {{main|Religious views on masturbation}}<br /> :''Also see [[Sexuality and religion|Sexuality and Religion]] for broad coverage of this topic''<br /> Religions vary broadly in their views of masturbation, from completely impermissible&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web<br /> |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#2352<br /> |title = Catechism of the Catholic Church<br /> |accessdate = 2007-10-08<br /> |quote = Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.<br /> }}&lt;/ref&gt; to encouraged as a way to achieve greater spirituality (see, for example [[Tantric sexuality]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]]). In the modern [[St. Priapus Church]], group male masturbation is a form of worship.&lt;ref&gt;Wayne Dynes (ed., 1990). ''Encyclopedia of Homosexuality'' (New York: Garland) p. 779.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Philosophical arguments ===<br /> [[Immanuel Kant]] regarded masturbation as a violation of the moral law. In the ''[[Metaphysics of Morals]]'' (1797) he made the ''[[a posteriori]]'' argument that 'such an unnatural use of one's sexual attributes' strikes 'everyone upon his thinking of it' as 'a violation of one's duty to himself', and suggested that it was regarded as immoral even to give it its proper name (unlike the case of the similarly undutiful act of [[suicide]]). He went on, however, to acknowledge that 'it is not so easy to produce a rational demonstration of the inadmissibility of that unnatural use', but ultimately concluded that its immorality lay in the fact that 'a man gives up his personality … when he uses himself merely as a means for the gratification of an animal drive'.<br /> <br /> Subsequent critics of masturbation tended to argue against it on more physiological grounds, however (see [[Masturbation#Medical attitudes|medical attitudes]]).<br /> <br /> === Medical attitudes ===<br /> {{Refimprovesect|date=March 2008}}<br /> The first use of the word &quot;onanism&quot; to consistently and specifically refer to masturbation appears to be ''Onania'', an anonymous pamphlet first distributed in London in 1716. It drew on familiar themes of sin and vice, this time in particular against the &quot;heinous sin&quot; of &quot;self-pollution&quot;. 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 &quot;Strengthening Tincture&quot; at 10 shillings a bottle and a &quot;Prolific Powder&quot; at 12 shillings a bag, available from a local shop.<br /> [[Image:Sexpatent01-excerpt.png|thumb|left|A [[patented]] device designed to prevent masturbation by inflicting electric shocks upon the perpetrator, by ringing an alarm bell, and through spikes at the inner edge of the tube into which the penis is inserted. The entire patent document: [[Media:Sexpatent01.png|Page 1]], [[Media:Sexpatent02.png|2]], [[Media:Sexpatent03.png|3]], [[Media:Sexpatent04.png|4]].]]<br /> <br /> One of the many horrified by the descriptions of malady in ''Onania'' was the notable Swiss physician [[Samuel-Auguste 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 &quot;essential oil&quot; and &quot;stimulus&quot; that, when lost from the body in great amounts, would cause &quot;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.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Tissot's ideas are now considered [[hypothesis|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.<br /> <br /> This continued well into the [[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.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm The Ritual of Circumcision]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Stengers, Jean; van Neck, Anne. ''Masturbation: the history of a great terror''. New York: Palgrave, 2001. ISBN 0-312-22443-5.&lt;/ref&gt; 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. Boys and young men who nevertheless continued to indulge in the practice were branded as &quot;weak-minded.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Sexpatent02.png Surgical Appliance]&lt;/ref&gt; Many &quot;remedies&quot; were devised, including eating a bland, meatless diet. This approach was promoted by [[John Harvey Kellogg|Dr. John Harvey Kellogg]] (inventor of [[corn flakes]]) and [[Sylvester Graham|Rev. Sylvester Graham]] (inventor of [[Graham cracker]]s). The medical literature of the times describes procedures for electric shock treatment, [[infibulation]], restraining devices like [[chastity belt]]s and [[straitjacket]]s, [[cauterization]] or – as a last resort – wholesale [[Excision|surgical excision]] of the genitals. Routine neonatal [[circumcision]] was widely adopted in the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least partly because of its believed preventive effect against masturbation (see also [[History of male circumcision#Male circumcision to prevent masturbation|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.<br /> [[Image:Chastity belt Heyser 0.png|thumb|Image of a [[chastity belt]] from a patent document. For entire document, see: [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 1.png|Page 1]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 2.png|2]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 3.png|3]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 4.png|4]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 5.png|5]], [[:Image:Chastity belt Heyser 6.png|6]]]]<br /> <br /> At the same time, the supposed medical condition of [[hysteria]]&amp;mdash;from the Greek ''hystera'' or uterus&amp;mdash;was being treated by what would now be described as medically administered or medically prescribed masturbation for women. Techniques included use of the earliest vibrators and rubbing the genitals with placebo creams.&lt;ref name=Maines&gt;{{cite book|id=ISBN 0-8018-6646-4|title=The Technology of Orgasm: &quot;Hysteria&quot;, the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction|author=Rachel P. Maines|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press | location=Baltimore|year=1999}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Medical attitudes toward masturbation began to change at 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 of which masturbation was purportedly the cause. &quot;We reach the conclusion&quot;, he wrote, &quot;that in the case of moderate masturbation in healthy, well-born individuals, no seriously pernicious results necessarily follow.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Robert Baden-Powell]], the founder of [[The Scout Association]], incorporated a passage in the 1914 edition of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' warning against the dangers of masturbation. This passage stated that the individual should run away from the temptation by performing physical activity which was supposed to tire the individual so that masturbation could not be performed. 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 &quot;a quite natural stage of development&quot; and, citing [[H. Havelock Ellis|Ellis]]' work, held that &quot;the effort to achieve complete abstinence was a very serious error.&quot;<br /> <br /> The works of Sexologist [[Alfred Kinsey]] during the 1940s and 1950s insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behavior for both males and females, citing the results of Gallup Poll surveys indicating how common it was in the United States. Some critics of this theory held that his research was biased and that the Gallup Poll method was redundant for defining &quot;natural behavior&quot;. <br /> <br /> In 1994, when the [[Surgeon General of the United States]], Dr. [[Joycelyn Elders]], mentioned as an aside that it should be mentioned in school [[curriculum|curricula]] that masturbation was safe and healthy, she was forced to resign,&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.jackinworld.com/library/articles/elders.html JackinLibrary: Joycelyn Elders]&lt;/ref&gt; 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.<br /> <br /> === Law ===<br /> The legal status of masturbation throughout history has varied from virtually unlimited acceptance to complete illegality. In a 1640s law code for the [[Puritan]] colony of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] in the 17th century &quot;[[blasphemy|blasphemers]], [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] and masturbators&quot; were eligible for the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book<br /> | last = James<br /> | first = Lawrence<br /> | authorlink = Lawrence James<br /> | title = The Rise and Fall of the British Empire<br /> | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin<br /> |date=[[September 15]], [[1997]]<br /> | pages = 41<br /> | isbn = 978-0312169855 }} The context is a discussion of the social habits of the early North American colonists.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> === Masturbate-a-thon ===<br /> {{main | Masturbate-a-thon}}<br /> [[Image:CSC Herme Masturbate-a-Thon Logo Original for Wiki.jpg|thumb|right]]<br /> Masturbate-a-thons are public, charity events that are &quot;intended to encourage people to explore safer sex, talk about masturbation and lift the taboos that still surround the subject.&quot;&lt;ref name=&quot;Masturbate-a-thon.co.uk&quot;&gt;{{cite web<br /> | title = Masturbate-a-thon website<br /> | publisher = Masturbate-a-thon<br /> | date = 2006-08-04<br /> | url = http://www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk/<br /> | format = html<br /> | accessdate = 2006-08-06}}&lt;/ref&gt; May is considered &quot;Masturbation Month&quot; by sex-positive organizations and activists, including [[Betty Dodson]], [[Joani Blank]], [[Susan Block]], [[Kyla Zellers]], [[Carol Queen]], and [[Gary Francis Fanning Jr.]].<br /> <br /> == Euphemisms ==<br /> A large variety of [[euphemism]]s and [[dysphemism]]s exist which describe masturbation. For a complete list of terms, see the entry for ''[[wikt:Wikisaurus:masturbate|masturbate]]'' in [[Wiktionary|Wikisaurus]].<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in media ==<br /> ===Paintings and drawings===<br /> [[Image:Klimt Mulher sentada.jpg|thumb|A Young Woman Masturbating, depicted by [[Gustav Klimt]]]]<br /> <br /> There are depictions of male masturbation in prehistoric [[rock painting]]s around the world. 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.<br /> <br /> ===Film=== <br /> &lt;!-- Please expand this section, but do not attempt to compile a list of every masturbation scene ever filmed. Any unsourced content will be removed. --&gt;<br /> A number of films feature masturbation scenes.<br /> <br /> ===Music===<br /> In popular music, there are a handful of songs that deal with the issue of masturbation. Some of the earliest examples are &quot;[[My Ding-a-Ling]]&quot; by [[Chuck Berry]] and &quot;[[Pictures of Lily]]&quot; by [[The Who]].&lt;ref&gt;&quot;''Merely a ditty about masturbation and the importance of it to a young man. I was really diggin' at my folks who, when catching me at it, would talk in loud voices in the corridor outside my room. &quot;Why can't he go with girls like other boys?''&quot; Quote by [[Pete Townshend]]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Some of the more recent popular songs are &quot;[[Turning Japanese]]&quot; by [[The Vapors]], a reference to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax and &quot;[[She Bop]]&quot; by [[Cyndi Lauper]] which was so obviously about masturbation that it was required to have a [[parental advisory]] sticker. In an interview Lauper admitted recording the song naked. &quot;[[I Touch Myself]]&quot; by [[Divinyls]] is a celebration of female masturbation. &quot;[[Touch of My Hand]]&quot; by [[Britney Spears]] is also about how female masturbation is normal.<br /> <br /> The song [[Orgasm Addict]] by The [[Buzzcocks]] also features lyrics centered around the theme of masturbation. Another song, [[Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too]] By [[Say Anything]] has a chorus that repeats the lines &quot;She Touched Herself&quot;.<br /> <br /> The song [[Masturbation]] by rock group [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] also deals with the concept of auto-erotic activity in a [[Punk subculture|punk]] framework.<br /> ===Literature=== <br /> In October 1972, an important censorship case was held in Australia, leading to the banning of [[Philip Roth]]'s novel ''[[Portnoy's Complaint]]'' in that country due to its masturbation references. The censorship led to public outcry at the time. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060829-Censorship-and-Don-Chipp.html Crikey - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder - Don Chipp: larrikin, censor, and party founder&lt;!