MASTURBATION

MASTURBATION is one form of sexual outlet and may be defined as self stimulation of the genital organs. Masturbation also occurs in domesticated animals when there is no opportunity for natural sexual outlet. It is universal in both sexes from childhood to old age. According to Dr. Alfred Kinsey, the pioneer researcher in human sexual behavior, 92 per cent of the American population is involved in masturbation. While in a more recent study of male sexuality by the noted author of the Hite Report, Shere Hite, only one per cent of 7239 men who answered her questionnaire did not masturbate. Those who do not masturbate are from the beginning involved in heterosexual intercourse or their sex drive may be so low they do not feel the necessity for a sexual outlet through masturbation. In Europe and America, masturbation is a stepping stone to intercourse with a female. In the East, up to recent times, the joint family system prevailed and marriages took place early, so masturbation was unnecessary. But conditions have changed, the joint family system is disintegrating, the age of marriage in men has gone up, therefore masturbation is more prevalent. Masturbation is more common in boarding schools and college hostels. Where there is opportunity for normal sexual union at puberty, as among the primitive tribes, masturbation is unknown.

AGE OF ONSET: The sex instinct is present from birth in both sexes, and infants derive a lot of pleasurable sensations playing with their genitals. Infantile masturbation is harmless and innocent. Parents should not be anxious about adolescent masturbation. The, sex urge becomes very demanding at puberty and finds an outlet in masturbation. The average age at which boys begin auto manipulation is 13 to 14, though it may be delayed up to 16.

FREQUENCY OF MASTURBATION

In a sample survey at a boarding school, the frequency was once a week among boys aged 14 and three times in two weeks among the older boys of 15 to 18. Besides this, nocturnal emissions were the only source of sexual outlet. Many sexologists suggest that masturbation is harmless. But my point of view frequent masturbation during teenage should be avoided. It may affect hormone production and testes growth. Masturbation will not be harmful after teenage.

Among collegians and young unmarried men the frequency was about twice a week, though there were wide variations. I had three cases who masturbated twice every night, and in addition once or twice in the afternoon on Sundays and holidays. Most young adults gave up masturbation after marriage. There were quite a few, however, who had the best of both worlds normal sex as well as masturbation. 'I love my wife and love myself in solitude,' said a 37 year old advertising executive, Albert. 'The former is emotionally satisfying while the latter is intensely stimulating, physically. I have masturbated all my life since I was 13.' 'Does your wife know about your other love? I asked. 'No, not yet,' replied Albert.

The middle aged and elderly usually practice normal coitus with a female partner in preference to masturbation. But I had the case of a 53 year old person, married for 26 years, who preferred masturbation exclusively to intercourse. Unmarried individuals or spinsters in both groups practiced masturbation as well as heterogeneous sex.

MASTURBATION TECHNIQUE

This varies from individual to individual. The majority of males manipulate the body of the penis by holding it between the fingers and the thumb or the fingers and the palm. The rate of stroking also varies. Some prefer rapid excursions, while others like slow excursions. Some others stimulate the undersurface of the glans. I have known several collegians who held each other's penis and masturbated. A few males take great delight in getting their wives to hold their penises and masturbate them. The time taken to reach an orgasm varies considerably. If the stroke movements are rapid, orgasm is reached within half to one minute: If on the other hand, the stroking movements are slow, the time taken to reach an orgasm may be much longer about 5 to 15 minutes or more. A few individuals though they masturbate do not want to reach an orgasm and ejaculate semen, which they believe is a very vital fluid. Many young men wrongly pre suppose that to maintain sexual vigor, strength and concentration they should retain the vital body fluid. Masturbation for most males is a love session with wide and varied fantasies where they are alone and do not have to worry about a female partner.

FANTASTIC NONSENSE: Never in the history of medicine has so much been written by so many as on masturbation. For centuries the Jewish and Christian churches, educational institutions, and the medical profession have all denounced masturbation as perversion and given innumerable warnings about the dire consequences of indulgence in this evil practice. In no conditions have the so called harmful effects been so exaggerated as in masturbation, and in no condition has education of the educators been so necessary as in their opinions and knowledge of masturbation. In the West from very early times the Christian and Jewish clergy have strongly condemned masturbation as sinful. Here is an extract from a book on the evils of masturbation, Mysteries of Sex by A.L. Saksena: 'A mental conflict or guilt is produced in the boy which results in anxiety symptoms like loss of sleep, palpitation, sweating, and worry about his potency.