-- Bot generated title --&gt;]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Masturbation in other animal species ==<br /> {{main | Animal sexuality#Autoeroticism (masturbation)}}<br /> Masturbatory behavior has been documented in a very wide range of species. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for masturbation purposes.&lt;ref name=&quot;Bagemihl,1999&quot;/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Denominations&diff=645853 Denominations 2008-09-21T05:16:07Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>==A snarky summary of the Bible==<br /> <br /> ''The Bible'' is the most popular fantasy novel ever written. The first main character is a stuttering, orphaned, Jewish murderer named Moses, who was raised by the Egyptian royalty. He leads a resistance and eventually escapes Egypt with his people, and then wanders around the desert for a while, and after he dies his people go on to create Israel without him. He told people that he followed a god that was their god now, and they had to follow him or else. This god was so special because Moses said he created the Earth some two thousand years before, over a seven day period. Then his god put people on the earth, starting with a guy, then eventually giving him a wife. They [[Fun:Original sin|ate a fruit]] when Moses' god told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of the paradise he made for them. Since there was no more paradise, this made carnivorous animals start to eat other animals, all because of us.&lt;ref&gt; Now godless [[Paleontology|paleontologists]] imagine they've found evidence of carnivorous animals eating other animals before humans existed. That shows how ignorant and evil paleontologists are. They contradict the Bible. Wait a moment. The Bible's fantasy fiction. So paleontologists aren't evil after all. <br /> <br /> Vegetarians are so ashamed of this, that they stopped eating other animals.&lt;/ref&gt; The only people worth talking about at this point were inbred from this first couple. Later, an alcoholic named Noah built a boat because Moses' god told him to. Then that god told him to collect two each of the billions of species on Earth. Once all the species were collected, that god then drowned everything and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Noah and his wife got down to another round of inbreeding, and all modern humans are inbred cousins through them. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants, animals, and insects, etc. had repopulated the earth, bringing us back to the main plot line. A bunch of crappy stuff happens to the Jews, until a new main character is introduced.<br /> <br /> The new character is called [[Fun:Jesus|Jesus]], whose mother was a virgin, and who is supposed to be his own dad (no, really!). He came along and told people that they should believe in him, because he was the only way into this awesome new paradise in Heaven, where animals don't eat each other any more.&lt;ref&gt;Vegetarians rejoice!&lt;/ref&gt; He proved all this, and that he wasn't faking, by doing magic tricks for any people who would stop and listen to him. Then some hateful Jews came along and got him killed, because they thought his teachings were hate-speech, and had to be destroyed. Then he goes on to an underworld full of pain and suffering. However, a few days later he crawled back out, and this now-zombie Jesus rolled away a rock and scared two poor innocent women, then joined the poor saps he had tricked, and had them poke fingers in him, and told spooky stories about the afterlife. He reiterated that everyone had to believe in him or they wouldn't make it to the happy afterlife. After this, Jesus crawls up to heaven, and his poor saps are left on Earth without him, just waiting for a new main character to lead the way.<br /> <br /> ===Previous snarky summary===<br /> Perhaps the most popular fantasy novel ever written. Wait a moment -- Moslems think the [[Koran]] is better! Anyway, the main character, Jesus (a zombie who was his own father) was born of a virgin. He came to tell mankind that they should believe in him or he will punish them for eternity in hell ( a dark hot place underground). To prove that he is not just faking he did magic tricks for the people who would listen to his speeches. He told people that the earth was create 8 thousand years ago, over a seven day period. He put two people Adam and Eve on earth. They ate an apple when he told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of paradise. All of mankind is their inbred descendants. Later an alcoholic named Moses built a boat because God told him to. God then told him to collect two of the billions of species on earth in just a few days. Once all the species were collected, God drowned everything, and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Moses and his wife got down to the inbreeding. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants animals, insects etc. had repopulated the earth. Then some filthy Jews escaped Egypt and wondered around the desert for a while before making Israel. Jesus was born the filthy Jews killed him, he went to hell and laughed at all the people that were sent there came back to life as zombie, and told everyone spooky stories about hell. Then he went to heaven a (happy place up in the sky) the end.<br /> <br /> ==References and notes==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Church_history&diff=645852 Church history 2008-09-21T05:15:37Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>==A snarky summary of the Bible==<br /> <br /> ''The Bible'' is the most popular fantasy novel ever written. The first main character is a stuttering, orphaned, Jewish murderer named Moses, who was raised by the Egyptian royalty. He leads a resistance and eventually escapes Egypt with his people, and then wanders around the desert for a while, and after he dies his people go on to create Israel without him. He told people that he followed a god that was their god now, and they had to follow him or else. This god was so special because Moses said he created the Earth some two thousand years before, over a seven day period. Then his god put people on the earth, starting with a guy, then eventually giving him a wife. They [[Fun:Original sin|ate a fruit]] when Moses' god told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of the paradise he made for them. Since there was no more paradise, this made carnivorous animals start to eat other animals, all because of us.&lt;ref&gt; Now godless [[Paleontology|paleontologists]] imagine they've found evidence of carnivorous animals eating other animals before humans existed. That shows how ignorant and evil paleontologists are. They contradict the Bible. Wait a moment. The Bible's fantasy fiction. So paleontologists aren't evil after all. <br /> <br /> Vegetarians are so ashamed of this, that they stopped eating other animals.&lt;/ref&gt; The only people worth talking about at this point were inbred from this first couple. Later, an alcoholic named Noah built a boat because Moses' god told him to. Then that god told him to collect two each of the billions of species on Earth. Once all the species were collected, that god then drowned everything and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Noah and his wife got down to another round of inbreeding, and all modern humans are inbred cousins through them. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants, animals, and insects, etc. had repopulated the earth, bringing us back to the main plot line. A bunch of crappy stuff happens to the Jews, until a new main character is introduced.<br /> <br /> The new character is called [[Fun:Jesus|Jesus]], whose mother was a virgin, and who is supposed to be his own dad (no, really!). He came along and told people that they should believe in him, because he was the only way into this awesome new paradise in Heaven, where animals don't eat each other any more.&lt;ref&gt;Vegetarians rejoice!&lt;/ref&gt; He proved all this, and that he wasn't faking, by doing magic tricks for any people who would stop and listen to him. Then some hateful Jews came along and got him killed, because they thought his teachings were hate-speech, and had to be destroyed. Then he goes on to an underworld full of pain and suffering. However, a few days later he crawled back out, and this now-zombie Jesus rolled away a rock and scared two poor innocent women, then joined the poor saps he had tricked, and had them poke fingers in him, and told spooky stories about the afterlife. He reiterated that everyone had to believe in him or they wouldn't make it to the happy afterlife. After this, Jesus crawls up to heaven, and his poor saps are left on Earth without him, just waiting for a new main character to lead the way.<br /> <br /> ===Previous snarky summary===<br /> Perhaps the most popular fantasy novel ever written. Wait a moment -- Moslems think the [[Koran]] is better! Anyway, the main character, Jesus (a zombie who was his own father) was born of a virgin. He came to tell mankind that they should believe in him or he will punish them for eternity in hell ( a dark hot place underground). To prove that he is not just faking he did magic tricks for the people who would listen to his speeches. He told people that the earth was create 8 thousand years ago, over a seven day period. He put two people Adam and Eve on earth. They ate an apple when he told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of paradise. All of mankind is their inbred descendants. Later an alcoholic named Moses built a boat because God told him to. God then told him to collect two of the billions of species on earth in just a few days. Once all the species were collected, God drowned everything, and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Moses and his wife got down to the inbreeding. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants animals, insects etc. had repopulated the earth. Then some filthy Jews escaped Egypt and wondered around the desert for a while before making Israel. Jesus was born the filthy Jews killed him, he went to hell and laughed at all the people that were sent there came back to life as zombie, and told everyone spooky stories about hell. Then he went to heaven a (happy place up in the sky) the end.<br /> <br /> ==References and notes==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Talk:Bible&diff=645851 Talk:Bible 2008-09-21T05:14:52Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>==A snarky summary of the Bible==<br /> <br /> ''The Bible'' is the most popular fantasy novel ever written. The first main character is a stuttering, orphaned, Jewish murderer named Moses, who was raised by the Egyptian royalty. He leads a resistance and eventually escapes Egypt with his people, and then wanders around the desert for a while, and after he dies his people go on to create Israel without him. He told people that he followed a god that was their god now, and they had to follow him or else. This god was so special because Moses said he created the Earth some two thousand years before, over a seven day period. Then his god put people on the earth, starting with a guy, then eventually giving him a wife. They [[Fun:Original sin|ate a fruit]] when Moses' god told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of the paradise he made for them. Since there was no more paradise, this made carnivorous animals start to eat other animals, all because of us.&lt;ref&gt; Now godless [[Paleontology|paleontologists]] imagine they've found evidence of carnivorous animals eating other animals before humans existed. That shows how ignorant and evil paleontologists are. They contradict the Bible. Wait a moment. The Bible's fantasy fiction. So paleontologists aren't evil after all. <br /> <br /> Vegetarians are so ashamed of this, that they stopped eating other animals.&lt;/ref&gt; The only people worth talking about at this point were inbred from this first couple. Later, an alcoholic named Noah built a boat because Moses' god told him to. Then that god told him to collect two each of the billions of species on Earth. Once all the species were collected, that god then drowned everything and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Noah and his wife got down to another round of inbreeding, and all modern humans are inbred cousins through them. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants, animals, and insects, etc. had repopulated the earth, bringing us back to the main plot line. A bunch of crappy stuff happens to the Jews, until a new main character is introduced.<br /> <br /> The new character is called [[Fun:Jesus|Jesus]], whose mother was a virgin, and who is supposed to be his own dad (no, really!). He came along and told people that they should believe in him, because he was the only way into this awesome new paradise in Heaven, where animals don't eat each other any more.&lt;ref&gt;Vegetarians rejoice!&lt;/ref&gt; He proved all this, and that he wasn't faking, by doing magic tricks for any people who would stop and listen to him. Then some hateful Jews came along and got him killed, because they thought his teachings were hate-speech, and had to be destroyed. Then he goes on to an underworld full of pain and suffering. However, a few days later he crawled back out, and this now-zombie Jesus rolled away a rock and scared two poor innocent women, then joined the poor saps he had tricked, and had them poke fingers in him, and told spooky stories about the afterlife. He reiterated that everyone had to believe in him or they wouldn't make it to the happy afterlife. After this, Jesus crawls up to heaven, and his poor saps are left on Earth without him, just waiting for a new main character to lead the way.<br /> <br /> ===Previous snarky summary===<br /> Perhaps the most popular fantasy novel ever written. Wait a moment -- Moslems think the [[Koran]] is better! Anyway, the main character, Jesus (a zombie who was his own father) was born of a virgin. He came to tell mankind that they should believe in him or he will punish them for eternity in hell ( a dark hot place underground). To prove that he is not just faking he did magic tricks for the people who would listen to his speeches. He told people that the earth was create 8 thousand years ago, over a seven day period. He put two people Adam and Eve on earth. They ate an apple when he told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of paradise. All of mankind is their inbred descendants. Later an alcoholic named Moses built a boat because God told him to. God then told him to collect two of the billions of species on earth in just a few days. Once all the species were collected, God drowned everything, and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Moses and his wife got down to the inbreeding. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants animals, insects etc. had repopulated the earth. Then some filthy Jews escaped Egypt and wondered around the desert for a while before making Israel. Jesus was born the filthy Jews killed him, he went to hell and laughed at all the people that were sent there came back to life as zombie, and told everyone spooky stories about hell. Then he went to heaven a (happy place up in the sky) the end.<br /> <br /> ==References and notes==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Trinity&diff=645850 Trinity 2008-09-21T05:14:19Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>==A snarky summary of the Bible==<br /> <br /> ''The Bible'' is the most popular fantasy novel ever written. The first main character is a stuttering, orphaned, Jewish murderer named Moses, who was raised by the Egyptian royalty. He leads a resistance and eventually escapes Egypt with his people, and then wanders around the desert for a while, and after he dies his people go on to create Israel without him. He told people that he followed a god that was their god now, and they had to follow him or else. This god was so special because Moses said he created the Earth some two thousand years before, over a seven day period. Then his god put people on the earth, starting with a guy, then eventually giving him a wife. They [[Fun:Original sin|ate a fruit]] when Moses' god told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of the paradise he made for them. Since there was no more paradise, this made carnivorous animals start to eat other animals, all because of us.&lt;ref&gt; Now godless [[Paleontology|paleontologists]] imagine they've found evidence of carnivorous animals eating other animals before humans existed. That shows how ignorant and evil paleontologists are. They contradict the Bible. Wait a moment. The Bible's fantasy fiction. So paleontologists aren't evil after all. <br /> <br /> Vegetarians are so ashamed of this, that they stopped eating other animals.&lt;/ref&gt; The only people worth talking about at this point were inbred from this first couple. Later, an alcoholic named Noah built a boat because Moses' god told him to. Then that god told him to collect two each of the billions of species on Earth. Once all the species were collected, that god then drowned everything and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Noah and his wife got down to another round of inbreeding, and all modern humans are inbred cousins through them. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants, animals, and insects, etc. had repopulated the earth, bringing us back to the main plot line. A bunch of crappy stuff happens to the Jews, until a new main character is introduced.<br /> <br /> The new character is called [[Fun:Jesus|Jesus]], whose mother was a virgin, and who is supposed to be his own dad (no, really!). He came along and told people that they should believe in him, because he was the only way into this awesome new paradise in Heaven, where animals don't eat each other any more.&lt;ref&gt;Vegetarians rejoice!&lt;/ref&gt; He proved all this, and that he wasn't faking, by doing magic tricks for any people who would stop and listen to him. Then some hateful Jews came along and got him killed, because they thought his teachings were hate-speech, and had to be destroyed. Then he goes on to an underworld full of pain and suffering. However, a few days later he crawled back out, and this now-zombie Jesus rolled away a rock and scared two poor innocent women, then joined the poor saps he had tricked, and had them poke fingers in him, and told spooky stories about the afterlife. He reiterated that everyone had to believe in him or they wouldn't make it to the happy afterlife. After this, Jesus crawls up to heaven, and his poor saps are left on Earth without him, just waiting for a new main character to lead the way.<br /> <br /> ===Previous snarky summary===<br /> Perhaps the most popular fantasy novel ever written. Wait a moment -- Moslems think the [[Koran]] is better! Anyway, the main character, Jesus (a zombie who was his own father) was born of a virgin. He came to tell mankind that they should believe in him or he will punish them for eternity in hell ( a dark hot place underground). To prove that he is not just faking he did magic tricks for the people who would listen to his speeches. He told people that the earth was create 8 thousand years ago, over a seven day period. He put two people Adam and Eve on earth. They ate an apple when he told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of paradise. All of mankind is their inbred descendants. Later an alcoholic named Moses built a boat because God told him to. God then told him to collect two of the billions of species on earth in just a few days. Once all the species were collected, God drowned everything, and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Moses and his wife got down to the inbreeding. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants animals, insects etc. had repopulated the earth. Then some filthy Jews escaped Egypt and wondered around the desert for a while before making Israel. Jesus was born the filthy Jews killed him, he went to hell and laughed at all the people that were sent there came back to life as zombie, and told everyone spooky stories about hell. Then he went to heaven a (happy place up in the sky) the end.<br /> <br /> ==References and notes==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Essence_of_Christianity&diff=645849 Essence of Christianity 2008-09-21T05:13:57Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>==A snarky summary of the Bible==<br /> <br /> ''The Bible'' is the most popular fantasy novel ever written. The first main character is a stuttering, orphaned, Jewish murderer named Moses, who was raised by the Egyptian royalty. He leads a resistance and eventually escapes Egypt with his people, and then wanders around the desert for a while, and after he dies his people go on to create Israel without him. He told people that he followed a god that was their god now, and they had to follow him or else. This god was so special because Moses said he created the Earth some two thousand years before, over a seven day period. Then his god put people on the earth, starting with a guy, then eventually giving him a wife. They [[Fun:Original sin|ate a fruit]] when Moses' god told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of the paradise he made for them. Since there was no more paradise, this made carnivorous animals start to eat other animals, all because of us.&lt;ref&gt; Now godless [[Paleontology|paleontologists]] imagine they've found evidence of carnivorous animals eating other animals before humans existed. That shows how ignorant and evil paleontologists are. They contradict the Bible. Wait a moment. The Bible's fantasy fiction. So paleontologists aren't evil after all. <br /> <br /> Vegetarians are so ashamed of this, that they stopped eating other animals.&lt;/ref&gt; The only people worth talking about at this point were inbred from this first couple. Later, an alcoholic named Noah built a boat because Moses' god told him to. Then that god told him to collect two each of the billions of species on Earth. Once all the species were collected, that god then drowned everything and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Noah and his wife got down to another round of inbreeding, and all modern humans are inbred cousins through them. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants, animals, and insects, etc. had repopulated the earth, bringing us back to the main plot line. A bunch of crappy stuff happens to the Jews, until a new main character is introduced.<br /> <br /> The new character is called [[Fun:Jesus|Jesus]], whose mother was a virgin, and who is supposed to be his own dad (no, really!). He came along and told people that they should believe in him, because he was the only way into this awesome new paradise in Heaven, where animals don't eat each other any more.&lt;ref&gt;Vegetarians rejoice!&lt;/ref&gt; He proved all this, and that he wasn't faking, by doing magic tricks for any people who would stop and listen to him. Then some hateful Jews came along and got him killed, because they thought his teachings were hate-speech, and had to be destroyed. Then he goes on to an underworld full of pain and suffering. However, a few days later he crawled back out, and this now-zombie Jesus rolled away a rock and scared two poor innocent women, then joined the poor saps he had tricked, and had them poke fingers in him, and told spooky stories about the afterlife. He reiterated that everyone had to believe in him or they wouldn't make it to the happy afterlife. After this, Jesus crawls up to heaven, and his poor saps are left on Earth without him, just waiting for a new main character to lead the way.<br /> <br /> ===Previous snarky summary===<br /> Perhaps the most popular fantasy novel ever written. Wait a moment -- Moslems think the [[Koran]] is better! Anyway, the main character, Jesus (a zombie who was his own father) was born of a virgin. He came to tell mankind that they should believe in him or he will punish them for eternity in hell ( a dark hot place underground). To prove that he is not just faking he did magic tricks for the people who would listen to his speeches. He told people that the earth was create 8 thousand years ago, over a seven day period. He put two people Adam and Eve on earth. They ate an apple when he told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of paradise. All of mankind is their inbred descendants. Later an alcoholic named Moses built a boat because God told him to. God then told him to collect two of the billions of species on earth in just a few days. Once all the species were collected, God drowned everything, and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Moses and his wife got down to the inbreeding. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants animals, insects etc. had repopulated the earth. Then some filthy Jews escaped Egypt and wondered around the desert for a while before making Israel. Jesus was born the filthy Jews killed him, he went to hell and laughed at all the people that were sent there came back to life as zombie, and told everyone spooky stories about hell. Then he went to heaven a (happy place up in the sky) the end.