'The victim awakens to the fact only when the intellect is weakened and he becomes a physical, mental and moral wreck. If a bright, cheerful, obedient, frank and energetic boy becomes seclusive, sullen, stupid and reticent the evidence is sufficiently strong that he is a victim of the evil practice. Sudden decline in health or senile looks, without any acute illness or apparent cause such as intestinal worms, dyspepsia, loss of sleep, overwork or over study may be traced to this vice. Unnatural languor, lassitude and dullness, especially in the morning, may give rise to suspicion.'

In more recent years the pioneer contributions of Kinsey and Masters and Johnson have helped considerably in demolishing beliefs about the so called harmful effects of masturbation.

The effects of masturbation can be discussed under three heads: (1) Physical; (2) Mental and Emotional; and (3) Socio sexual adjustment.

PHYSICAL EFFECTS: The physical effects of masturbation are not different from those of normal sexual intercourse.

MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL: Masturbation by itself is harmless and produces no emotional ill effects, if the boy is properly educated on sexual matters. It is a sexual safety valve which reduces tension when a female partner is not available. On the other hand, if the boy is told not to masturbate or that masturbation is sinful or that a little self-abuse is good but more is harmful, it may result in emotional instability and impotence in later life.

SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT: Man is primarily meant to have a heterogeneous sexual outlet. It is necessary for him to merge his ego with the ego of his loved one for proper establishment of a 'we relationship'. Because opportunities for sex between unmarried men and women are not readily available in modern civilization, masturbation is invariably practiced. Compulsive masturbation is common in individuals suffering from an inferiority complex, and unable to face real life situations. They seek solace by indulging in fantasies of sexual conquest during masturbation. Masturbation should be regarded as an infantile substitute for heterosexual sex. Where it is practiced in preference to normal sex it indicates a deviation from the normal and the individual should consult his doctor.

Advice on Masturbation The word 'treatment' for masturbation found in many books is purposely avoided here, implying that masturbation is one form of normal, natural sexual outlet, and all that is necessary is to give the proper advice. It would mean educating the parents, educationists, medical profession, clergy, and last but not the least, the individual himself.

We as doctors should never be shocked or horrified by anything a patient says and should always give him a sympathetic hearing and understand his viewpoint. Sex is a subject on which patients have distorted ideas, and the doctor may also have certain pre conceived notions which he must give up to give the correct lead to his patients. Patients are shy to talk about this intimate subject and tremendous confidence in the doctor is therefore absolutely essential. Not only must there be sympathy for the patient but also empathy. Only then will the patient open up and talk about sexual matters. I have frequently had cases of young boys complaining of palpitation, sweating of the hands, loss of sleep, and inability to concentrate. These are all cases of distorted fear of masturbation and great tact and care is needed in handling them. I generally gain their confidence by assuring them that most young men masturbate, and there is nothing to worry about. It is then that they pour out their tales of woe. All they need is reassurance that masturbation has not damaged their delicate sexual organs permanently. In this connection it is interesting to observe that the modern Indian woman is less reticent to talk about sex than her male counterpart.

THE CLERGY: Religious upbringing in infancy and childhood has a lot to do with an individual's behavior in adult life. While Judaism and Christianity in their original form considered sex sacred, they now denounce certain sexual outlets like masturbation as sinful and an individual has to make a 'confession' for them. Such a myopic outlook on sex makes a poor lonely boy who masturbates into a sinner and produces in. him a tremendous guilt feeling. Ashamed and remorseful, he makes war on masturbation. He clenches his teeth, hammers his fist on the table and says to himself, 'I will never masturbate again.' His energies are dissipated in fruitlessly trying to quell the sexual urge. Every New Year he makes a new resolution, which he breaks within hours or days. Every time he breaks his vow he feels more discouraged and remorseful and loses his interest and zest in life. If only this poor boy had been brought up with common sense and told that masturbation is not a sin against any religion, but is only a natural sexual outlet, he would never become an overwrought emotional wreck. In this respect the teaching of Hinduism is commendable. It does not consider masturbation a sin, but some saints preach sexual abstinence as good for the soul and advocate not only abstinence in intercourse but also in masturbation. There is also a belief among many Hindus that semen is a vital body fluid and 40 drops of blood go to prepare one drop of semen and that loss of this vital body fluid causes general debility, and decreases sexual vigor. Therefore every time a boy masturbates he feels he has lowered his vitality and injured himself. Islam has no inhibitions about sexual intercourse or masturbation.