<br /> <br /> ==References and notes==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=WikiChristian:About&diff=645847 WikiChristian:About 2008-09-21T05:11:43Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>==A snarky summary of the Bible==<br /> <br /> ''The Bible'' is the most popular fantasy novel ever written. The first main character is a stuttering, orphaned, Jewish murderer named Moses, who was raised by the Egyptian royalty. He leads a resistance and eventually escapes Egypt with his people, and then wanders around the desert for a while, and after he dies his people go on to create Israel without him. He told people that he followed a god that was their god now, and they had to follow him or else. This god was so special because Moses said he created the Earth some two thousand years before, over a seven day period. Then his god put people on the earth, starting with a guy, then eventually giving him a wife. They [[Fun:Original sin|ate a fruit]] when Moses' god told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of the paradise he made for them. Since there was no more paradise, this made carnivorous animals start to eat other animals, all because of us.&lt;ref&gt; Now godless [[Paleontology|paleontologists]] imagine they've found evidence of carnivorous animals eating other animals before humans existed. That shows how ignorant and evil paleontologists are. They contradict the Bible. Wait a moment. The Bible's fantasy fiction. So paleontologists aren't evil after all. <br /> <br /> Vegetarians are so ashamed of this, that they stopped eating other animals.&lt;/ref&gt; The only people worth talking about at this point were inbred from this first couple. Later, an alcoholic named Noah built a boat because Moses' god told him to. Then that god told him to collect two each of the billions of species on Earth. Once all the species were collected, that god then drowned everything and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Noah and his wife got down to another round of inbreeding, and all modern humans are inbred cousins through them. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants, animals, and insects, etc. had repopulated the earth, bringing us back to the main plot line. A bunch of crappy stuff happens to the Jews, until a new main character is introduced.<br /> <br /> The new character is called [[Fun:Jesus|Jesus]], whose mother was a virgin, and who is supposed to be his own dad (no, really!). He came along and told people that they should believe in him, because he was the only way into this awesome new paradise in Heaven, where animals don't eat each other any more.&lt;ref&gt;Vegetarians rejoice!&lt;/ref&gt; He proved all this, and that he wasn't faking, by doing magic tricks for any people who would stop and listen to him. Then some hateful Jews came along and got him killed, because they thought his teachings were hate-speech, and had to be destroyed. Then he goes on to an underworld full of pain and suffering. However, a few days later he crawled back out, and this now-zombie Jesus rolled away a rock and scared two poor innocent women, then joined the poor saps he had tricked, and had them poke fingers in him, and told spooky stories about the afterlife. He reiterated that everyone had to believe in him or they wouldn't make it to the happy afterlife. After this, Jesus crawls up to heaven, and his poor saps are left on Earth without him, just waiting for a new main character to lead the way.<br /> <br /> ===Previous snarky summary===<br /> Perhaps the most popular fantasy novel ever written. Wait a moment -- Moslems think the [[Koran]] is better! Anyway, the main character, Jesus (a zombie who was his own father) was born of a virgin. He came to tell mankind that they should believe in him or he will punish them for eternity in hell ( a dark hot place underground). To prove that he is not just faking he did magic tricks for the people who would listen to his speeches. He told people that the earth was create 8 thousand years ago, over a seven day period. He put two people Adam and Eve on earth. They ate an apple when he told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of paradise. All of mankind is their inbred descendants. Later an alcoholic named Moses built a boat because God told him to. God then told him to collect two of the billions of species on earth in just a few days. Once all the species were collected, God drowned everything, and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Moses and his wife got down to the inbreeding. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants animals, insects etc. had repopulated the earth. Then some filthy Jews escaped Egypt and wondered around the desert for a while before making Israel. Jesus was born the filthy Jews killed him, he went to hell and laughed at all the people that were sent there came back to life as zombie, and told everyone spooky stories about hell. Then he went to heaven a (happy place up in the sky) the end.<br /> <br /> ==References and notes==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Hermeneutics&diff=645845 Hermeneutics 2008-09-21T05:10:14Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>==A snarky summary of the Bible==<br /> <br /> ''The Bible'' is the most popular fantasy novel ever written. The first main character is a stuttering, orphaned, Jewish murderer named Moses, who was raised by the Egyptian royalty. He leads a resistance and eventually escapes Egypt with his people, and then wanders around the desert for a while, and after he dies his people go on to create Israel without him. He told people that he followed a god that was their god now, and they had to follow him or else. This god was so special because Moses said he created the Earth some two thousand years before, over a seven day period. Then his god put people on the earth, starting with a guy, then eventually giving him a wife. They [[Fun:Original sin|ate a fruit]] when Moses' god told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of the paradise he made for them. Since there was no more paradise, this made carnivorous animals start to eat other animals, all because of us.&lt;ref&gt; Now godless [[Paleontology|paleontologists]] imagine they've found evidence of carnivorous animals eating other animals before humans existed. That shows how ignorant and evil paleontologists are. They contradict the Bible. Wait a moment. The Bible's fantasy fiction. So paleontologists aren't evil after all. <br /> <br /> Vegetarians are so ashamed of this, that they stopped eating other animals.&lt;/ref&gt; The only people worth talking about at this point were inbred from this first couple. Later, an alcoholic named Noah built a boat because Moses' god told him to. Then that god told him to collect two each of the billions of species on Earth. Once all the species were collected, that god then drowned everything and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Noah and his wife got down to another round of inbreeding, and all modern humans are inbred cousins through them. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants, animals, and insects, etc. had repopulated the earth, bringing us back to the main plot line. A bunch of crappy stuff happens to the Jews, until a new main character is introduced.<br /> <br /> The new character is called [[Fun:Jesus|Jesus]], whose mother was a virgin, and who is supposed to be his own dad (no, really!). He came along and told people that they should believe in him, because he was the only way into this awesome new paradise in Heaven, where animals don't eat each other any more.&lt;ref&gt;Vegetarians rejoice!&lt;/ref&gt; He proved all this, and that he wasn't faking, by doing magic tricks for any people who would stop and listen to him. Then some hateful Jews came along and got him killed, because they thought his teachings were hate-speech, and had to be destroyed. Then he goes on to an underworld full of pain and suffering. However, a few days later he crawled back out, and this now-zombie Jesus rolled away a rock and scared two poor innocent women, then joined the poor saps he had tricked, and had them poke fingers in him, and told spooky stories about the afterlife. He reiterated that everyone had to believe in him or they wouldn't make it to the happy afterlife. After this, Jesus crawls up to heaven, and his poor saps are left on Earth without him, just waiting for a new main character to lead the way.<br /> <br /> ===Previous snarky summary===<br /> Perhaps the most popular fantasy novel ever written. Wait a moment -- Moslems think the [[Koran]] is better! Anyway, the main character, Jesus (a zombie who was his own father) was born of a virgin. He came to tell mankind that they should believe in him or he will punish them for eternity in hell ( a dark hot place underground). To prove that he is not just faking he did magic tricks for the people who would listen to his speeches. He told people that the earth was create 8 thousand years ago, over a seven day period. He put two people Adam and Eve on earth. They ate an apple when he told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of paradise. All of mankind is their inbred descendants. Later an alcoholic named Moses built a boat because God told him to. God then told him to collect two of the billions of species on earth in just a few days. Once all the species were collected, God drowned everything, and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Moses and his wife got down to the inbreeding. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants animals, insects etc. had repopulated the earth. Then some filthy Jews escaped Egypt and wondered around the desert for a while before making Israel. Jesus was born the filthy Jews killed him, he went to hell and laughed at all the people that were sent there came back to life as zombie, and told everyone spooky stories about hell. Then he went to heaven a (happy place up in the sky) the end.<br /> <br /> ==References and notes==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Books_of_the_Bible&diff=645844 Books of the Bible 2008-09-21T05:09:15Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>==A snarky summary of the Bible==<br /> <br /> ''The Bible'' is the most popular fantasy novel ever written. The first main character is a stuttering, orphaned, Jewish murderer named Moses, who was raised by the Egyptian royalty. He leads a resistance and eventually escapes Egypt with his people, and then wanders around the desert for a while, and after he dies his people go on to create Israel without him. He told people that he followed a god that was their god now, and they had to follow him or else. This god was so special because Moses said he created the Earth some two thousand years before, over a seven day period. Then his god put people on the earth, starting with a guy, then eventually giving him a wife. They [[Fun:Original sin|ate a fruit]] when Moses' god told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of the paradise he made for them. Since there was no more paradise, this made carnivorous animals start to eat other animals, all because of us.&lt;ref&gt; Now godless [[Paleontology|paleontologists]] imagine they've found evidence of carnivorous animals eating other animals before humans existed. That shows how ignorant and evil paleontologists are. They contradict the Bible. Wait a moment. The Bible's fantasy fiction. So paleontologists aren't evil after all. <br /> <br /> Vegetarians are so ashamed of this, that they stopped eating other animals.&lt;/ref&gt; The only people worth talking about at this point were inbred from this first couple. Later, an alcoholic named Noah built a boat because Moses' god told him to. Then that god told him to collect two each of the billions of species on Earth. Once all the species were collected, that god then drowned everything and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Noah and his wife got down to another round of inbreeding, and all modern humans are inbred cousins through them. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants, animals, and insects, etc. had repopulated the earth, bringing us back to the main plot line. A bunch of crappy stuff happens to the Jews, until a new main character is introduced.<br /> <br /> The new character is called [[Fun:Jesus|Jesus]], whose mother was a virgin, and who is supposed to be his own dad (no, really!). He came along and told people that they should believe in him, because he was the only way into this awesome new paradise in Heaven, where animals don't eat each other any more.&lt;ref&gt;Vegetarians rejoice!&lt;/ref&gt; He proved all this, and that he wasn't faking, by doing magic tricks for any people who would stop and listen to him. Then some hateful Jews came along and got him killed, because they thought his teachings were hate-speech, and had to be destroyed. Then he goes on to an underworld full of pain and suffering. However, a few days later he crawled back out, and this now-zombie Jesus rolled away a rock and scared two poor innocent women, then joined the poor saps he had tricked, and had them poke fingers in him, and told spooky stories about the afterlife. He reiterated that everyone had to believe in him or they wouldn't make it to the happy afterlife. After this, Jesus crawls up to heaven, and his poor saps are left on Earth without him, just waiting for a new main character to lead the way.<br /> <br /> ===Previous snarky summary===<br /> Perhaps the most popular fantasy novel ever written. Wait a moment -- Moslems think the [[Koran]] is better! Anyway, the main character, Jesus (a zombie who was his own father) was born of a virgin. He came to tell mankind that they should believe in him or he will punish them for eternity in hell ( a dark hot place underground). To prove that he is not just faking he did magic tricks for the people who would listen to his speeches. He told people that the earth was create 8 thousand years ago, over a seven day period. He put two people Adam and Eve on earth. They ate an apple when he told them not to, so he decided they should suffer and die by being kicked out of paradise. All of mankind is their inbred descendants. Later an alcoholic named Moses built a boat because God told him to. God then told him to collect two of the billions of species on earth in just a few days. Once all the species were collected, God drowned everything, and everyone else because they pissed him off. Then Moses and his wife got down to the inbreeding. Within a few more thousand years all the different races of humanity had diverged, and all the plants animals, insects etc. had repopulated the earth. Then some filthy Jews escaped Egypt and wondered around the desert for a while before making Israel. Jesus was born the filthy Jews killed him, he went to hell and laughed at all the people that were sent there came back to life as zombie, and told everyone spooky stories about hell. Then he went to heaven a (happy place up in the sky) the end.<br /> <br /> ==References and notes==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=God&diff=645843 God 2008-09-21T05:06:20Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>{{pp-semi-protected|small=yes}}<br /> {{otheruses}}<br /> <br /> {{Infobox Greek deity|<br /> | Image = Statue of Zeus.jpg<br /> | Caption = The [[Statue of Zeus at Olympia|Statue of Zeus]] at [[Olympia, Greece|Olympia]]&lt;br/&gt;[[Phidias]] created the 12&amp;nbsp;m (40&amp;nbsp;ft) tall [[statue]] of '''''Zeus''''' at Olympia about [[435 BC]]. The statue was perhaps the most famous [[sculpture]] in [[Ancient Greece]], imagined here in a [[16th century]] [[engraving]]<br /> | Name = Zeus <br /> | God_of = '''King of the gods''' &lt;br/&gt;'''God of the Sky and Thunder'''<br /> | Abode = [[Mount Olympus]] <br /> | Symbol = [[Thunderbolt]], [[Eagle]], [[Bull]] and [[Oak]] <br /> | Consort = [[Hera]] <br /> | Parents = [[Cronus]] and [[Rhea (mythology)|Rhea]]<br /> | Siblings = [[Poseidon]], [[Hades]], [[Demeter]], [[Hestia]], [[Hera]]<br /> | Children = [[Ares]], [[Athena]], [[Apollo]], [[Artemis]], [[Aphrodite]], [[Dionysus]], [[Hebe (mythology)|Hebe]], [[Hermes]], [[Heracles]], [[Helen]], [[Hephaestus]], [[Perseus]], [[Minos]], the [[Muse]]s<br /> | Mount = <br /> | Roman_equivalent = [[Jupiter]]<br /> }}<br /> <br /> '''Zeus''' ({{IPAEng|zjuːs}}; in [[Greek language|Greek]]: [[nominative case|nominative]]: {{Polytonic|Ζεύς}} ''Zeús'' {{IPA|/zdeús/}}, [[genitive case|genitive]]: {{Polytonic|Διός}} ''Diós''; Modern Greek /'zefs/) in [[Greek mythology]] is the [[king of the gods]], the ruler of [[Mount Olympus (Mountain)|Mount Olympus]] and the god of the [[sky father|sky]] and [[List of thunder gods|thunder]]. His symbols are the [[thunderbolt]], [[eagle]], [[bull (mythology)|bull]], and [[oak]]. In addition to his Indo-European inheritance, the classical &quot;cloud-gatherer&quot; also derives certain iconographic traits from the cultures of the [[ancient Near East]], such as the [[scepter]]. Zeus is frequently depicted by Greek artists in one of two poses: standing, striding forward, with a thunderbolt leveled in his raised right hand, or seated in majesty.<br /> <br /> Zeus was the child of [[Cronus]] and [[Rhea (mythology)|Rhea]], and the youngest of his siblings. In most traditions he was married to [[Hera]], although, at the oracle of [[Dodona]], his consort was [[Dione (mythology)|Dione]]: according to the ''[[Iliad]]'', he is the father of [[Aphrodite]] by Dione. He is known for his erotic escapades. These resulted in many godly and heroic offspring, including [[Athena]], [[Apollo]] and [[Artemis]], [[Hermes]], [[Persephone]] (by [[Demeter]]), [[Dionysus]], [[Perseus]], [[Heracles]], [[Helen]], [[Minos]], and the [[Muse]]s (by [[Mnemosyne]]); by Hera, he is usually said to have fathered [[Ares]], [[Hebe (mythology)|Hebe]] and [[Hephaestus]].<br /> <br /> His [[Roman mythology|Roman]] counterpart was [[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]] and his [[Etruscan mythology|Etruscan]] counterpart [[Tinia]]. In [[Hindu|Hindu mythology]] his counterpart was [[Indra]] with ever common weapon as [[thunderbolt]].<br /> <br /> ==Cult of Zeus==<br /> ===Panhellenic cults of Zeus===<br /> The major center where all Greeks converged to pay honor to their chief god was [[Olympia, Greece|Olympia]]. Their quadrennial [[festival]] featured the famous Games. There was also an altar to Zeus made not of stone, but of ash, from the accumulated remains of many centuries' worth of animals sacrificed there.<br /> <br /> Outside of the major inter-[[polis]] sanctuaries, there were no modes of worshipping Zeus precisely shared across the Greek world. Most of the titles listed below, for instance, could be found at any number of [[Greek temple]]s from [[Asia Minor]] to [[Sicily]]. Certain modes of ritual were held in common as well: sacrificing a white animal over a raised altar, for instance.<br /> <br /> [[Image:Statue of Zeus dsc02611-.jpg|thumb|300px|Colossal seated [[Dagon|Marnas]] from [[Gaza]] portrayed in the style of Zeus.<br /> Marnas&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06399c.htm Catholic Encyclopedia &gt; Gaza] ; [http://www.plekos.uni-muenchen.de/2004/rhahn.html Johannes Hahn: Gewalt und religiöser Konflikt] ; [http://philologos.org/__eb-thlatb/chap08.htm#mosue The Holy Land and the Bible]&lt;/ref&gt; was the chief divinity of Gaza. Roman period [[Istanbul Archaeology Museum]])]]<br /> [[Image:Bust of Zeus.jpg|thumb|right|Bust of Zeus in the [[British Museum]]]]<br /> <br /> ===History===<br /> Zeus, poetically referred to by the [[vocative]] ''Zeu pater'' (&quot;O, father Zeus&quot;), is a continuation of *[[Dyeus|{{PIE|Di̯ēus}}]], the [[Proto-Indo-European religion|Proto-Indo-European]] god of the daytime sky, also called *{{PIE|Dyeus ph&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;tēr}} (&quot;Sky Father&quot;).&lt;ref name=&quot;Zeus&quot;&gt;{{cite web| url=http://www.bartleby.com/61/25/Z0012500.html| title=American Heritage® Dictionary: Zeus| accessdate=2006-07-03}}&lt;/ref&gt; The god is known under this name in [[Rig-Veda|Sanskrit]] (cf. ''[[Dyaus Pita|Dyaus/Dyaus Pita]]''), [[Latin]] (cf. ''[[Jupiter (god)|Jupiter]]'', from ''Iuppiter'', deriving from the [[PIE]] vocative *{{PIE|dyeu-ph&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;tēr}}&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web| url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Jupiter| title=Online Etymology Dictionary: Jupiter| accessdate=2006-07-03}}&lt;/ref&gt;), deriving from the basic form *''dyeu''- (&quot;to shine&quot;, and in its many derivatives, &quot;sky, heaven, god&quot;).&lt;ref name=&quot;Zeus&quot;&gt;{{cite web| url=http://www.bartleby.com/61/25/Z0012500.html| title=American Heritage® Dictionary: Zeus| accessdate=2006-07-03}}&lt;/ref&gt; And in [[Germanic mythology|Germanic]] and [[Norse mythology]] (cf. *''[[tiwaz|Tīwaz]]'' &gt; [[Old High German language|OHG]] ''Ziu'', [[Old Norse|ON]] ''[[Tyr|Týr]]''), together with Latin ''deus'', ''dīvus'' and ''Dis''(a variation of ''dīves''&lt;ref name=&quot;Dyeus&quot;&gt;{{cite web| url=http://www.bartleby.com/61/roots/IE117.html| title=American Heritage® Dictionary: dyeu| accessdate=2006-07-03}}&lt;/ref&gt;), from the related noun *''deiwos''.&lt;ref name=&quot;Dyeus&quot;&gt;{{cite web| url=http://www.bartleby.com/61/roots/IE117.html| title=American Heritage® Dictionary: dyeu| accessdate=2006-07-03}}&lt;/ref&gt; To the Greeks and Romans, the god of the sky was also the supreme god, whereas this function was filled out by [[Odin]] among the [[Germanic tribes]]. Accordingly, they did not identify Zeus/Jupiter with either Tyr or Odin, but with [[Thor]] ({{Unicode|Þórr}}). Zeus is the only deity in the Olympic pantheon whose name has such a transparent Indo-European etymology.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book|last=Burkert|title=Greek Religion| year=1985| pages= 321}}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ===Role and epithets===<br /> Zeus played a dominant role, presiding over the [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] Olympian pantheon. He fathered many of the heroes &lt;!--&quot;and heroines&quot; was sweetly motivated, but can we name even one sired by Zeus?--&gt; and was featured in many of their [[Cult (religion)|local cults]]. Though the Homeric &quot;cloud collector&quot; was the god of the sky and thunder like his Near-Eastern counterparts, he was also the supreme cultural artifact; in some senses, he was the embodiment of Greek [[religion|religious]] beliefs and the [[archetype|archetypal]] Greek deity.<br /> <br /> Aside from local epithets that simply designated the Zeus to doing something random at some particular place, the [[epithet]]s or titles applied to Zeus emphasized different aspects of his wide-ranging authority: <br /> *'''Zeus Olympios''' emphasized Zeus's kingship over both the gods in addition to his specific presence at the Panhellenic festival at [[Olympia, Greece|Olympia]]. <br /> * A related title was '''Zeus Panhellenios''' ('Zeus of all the Hellenes'), to whom [[Aeacus]]' famous temple on [[Aegina]] was dedicated. <br /> *As '''Zeus Xenios''', Zeus was the patron of hospitality and guests, ready to avenge any wrong done to a stranger. <br /> *As '''Zeus Horkios''', he was the keeper of oaths. Exposed liars were made to dedicate a [[sculpture|statue]] to Zeus, often at the sanctuary of Olympia. <br /> *As '''Zeus [[Agoraeus]]''', Zeus watched over business at the [[agora]] and punished dishonest traders.<br /> *As '''Zeus Aegiduchos''' or '''Aegiochos''' he was the bearer of the [[Aegis]] with which he strikes terror into the impious and his enemies.&lt;ref&gt;[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' i. 202, ii. 157, 375, &amp;c.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[[Pindar]], ''Isthmian Odes'' iv. 99&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Poetical Astronomy'' ii. 13&lt;/ref&gt; Others derive this epithet from {{polytonic|αίξ}} (&quot;goat&quot;) and {{polytonic|οχή}} and take it as an allusion to the legend of Zeus' suckling at the breast of [[Amalthea (mythology)|Amalthea]].&lt;ref&gt;Spanh. ''ad Callim. hymn. in Jov'', 49&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation<br /> | last = Schmitz<br /> | first = Leonhard<br /> | author-link = <br /> | contribution = Aegiduchos<br /> | editor-last = Smith<br /> | editor-first = William<br /> | title = [[Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology]]<br /> | volume = 1<br /> | pages = 26<br /> | publisher = <br /> | place = Boston<br /> | year = 1867<br /> | contribution-url = http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0035.html }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> *As '''Zeus Meilichios''', &quot;Easy-to-be-entreated&quot;, he subsumed an archaic chthonic ''[[daimon]]'' propitiated in Athens, [[Meilichios]].<br /> <br /> ===Some local Zeus-cults===<br /> <br /> In addition to the Panhellenic titles and conceptions listed above, local cults maintained their own idiosyncratic ideas about the king of gods and men. With the epithet '''Zeus Aetnaeus''' he was worshiped on [[Mount Etna|Mount Aetna]], where there was a statue of him, and a local festival called the Aetnaea in his honor.&lt;ref&gt;Schol. ''ad Pind. Ol.'' vi. 162&lt;/ref&gt; Other examples are listed below.<br /> *As '''Zeus Aeneius''' or '''Aenesius''', he was worshiped in the island of [[Kefalonia|Cephalenia]], where he had a temple on [[Mount Ainos|Mount Aenos]].&lt;ref&gt;Hes. ''ap. Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod.'' ii. 297&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> *As '''[[Agamemnon (Zeus)|Zeus Agamemnon]]''' he was worshipped at [[Sparta]].