To conclude, religion and modern medicine in the 21st century should go hand in hand for the well being of mankind, Not only the medical profession but also the clergy should give up their outdated ideas on masturbation and accept the modern view that it is a passing phase and a normal sexual outlet for young adolescents before marriage.

THE, INDIVIDUAL: A boy who masturbates does so secretly and is ashamed to admit it to his doctor. He therefore consults his physician for some other complaint like forgetfulness, headache, dizziness, palpitation, sweating or sleeplessness. It is then up to the doctor to tactfully elicit the history of masturbation and assure the poor frightened boy that it is normal for most young men, and does no harm physically or emotionally. It should be explained to him that medical studies have conclusively proven that boys who masturbate have no difficulties in marriage, if they have been properly briefed, and are perfectly normal individuals. On the contrary, boys who have abstained from masturbation out of fear or on the advice of their parents or teachers have been found to be emotionally unstable. Apart from organic diseases, the individual most fears impotence as a result of masturbation. He should be reassured that masturbation does not lead to impotence but that the guilt feelings which accompany it may do so.

FREQUENCY OF MASTURBATION

An individual wants to know how often he can masturbate without harming himself, just as a married man likes to know how often it is 'safe' to have sexual intercourse. A number of authorities have recommended that once a week is normal which implies that if an individual goes beyond it he is likely to harm himself. I have stated earlier that sexual capacity varies considerably from person to person and there is no hard and fast rule governing the frequency of masturbation or intercourse. You can masturbate as often as you like.

SIGNIFICANCE OF MASTURBATION: In the pre adolescent and adolescent years masturbation is a sexual outlet when heterosexual contact is not possible. After marriage, the individual automatically switches over to a normal sexual relationship. For most males, coitus is primary and masturbation secondary.

A large number of young men suffer from an inferiority complex and fear of impotence, and are afraid to risk a sexual situation with a woman. An innate shyness prevents their switching over from masturbation to normal intercourse. They try to escape from reality by fantasies during masturbation of themselves being Casanovas, sleeping with a different woman morning, noon and night. But they are unwilling to have normal intercourse and risk failure. Female partners can with tact and patience help to build confidence in these unfortunate men. Alternatively they should seek the help of a sexologist.

In certain men masturbation is an outward manifestation of deep sexual perversion. These men always practice masturbation in preference to normal intercourse because masturbation lets them enjoy the specific fantasy that turns them on.

A 24 year old male, married for two years, consulted me for impotence. He could only have an erection during masturbation, when he fantasized that he slept with his male roommate in college. With his wife he was impotent. He had been masturbating three or four times a week since the age of 14 and blamed it for his impotence. It was only during the interview that I found out that he had homosexual inclinations which I pointed out to him. In this case, therefore, the homosexuality was the cause of impotence, of which masturbation was merely an outward symptom, like fever being the symptom of many organic diseases.

Similarly, deep religious bias also makes men impotent. They believe that masturbation has caused impotence, but a careful analysis shows that deep at heart they are religious in a very puritanical way and suffer from a guilt complex. They are extremely sensual men with all sorts of fantasies about women which they repress because they think they are immoral, and this culminates in impotence.

To conclude, masturbation is self stimulation of the genital organs. It is a perfectly normal sexual outlet during adolescence before intercourse with a woman is possible and has no physical, mental or emotional ill effects.

Young man, you can masturbate as much as you like. In the Stress Century, no one can deny or dispute your right to masturbate. With women evaluating your sexual performance, it is only when you masturbate in solitude that you are a sexual king.