<br /> <br /> ====Cretan Zeus====<br /> <br /> On [[Crete]], Zeus was worshipped at a number of caves at [[Knossos]], [[Ida]] and [[Palaikastro]]. The stories of [[Minos]] and [[Epimenides]] suggest that these caves were once used for [[Incubation (ritual)|incubatory]] divination by kings and priests. The dramatic setting of [[Plato]]'s ''Laws'' is along the pilgrimage-route to one such site, emphasizing archaic Cretan knowledge. On Crete, Zeus was represented in art as a long-haired youth rather than a mature adult, and hymned as ''ho megas kouros'' &quot;the great youth&quot;. With the [[Kouretes]], a band of ecstatic armed dancers, he presided over the rigorous military-athletic training and secret rites of the Cretan ''[[paideia]]''.<br /> <br /> The Hellenistic writer [[Euhemerus]] apparently proposed a theory that Zeus had actually been a great king of [[Crete]] and that posthumously his glory had slowly turned him into a deity. The works of Euhemerus himself have not survived, but Christian patristic writers took up the suggestion with enthusiasm.<br /> <br /> ====Zeus Lykaios in Arcadia====<br /> {{details|Lykaia}} <br /> The epithet ''Lykaios'' (&quot;wolf-Zeus&quot;) is assumed by Zeus only in connection with the archaic festival of the [[Lykaia]] on the slopes of [[Lycaeus|Mount Lykaion]] (&quot;Wolf Mountain&quot;), the tallest peak in rustic [[Arcadia]]; Zeus had only a formal connection&lt;ref&gt;In the founding myth of [[Lycaon (mythology)|Lycaon]]'s banquet for the gods that included the flesh of a human sacrifice, perhaps one of his sons, [[Nyctimus]] or [[Arcas]]Zeus overturned the table and struck the house of Lyceus with a thunderbolt; his patronage at the Lykaia can have been little more than a formula.&lt;/ref&gt; with the rituals and myths of this primitive [[rite of passage]] with an ancient threat of [[cannibalism]] and the possibility of a [[werewolf]] transformation for the [[ephebe]]s who were the participants.&lt;ref&gt;A morphological connection to ''lyke'' &quot;brightness&quot; may be merely fortuitous.&lt;/ref&gt; Near the ancient ash-heap where the sacrifices took place&lt;ref&gt;Modern archaeologists have found no trace of human remains among the sacrificial detritus, [[Walter Burkert]], &quot;Lykaia and Lykaion&quot;, ''Homo Necans'', tr. by Peter Bing (University of California) 1983, p. 90.&lt;/ref&gt; was a forbidden precinct in which, allegedly, no shadows were ever cast.&lt;ref&gt;[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] 8.38.&lt;/ref&gt; According to [[Plato]] (''Republic'' 565d-e), a particular clan would gather on the mountain to make a sacrifice every nine years to Zeus Lykaios, and a single morsel of human entrails would be intermingled with the animal's. Whoever ate the human flesh was said to turn into a wolf, and could only regain human form if he did not eat again of human flesh until the next nine-year cycle had ended. There were games associated with the Lykaia, removed in the fourth century to the first urbanization of Arcadia, [[Megalopolis, Greece|Megalopolis]]; there the major temple was dedicated to Zeus Lykaios.<br /> <br /> Apollo, too had an archaic wolf-form, ''Apollo Lycaeus'', worshipped in Athens at the Lykeion, or [[Lyceum]], which was made memorable as the site where [[Aristotle]] walked and taught.<br /> <br /> ====Subterranean Zeus====<br /> <br /> Although etymology indicates that Zeus was originally a sky god, many Greek cities honored a local Zeus who lived underground. Athenians and Sicilians honored Zeus ''Meilichios'' (&quot;kindly&quot; or &quot;honeyed&quot;) while other cities had Zeus ''Chthonios'' (&quot;earthy&quot;), ''Katachthonios'' (&quot;under-the-earth) and ''Plousios'' (&quot;wealth-bringing&quot;). These deities might be represented as snakes or in human form in visual art, or, for emphasis as both together in one image. They also received offerings of black animal victims sacrificed into sunken pits, as did [[chthonic]] deities like [[Persephone]] and [[Demeter]], and also the [[hero]]es at their tombs. Olympian gods, by contrast, usually received white victims sacrificed upon raised altars.<br /> <br /> In some cases, cities were not entirely sure whether the ''daimon'' to whom they sacrificed was a hero or an underground Zeus. Thus the shrine at Lebadaea in [[Boeotia]] might belong to the hero [[Trophonius]] or to Zeus ''Trephonius'' (&quot;the nurturing&quot;), depending on whether you believe [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], or [[Strabo]]. The hero [[Amphiaraus]] was honored as ''Zeus Amphiaraus'' at Oropus outside of [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]], and the Spartans even had a shrine to ''Zeus [[Agamemnon]]''.<br /> <br /> ===Oracles of Zeus===<br /> Although most oracle sites were usually dedicated to [[Apollo]], the [[hero]]es, or various [[goddess]]es like [[Themis]], a few oracular sites were dedicated to Zeus.<br /> <br /> ====The Oracle at Dodona====<br /> The cult of Zeus at [[Dodona]] in [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]], where there is evidence of religious activity from the second millennium BC onward, centered around a sacred oak. When the [[Odyssey]] was composed (circa [[750s BC|750 BC]]), divination was done there by barefoot priests called ''Selloi'', who lay on the ground and observed the rustling of the leaves and branches (''Odyssey'' 14.326-7). By the time [[Herodotus]] wrote about Dodona, female priestesses called [[peleiades]] (&quot;doves&quot;) had replaced the male priests.<br /> <br /> Zeus' consort at Dodona was not [[Hera]], but the goddess [[Dione (mythology)|Dione]] &amp;mdash; whose name is a feminine form of &quot;Zeus&quot;. Her status as a [[Titan (mythology)|titaness]] suggests to some that she may have been a more powerful pre-Hellenic deity, and perhaps the original occupant of the oracle.<br /> <br /> ====The Oracle at Siwa====<br /> The oracle of [[Amun|Ammon]] at the [[Siwa Oasis|oasis of Siwa]] in the Western Desert of [[Egypt]] did not lie within the bounds of the Greek world before [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]]'s day, but it already loomed large in the Greek mind during the archaic era: [[Herodotus]] mentions consultations with Zeus Ammon in his account of the [[Greco-Persian Wars|Persian War]]. Zeus Ammon was especially favored at [[Sparta]], where a temple to him existed by the time of the [[Peloponnesian War]]&lt;ref&gt;[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] 3.18.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> After Alexander made a trek into the desert to consult the oracle at Siwa, the figure arose of a [[Libyan Sibyl]].<br /> <br /> ===Zeus and foreign gods===<br /> Zeus was equivalent to the [[Roman mythology|Roman]] god [[Jupiter (god)|Jupiter]] and associated in the syncretic classical imagination (see ''[[interpretatio graeca]]'') with various other deities, such as the [[Egyptian mythology|Egyptian]] [[Amun|Ammon]] and the [[Etruscan mythology|Etruscan]] [[Tinia]]. He (along with [[Dionysus]]) absorbed the role of the chief [[Phrygia]]n god [[Sabazios]] in the [[Syncretism|syncretic]] deity known in Rome as [[Sabazius]].<br /> <br /> ==Zeus in myth==<br /> [[Image:The Chariot of Zeus - Project Gutenberg eText 14994.png|thumbnail|250px|right|The Chariot of Zeus, from an 1879 ''Stories from the Greek Tragedians'' by Alfred Church]]<br /> <br /> ===Birth===<br /> [[Cronus]] sired several children by [[Rhea (mythology)|Rhea]]: [[Hestia]], [[Demeter]], [[Hera]], [[Hades]], and [[Poseidon]], but swallowed them all as soon as they were born, since he had learned from [[Gaia]] and [[Uranus (mythology)|Uranus]] that he was destined to be overcome by his own son as he had overthrown his own father— an oracle that Zeus was to hear and avert. But when Zeus was about to be born, Rhea sought Gaia to devise a plan to save him, so that Cronus would get his retribution for his acts against Uranus and his own children. Rhea gave birth to Zeus in Crete, handing Cronus a rock wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he promptly swallowed.<br /> <br /> ===Infancy===<br /> Rhea hid Zeus in a cave on [[Mount Ida]] in Crete. According to varying versions of the story:<br /> # He was then raised by [[Gaia (mythology)|Gaia]].<br /> # He was raised by a [[goat]] named [[Amalthea (mythology)|Amalthea]], while a company of [[Kouretes]]&amp;mdash; soldiers, or smaller gods&amp;mdash; danced, shouted and clashed their spears against their shields so that Cronus would not hear the baby's cry. (See [[cornucopia]].)<br /> # He was raised by a [[nymph]] named [[Adamanthea]]. Since Cronus ruled over the [[Earth]], the [[heaven]]s and the [[sea]], she hid him by dangling him on a [[rope]] from a [[tree]] so he was suspended between earth, sea and sky and thus, invisible to his father.<br /> # He was raised by a [[nymph]] named [[Cynosura]]. In gratitude, Zeus [[Catasterismi|placed her among the stars]].<br /> # He was raised by [[Melissa]], who nursed him with [[goat]]'s-milk and honey.<br /> # He was raised by a shepherd family under the promise that their sheep would be saved from wolves.<br /> <br /> ===Zeus becomes king of the gods===<br /> After reaching manhood, Zeus forced Cronus to disgorge first the stone (which was set down at [[Pytho]] under the glens of [[Parnassus]] to be a sign to mortal men, the [[Omphalos]]) then his siblings in reverse order of swallowing. In some versions, [[Metis (mythology)|Metis]] gave Cronus an [[emetic]] to force him to disgorge the babies, or Zeus cut Cronus' [[stomach]] open. Then Zeus released the brothers of Cronus, the [[Gigantes]], the [[Hecatonchires]] and the [[Cyclopes]], from their dungeon in [[Tartarus]] (The [[Titans]]; he killed their guard, [[Campe]]. As gratitude, the Cyclopes gave him [[thunder]] and the thunderbolt, or [[lightning]], which had previously been hidden by Gaia.) Together, Zeus and his brothers and sisters, along with the Gigantes, Hecatonchires and Cyclopes overthrew Cronus and the other Titans, in the combat called the [[Titanomachy]]. The defeated Titans were then cast into a shadowy underworld region known as Tartarus. Atlas, one of the titans that fought against Zeus, was punished by having to hold up the sky.<br /> <br /> After the battle with the Titans, Zeus shared the world with his elder brothers, [[Poseidon]] and [[Hades]], by drawing lots: Zeus got the sky and air, Poseidon the waters, and Hades the world of the dead (the underworld). The ancient Earth, [[Gaia (mythology)|Gaia]], could not be claimed; she was left to all three, each according to their capabilities, which explains why Poseidon was the &quot;earth-shaker&quot; (the god of earthquakes) and Hades claimed the humans that died. (See also: [[Penthus]])<br /> <br /> Gaia resented the way Zeus had treated the Titans, because they were her children. Soon after taking the throne as king of the gods, Zeus had to fight some of Gaia's other children, the [[monster]]s [[Typhon]] and [[Echidna (mythology)|Echidna]]. He vanquished Typhon and trapped him under a mountain, but left Echidna and her children alive.<br /> <br /> ===Zeus and Hera===<br /> {{Main|Hera}}<br /> Zeus was brother and consort of [[Hera]]. By Hera, Zeus sired [[Ares]], [[Hebe (mythology)|Hebe]] and [[Hephaestus]], though some accounts say that Hera produced these offspring alone. Some also include [[Ilithyia|Eileithyia]] and [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]] as their daughters. The conquests of Zeus among [[nymph]]s and the mythic mortal progenitors of [[Greeks|Hellenic]] dynasties are famous. Olympian mythography even credits him with unions with [[Leto]], [[Demeter]], [[Dione (mythology)|Dione]] and [[Maia (mythology)|Maia]]. <br /> <br /> Among the mortals: [[Semele]], [[Io (mythology)|Io]], [[Europa (mythology)|Europa]] and [[Leda (mythology)|Leda]]. (For more details, see below).<br /> <br /> Many myths renders Hera as jealous of his amorous conquests and a consistent enemy of Zeus' mistresses and their children by him. For a time, a [[nymph]] named [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] had the job of distracting Hera from his affairs by incessantly talking: when Hera discovered the deception, she cursed Echo to repeat the words of others.<br /> <br /> ===Consorts and children===<br /> {{MultiCol}}<br /> ====By divine mothers====<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; width:25%; height:200px&quot;<br /> |- bgcolor=&quot;#CCCCCC&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> | &lt;center&gt;'''Mother''' || &lt;center&gt;'''Children'''<br /> |- style=&quot;height:60px&quot; <br /> | [[Ananke (mythology)|Ananke]]&lt;nowiki&gt;*&lt;/nowiki&gt;<br /> |<br /> # [[Moirae]] ([[Fates]])&lt;nowiki&gt;*&lt;/nowiki&gt;<br /> ## [[Atropos]]<br /> ## [[Clotho]]<br /> ## [[Lachesis]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Demeter]]<br /> |<br /> # [[Persephone]]<br /> # [[Zagreus]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Dione (mythology)|Dione]]<br /> |<br /> #[[Aphrodite]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Thalassa]]<br /> | [[Aphrodite]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Gaia]]†<br /> | [[Orion (mythology)|Orion]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Hera]]<br /> |<br /> # [[Ares]]<br /> # [[Eileithyia]]<br /> # [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]]<br /> # [[Hebe (mythology)|Hebe]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Eos]]<br /> | <br /> #[[Ersa]]<br /> # Carae<br /> |-<br /> | [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]]<br /> | <br /> #[[Limos (mythology)|Limos]] (aka Limus)<br /> |-<br /> |-<br /> | [[Leto]]<br /> |<br /> # [[Apollo]]<br /> # [[Artemis]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Maia (mythology)|Maia]] <br /> | <br /> # [[Hermes]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Metis (mythology)|Metis]]<br /> |<br /> # [[Athena]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Mnemosyne]]<br /> |<br /> # [[Muses]] (Original three)<br /> ## [[Aoide]]<br /> ## [[Melete]]<br /> ## [[Mneme]]<br /> # [[Muses]] (Later nine)<br /> ## [[Calliope]]<br /> ## [[Clio]]<br /> ## [[Erato]]<br /> ## [[Euterpe (mythology)|Euterpe]]<br /> ## [[Melpomene]]<br /> ## [[Polyhymnia]]<br /> ## [[Terpsichore]]<br /> ## [[Thalia]]<br /> ## [[Urania]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Persephone]]<br /> |<br /> # [[Zagreus]]<br /> # [[Melinoe]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Selene]]<br /> | <br /> # [[Ersa]]<br /> # [[Nemean Lion]]<br /> # [[Pandia]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Themis]]<br /> |<br /> # [[Astraea (mythology)|Astraea]]<br /> # [[Nemesis (mythology)|Nemesis]]<br /> # [[Horae]]<br /> ## First Generation<br /> ### [[Auxo]]<br /> ### [[Carpo]]<br /> ### [[Thallo]]<br /> ## Second Generation<br /> ### [[Dike (goddess)|Dike]]<br /> ### [[Eirene (Greek goddess)|Eirene]]<br /> ### [[Eunomia (goddess)|Eunomia]]<br /> ## Third generation<br /> ### [[Pherusa]] <br /> ### [[Euporie]] <br /> ### [[Orthosie]]<br /> # [[Moirae]] ([[Fates]])&lt;nowiki&gt;*&lt;/nowiki&gt;<br /> ## [[Atropos]]<br /> ## [[Clotho]]<br /> ## [[Lachesis]]<br /> |}<br /> <br /> {{ColBreak}}<br /> <br /> ====Mortal/nymph/other mother====<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; width:25%; height:200px&quot;<br /> |- bgcolor=&quot;#CCCCCC&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> | &lt;center&gt;'''Mother''' || &lt;center&gt;'''Children'''<br /> |- style=&quot;height:60px&quot; <br /> |-<br /> | [[Aegina (mythology)|Aegina]]<br /> | [[Aeacus]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Alcmene]]<br /> | [[Heracles]] ([[Hercules]])<br /> |-<br /> | [[Antiope (mother of Amphion)|Antiope]]<br /> | <br /> # [[Amphion]]<br /> # [[Zethus]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Callisto the Greek myth|Callisto]]<br /> | [[Arcas]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Carme (mythology)|Carme]]<br /> | [[Britomartis]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Danaë]]<br /> | [[Perseus (mythology)|Perseus]]<br /> |- <br /> | [[Elara (mythology)|Elara]]<br /> |<br /> # [[Tityas]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Electra (Pleiad)|Electra]]<br /> | <br /> # [[Dardanus]]<br /> # [[Iasion]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Europa (mythology)|Europa]]<br /> | <br /> # [[Minos]]<br /> # [[Rhadamanthys]]<br /> # [[Sarpedon]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Eurynome]]<br /> | [[Charites]]([[Graces]])<br /> # [[Aglaea]]<br /> # [[Euphrosyne (mythology)|Euphrosyne]]<br /> # [[Thalia]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Himalia (mythology)|Himalia]]<br /> |<br /> # Kronios<br /> # Spartaios<br /> # Kytos<br /> |-<br /> | [[Iodame]]<br /> | [[Thebe (mythology)|Thebe]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Io (mythology)|Io]]<br /> | [[Epaphus]]<br /> |-<br /> |-<br /> |-<br /> | [[Lamia]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Laodamia]]<br /> | [[Sarpedon]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Leda (mythology)|Leda]]<br /> | <br /> # [[Castor and Polydeuces|Polydeuces]] ([[Pollux (mythology)|Pollux]])<br /> # [[Castor and Polydeuces|Castor]]<br /> # [[Helen]] [[Sparta|of Sparta]] ([[Troy|of Troy]])<br /> |-<br /> | [[Maera]]<br /> | [[Locrus]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Niobe]]<br /> | <br /> # [[Argus]]<br /> # [[Pelasgus]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Olympias]]<br /> | [[Alexander the Great|Alexander III]] [[Macedon|of Macedon]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Plouto]]<br /> | [[Tantalus]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Podarge]]<br /> | <br /> # [[Balius]]<br /> # [[Xanthus]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Pyrrha]]<br /> | [[Hellen]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Semele]]<br /> | [[Dionysus]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Taygete]]<br /> | [[Lacedaemon]]<br /> |-<br /> | [[Thalia]]<br /> | [[Palici]]<br /> |-<br /> | Unknown mother<br /> | [[Litae]]<br /> |-<br /> | Unknown mother<br /> | [[Tyche]]<br /> |-<br /> | Unknown mother <br /> | [[Ate]]<br /> |}<br /> {{EndMultiCol}} <br /> <br /> &lt;nowiki&gt;*&lt;/nowiki&gt;The Greeks variously claimed that the Fates were the daughters of Zeus and the Titaness [[Themis]] or of primordial beings like [[Nyx (mythology)|Nyx]], [[Chaos (mythology)|Chaos]] or [[Ananke (mythology)|Anake]].<br /> <br /> &lt;nowiki&gt;†&lt;/nowiki&gt;[[Hermes]] and [[Poseidon]] also played a part in Orion's conception and are also biological fathers of him. He is described as being &quot;Earth-born&quot; and was gestated buried beneath the ground; this is Gaia's domain, though she had no direct involvement in his birth or development. Other versions of his parentage include a version of the former excluding Poseidon and one with solely Poseidon and [[Euryale]] as his parents.<br /> <br /> ===Zeus miscellany===<br /> &lt;!--this needs to be less jejune and judgmental: *Though Zeus could be petty and malicious, he also had a righteous element, perhaps best exemplified in his aid on behalf of [[Atreus]] and his murder of [[Capaneus]] for unbridled arrogance. He was also the protector of strangers and travelers against those who might seek to victimize them.--&gt;<br /> *Zeus turned [[Pandareus]] to stone for stealing the golden [[dog]] which had guarded him as an infant in the holy Dictaeon Cave of [[Crete]].<br /> *Zeus killed [[Salmoneus]] with a thunderbolt for attempting to impersonate him, riding around in a [[bronze]] [[chariot]] and loudly imitating [[thunder]].<br /> *Zeus turned [[Periphas]] into an [[eagle]] after his [[death]], as a reward for being righteous and just.<br /> *At the marriage of Zeus and Hera, a nymph named [[Chelone (Greek mythology)|Chelone]] refused to attend. Zeus transformed her into a tortoise (chelone in Greek).<br /> *Zeus, with Hera, turned King [[Haemus]] and [[Queen Rhodope]] into [[mountain]]s (the [[Balkan mountains]], or Stara Planina, and [[Rhodope mountains]], respectively) for their vanity.<br /> *Zeus condemned [[Tantalus]] to eternal torture in Tartarus for trying to trick the gods into eating the flesh of his butchered son.<br /> *Zeus condemned [[Ixion]] to be tied to a fiery wheel for eternity as punishment for attempting to violate Hera.<br /> *Zeus sunk the [[Telchines]] beneath the sea for blighting the earth with their fell magics.<br /> *Zeus blinded the seer [[Phineus]] and sent the [[Harpies]] to plague him as punishment for revealing the secrets of the gods.<br /> *Zeus rewarded [[Tiresias]] with a life three times the norm as reward for ruling in his favour when he and Hera contested which of the sexes gained the most pleasure from the act of love.<br /> *Zeus punished [[Hera]] by having her hung upside down from the sky when she attempted to drown Heracles in a storm.<br /> *Of all the children Zeus spawned, [[Heracles]] was often described as his favorite. Indeed, Heracles was often called by various gods and people as &quot;the favorite son of Zeus&quot;, Zeus and Heracles were very close and in one story, where a tribe of earth-born Giants threatened Olympus and the Oracle at Delphi decreed that only the combined efforts of a lone god and mortal could stop the creature, Zeus chose Heracles to fight by his side. They proceeded to defeat the monsters.<br /> *[[Athena]] has at times been called his favorite daughter.<br /> *His sacred bird was the golden eagle, which he kept by his side at all times. Like him, the eagle was a symbol of strength, courage, and justice.<br /> *His favourite tree was the [[oak]], symbol of strength. [[Olive tree]]s were also sacred to him.<br /> *[[Zelus]], [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]], [[Cratos]] and [[Bia (mythology)|Bia]] were Zeus' [[retinue]].<br /> *Zeus condemmed [[Prometheus]] to having his liver eaten by a giant eagle for giving the Flames of Olympus to the mortals.<br /> <br /> == In Philosophy ==<br /> In [[Neoplatonism]], Zeus' relation to the Gods familiar from mythology is taught as the [[Demiurge]] or Divine [[nous|Mind]]. Specifically within [[Plotinus]]' work the [[Enneads]] &lt;ref&gt;<br /> In Fourth Tractate 'Problems of the Soul' The Demiurge is identified as [[Zeus]].10.&quot;When under the name of Zeus we are considering the Demiurge we must leave out all notions of stage and progress, and recognize one unchanging and timeless life.&quot;&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Other names/epithets ==<br /> *''Ζήνων'', Zenon,<br /> *''Δίας'', Dias<br /> *Zeus Hospites- as a protector of guests<br /> *Zeus Philoxenon- as a protector of foreigners<br /> *Olumpios- the Olympian<br /> *Astrapios- literally, &quot;the lightninger&quot;<br /> *Brontios- the Thunderer<br /> <br /> === Spoken-word myths — audio files ===<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; <br /> |-<br /> ! style=&quot;background:#ffdead;&quot; | Zeus Myths as told by story tellers<br /> |-<br /> |[[Media:Zeus and Tantalus, with Poseidon and Pelops - wiki.ogg|'''1. Zeus and Tantalus,''' (including Pelops and Poseidon episode), read by Timothy Carter]]<br /> |-<br /> |Bibliography of reconstruction: [[Homer]], ''Odyssey,'' 11.567 (7th c. BC); [[Pindar]], ''Olympian Odes,'' 1 (476 BC); [[Euripides]], ''[[Orestes (play)|Orestes]],'' 12–16 (408 BC); [[Apollodorus]], ''Epitomes'' 2: 1–9 (140 BC); [[Ovid]], ''Metamorphoses,'' VI: 213, 458 (AD 8); [[Hyginus]], ''Fables,'' 82: Tantalus; 83: Pelops (1st c. AD); [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece,'' 2.22.3 (AD 160–76)<br /> |-<br /> |[[Media:02-Zeus and Ganymede 2qual.ogg|'''2. Zeus and Ganymede,''' read by Timothy Carter]]<br /> |-<br /> |Bibliography of reconstruction: [[Homer]], ''Iliad'' 5.265ff; 20.215–35 (700 BC); Anonymous, ''Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite'' 202ff. (7th c. BC); [[Sophocles]], ''The Colchian Women'' (after [[Athenaeus]], 602) (b. 495 – d. 406 BC); [[Euripides]], ''Iphigenia in Aulis'' (410 BC); [[Apollodorus]], ''Library and Epitome'' iii.12.2 (140 BC); [[Diodorus Siculus]], ''Histories'' 4.75.3 (1st c. BC); [[Virgil]], ''Aeneid'' 5. 252–60 (19 BC); [[Ovid]], ''Metamorphoses'' 10.155ff. (AD 1–8); [[Hyginus]], ''Poetica Astronomica''<br /> |}<br /> <br /> ==See also==<br /> * [[Achaean Federation]]<br /> * [[Deception of Zeus]]<br /> * [[USS Zeus (ARB-4)|USS ''Zeus'' (ARB-4)]]<br /> * [[Jupiter (mythology)]]<br /> * [[Zeus (Planetarion)]]<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> {{Refbegin}}<br /> *Burkert, Walter, (1977) 1985. ''Greek Religion'', especially section III.ii.1 (Harvard University Press)<br /> *[[Arthur Bernard Cook|Cook, Arthur Bernard]], ''Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion'', (3 volume set), (1914-1925). New York, Bibilo &amp; Tannen: 1964.<br /> **Volume 1: ''Zeus, God of the Bright Sky'', Biblo-Moser, June 1, 1964, ISBN 0-8196-0148-9 (reprint)<br /> **Volume 2: ''Zeus, God of the Dark Sky (Thunder and Lightning)'', Biblo-Moser, June 1, 1964, ISBN 0-8196-0156-X<br /> **Volume 3: ''Zeus, God of the Dark Sky (earthquakes, clouds, wind, dew, rain, meteorites)''<br /> * [[Maurice Druon|Druon, Maurice]], ''The Memoirs of Zeus'', 1964, Charles Scribner's and Sons. (tr. Humphrey Hare)<br /> * Farnell, Lewis Richard, ''Cults of the Greek States'' 5 vols. Oxford; Clarendon 1896-1909. Still the standard reference.<br /> * Farnell, Lewis Richard, ''Greek Hero Cults and Ideas of Immortality, 1921.<br /> * [[Robert Graves|Graves, Robert]]; ''[[The Greek Myths]]'', Penguin Books Ltd. (1960 edition)<br /> * [[William Mitford|Mitford,William]], ''The History of Greece'', 1784. Cf. v.1, Chapter II, ''Religion of the Early Greeks''<br /> * Moore, Clifford H., ''The Religious Thought of the Greeks, 1916.<br /> * [http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/gpr/ Nilsson, Martin P., ''Greek Popular Religion'', 1940.] <br /> * Nilsson, Martin P., ''History of Greek Religion'', 1949.<br /> * [[Erwin Rohde|Rohde, Erwin]], ''Psyche: The Cult of Souls and Belief in Immortality among the Greeks'', 1925.<br /> * [[William Smith (lexicographer)|Smith, William]], ''[[Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology]]'', 1870, [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/], William Smith, ''Dictionary'': &quot;Zeus&quot; [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/3655.html]<br /> {{Refend}}<br /> ;Footnotes<br /> {{Reflist}}<br /> <br /> ==External links==<br /> {{commons|Zeus}}<br /> *[http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Zeus.html Greek Mythology Link, Zeus] stories of Zeus in myth<br /> *[http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Zeus.html Theoi Project, Zeus] summary, stories, classical art<br /> *[http://www.theoi.com/Cult/ZeusCult.html Theoi Project, Cult Of Zeus] cult and statues<br /> *[http://www.everythingimportant.org/altarOfZeus Pictures of the Altar of Zeus and its meaning in Scripture] <br /> *[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070122-pagans-athens.html Photo: Pagans Honor Zeus at Ancient Athens Temple] from National Geographic<br /> <br /> {{Greek myth (Olympian)2}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:Zeus| ]]<br /> [[Category:Deities in the Iliad]]<br /> [[Category:Greek gods]]<br /> [[Category:Greek mythology]]<br /> [[Category:Twelve Olympians]]<br /> [[Category:Mythological kings]]<br /> [[Category:Pederastic heroes and deities]]<br /> [[Category:Savior gods]]<br /> [[Category:Sky and weather gods]]<br /> [[Category:Thunder gods]]<br /> [[Category:Oracular gods]]<br /> <br /> [[als:Zeus]]<br /> [[ar:زيوس]]<br /> [[ast:Zeus]]<br /> [[az:Zevs]]<br /> [[bn:জিউস]]<br /> [[be:Зеўс]]<br /> [[bar:Zeus]]<br /> [[bs:Zeus]]<br /> [[br:Zeus]]<br /> [[bg:Зевс]]<br /> [[ca:Zeus]]<br /> [[cs:Zeus]]<br /> [[cy:Iau (duw)]]<br /> [[da:Zeus]]<br /> [[de:Zeus]]<br /> [[et:Zeus]]<br /> [[el:Δίας (μυθολογία)]]<br /> [[es:Zeus]]<br /> [[eo:Zeŭso]]<br /> [[eu:Zeus]]<br /> [[fa:زئوس]]<br /> [[fr:Zeus]]<br /> [[gl:Zeus]]<br /> [[ko:제우스]]<br /> [[hi:ज़्यूस]]<br /> [[hr:Zeus]]<br /> [[id:Zeus]]<br /> [[ia:Zeus]]<br /> [[is:Seifur]]<br /> [[it:Zeus]]<br /> [[he:זאוס]]<br /> [[ka:ზევსი]]<br /> [[la:Zeus]]<br /> [[lv:Zevs]]<br /> [[lb:Zeus]]<br /> [[lt:Dzeusas]]<br /> [[hu:Zeusz]]<br /> [[mk:Зевс]]<br /> [[mt:Żews]]<br /> [[mr:झ्यूस]]<br /> [[nl:Zeus]]<br /> [[ja:ゼウス]]<br /> [[no:Zevs]]<br /> [[nn:Zevs]]<br /> [[oc:Zeus]]<br /> [[nds:Zeus]]<br /> [[pl:Zeus]]<br /> [[pt:Zeus]]<br /> [[ro:Zeus]]<br /> [[ru:Зевс]]<br /> [[simple:Zeus]]<br /> [[sk:Zeus]]<br /> [[sl:Zevs]]<br /> [[sr:Зевс]]<br /> [[sh:Zeus]]<br /> [[fi:Zeus]]<br /> [[sv:Zeus]]<br /> [[tl:Zeus]]<br /> [[ta:சூசு]]<br /> [[th:ซุส]]<br /> [[vi:Zeus]]<br /> [[tg:Зевс]]<br /> [[tr:Zeus]]<br /> [[uk:Зевс]]<br /> [[yi:זעאוס]]<br /> [[zh:宙斯]]</div> Mksmothers http://www.wikichristian.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Church&diff=645842 Church 2008-09-21T05:04:02Z <p>Mksmothers: </p> <hr /> <div>{{refimprove|date=August 2007}}<br /> {{redirect|Lupanar|the Pompeii brothel|Lupanar (Pompeii)}}<br /> :''For the 2008 film of this name, see ''[[Brothel (film)|The Brothel]]''. For the television series of this name, see ''[[Cathouse: The Series]]''.<br /> <br /> A '''brothel''', also known as a '''bordello''' or '''whorehouse''', is an establishment specifically dedicated to [[prostitution]], providing the prostitutes a place to meet and to have sex with the clients. In some places, brothels are legal, and in many countries, places such as [[massage parlor]] are allowed to function as brothels, with varying degrees of regulation and repression. Depending on [[zoning]], brothels may be confined to special [[red-light district]]s or 'tolerance zones'.<br /> <br /> [[Image:Sally Salisbury stabbing a client in a brothel.JPG|thumb|250px|18th century illustration of [[Sally Salisbury]] stabbing a client in a brothel.]]<br /> <br /> ==History==<br /> <br /> Brothels have been known for most of recorded history. Early incidences include [[temple prostitution]] in many [[Mediterranean]] and [[Middle East]]ern countries. <br /> <br /> By the time of the ancient [[Ancient Greece|Grecian]] and [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] civilizations, brothels were established and sometimes licensed institutions, with the latter first being recorded in [[Athens]] in 594 BC. Public sources of the time applauded the installation of said brothel by [[Solon]], as this was deemed to reduce the disruptions caused by sexually unfulfilled [[transient]]s (sailors, workers), as well as bringing money into the public purse. This first official brothel was soon followed by many others, and also influenced the creation of special schools in which various classes of prostitutes (from [[slave]]girls to future [[courtesan]]s) were trained for their profession.&lt;ref&gt;''[http://www.helleniccomserve.com/salpedof.html Salamis, Tarts, Paedophilia and Pornikotelos]'' - ''[[Hellenic Star]]'', Thursday 7 September 2000&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Business models==<br /> <br /> Brothels use a variety of business models:<br /> <br /> *In some, prostitutes are held in [[involuntary servitude]] without the option to leave,&lt;ref&gt;''[http://www.newint.org/columns/makingwaves/2006/06/02/rescue-foundation/ Liberating sex slaves in India]'' - ''[[New Internationalist]]'', Issue 390, June 2006&lt;/ref&gt; receiving only a small portion (or none) of the money paid by the patron. This is typical where [[human trafficking]] procures a large percentage of prostitutes, and is common in (though not limited to) countries where prostitution is forbidden or repressed. In some cases, prostitutes are bought and sold by their keepers, reducing them to a state of [[chattel slavery]]. All of these are illegal in most jurisdictions.<br /> *In others the prostitutes are employees, receiving a small fixed salary and a portion of the money spent by the customer. (''Maison close'' French for &quot;closed house&quot;)<br /> *In still others, the prostitutes pay a fee for use of the facilities, with the brothel owner not being involved in the financial transaction between prostitute and client. (''Maison de passe'', French for &quot;trick house&quot;)<br /> *In the regulated brothels in [[Nevada]] the prostitutes are contract workers who split their earnings with the house, and are often expected to &quot;tip&quot; support staff (cleaners, limo drivers, etc.); they receive no benefits, such as health insurance, and no withholding for [[Social Security]] taxes.<br /> <br /> In those countries which restrict or forbid prostitution, the latter provides some level of [[plausible denial]] to the facility owner, who often (thinly) disguises the brothel as a [[massage parlor]], [[bar (establishment)|bar]] or similar facility. Allowing such brothels may also be a form of face-saving by politicians who are unwilling or unable to fully enforce laws against prostitution.<br /> <br /> ==Military brothels==<br /> {{see|Comfort women|Bordels Mobiles de Campagne|Forced prostitution in German armed forces}}<br /> Until recently, in several armies around the world, a mobile brothel service was attached to the army as an auxiliary unit, especially attached to combat units on long-term deployments abroad. For example, during French and Japanese colonial campaigns of the 20th century, such employees were mainly recruited among the local populace of Southeast Asia and Africa; often, some of the women were [[underage]]. Because it is a touchy subject, military brothels were often designated with creative [[euphemism]]s. Notable examples of such jargon are ''la boîte à bonbons'' ([[French language|French]] for &quot;the candy box&quot;), replacing the term &quot;[[Bordel militaire de campagne]]&quot;. Women forced into prostitution by the Japanese occupation armies throughout East Asia were known as &quot;Comfort battalions&quot;. The prostitutes were individually referred to as &quot;[[Military comfort women]]&quot; or ''jūgun-ianfu''.<br /> <br /> ==Nevada brothels==<br /> In the United States, the only state where brothels are legal is Nevada (see [[List of brothels in Nevada]] and [[Prostitution in Nevada]]). Brothels are allowed in counties with populations of less than 400,000 inhabitants, and not all qualifying counties have allowed them. County governments license and regulate brothels within their boundaries. The brothels and their employees have to register with the county sheriff and receive regular medical checkups. Brothels have existed in Nevada since the old mining days of the 1800s and were first licensed in 1971. As of 2007, thirty brothels existed in Nevada. The legendary [[Mustang Ranch]] operated from 1971 through 1999, when it was forfeited to the federal government following a series of convictions for [[tax fraud]], [[racketeering]], and other crimes.<br /> <br /> Due to the county population rule, all forms of prostitution are illegal in [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]] and [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]], and prostitution not occurring in a licensed brothel is illegal anywhere in Nevada.<br /> <br /> ==Regulation==<br /> <br /> Various countries have fully legalized prostitution (as opposed to only tolerating it) in the last decades, including countries such as the [[Prostitution in the Netherlands|Netherlands]], [[Prostitution in Germany|Germany]] and [[Prostitution in New Zealand|New Zealand]] among others. Most of these countries seem to favor brothels, at least in theory, as they are considered to be less problematic than [[street prostitution]]. Laws regarding prostitution often include strict regulations for brothels, for example specifying that they may not be situated in certain zones (such as in residential areas or near schools) and usually prescribing various forms of health inspections. Actual regulations vary widely.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/hearings/20040119/femm/document1_en.pdf A summary of the prostitution regulations in the EU member states] (from the website of the [[European Parliament]])&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==In popular culture==<br /> <br /> Movies and television shows depicting brothels include:<br /> *''[[Born into Brothels]]''<br /> *''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]''<br /> *[[CBS]]'s ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'': [[Ending Happy]].<br /> *[[HBO]]'s ''[[Cathouse: The Series]]''<br /> *''[[Hope In Heaven]]''<br /> *''[[Risky Business]]''<br /> *''[[Satisfaction (TV series)]]''<br /> *[[HBO]]'s ''[[Deadwood (TV series)|Deadwood]]''<br /> <br /> ==See also==<br /> <br /> *[[Bordels Mobiles de Campagne]]<br /> *[[Prostitution]]<br /> *[[Sex industry]]<br /> *[[Soapland]] <br /> *[[Spintria]]<br /> *[[Sex workers]]<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Bibliography==<br /> *''The House of Dolls'', Karol Cetinsky<br /> *''101 Brothels i Have Loved'', DJ Tramp Steamer<br /> *''The Bishops Brothels'', E.J. Burford<br /> <br /> ==External links==<br /> {{Commons|Category:Brothels|Brothel}}<br /> {{wikiquote}}<br /> *[http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s1675865.htm ''Inside a brothel''] - interview by [[Richard Fidler]] with three brothel owners, June 2006 on [[ABC Local Radio]] (audio download available)<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> {{reflist}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:Brothels| ]]<br /> [[Category:Sex industry]]<br /> <br /> [[bar:Puff]]<br /> [[cs:Nevěstinec]]<br /> [[da:Bordel]]<br /> [[de:Bordell]]<br /> [[et:Lõbumaja]]<br /> [[el:Οίκος ανοχής]]<br /> [[es:Burdel]]<br /> [[eo:Bordelo]]<br /> [[fr:Lupanar]]<br /> [[id:Bordil]]<br /> [[it:Casa di tolleranza]]<br /> [[he:בית בושת]]<br /> [[jv:Bordhil]]<br /> [[lt:Viešnamis]]<br /> [[nl:Bordeel]]<br /> [[ja:売春宿]]<br /> [[pl:Dom publiczny]]<br /> [[pt:Prostíbulo]]<br /> [[ru:Публичный дом]]<br /> [[simple:Brothel]]<br /> [[fi:Bordelli]]<br /> [[sv:Bordell]]<br /> [[tr:Genelev]]<br /> [[vec:Caxìn]]<br /> [[zh:妓院]]</div> Mksmothers