Masturbation

Jacking off. Jilling off. Whacking off. Flicking the bean. No matter what you call it, masturbation is totally healthy and normal. It’s a great way to learn about your body and find out what feels good for you.

What is masturbation?

• Masturbation is touching your genitals in a way that makes you feel good.
• You can masturbate alone or with someone else.
• Some people use their hand or other objects like pillows, vibrators, sex toys or streams of water to masturbate.
• Some people use their imagination to fantasize or think sexy thoughts while they masturbate.

Who masturbates?

• The majority of people masturbate, including people of all genders, abilities, sexualities, ethnicities, cultures, religions, and ages, and people who are single or in relationships.
• Choosing not to masturbate is okay too.

Why masturbate?

• Masturbation feels good!
• Masturbation is a way to explore your body and find out what feels good for you.
• Masturbation can prepare you for sex with someone else.
• Masturbation can relieve stress and help you relax.
• With masturbation there is no risk of pregnancy or STIs.
• Masturbation can relieve symptoms of PMS.

Can I masturbate with my partner?

• Masturbating with a partner is a great way to express your sexuality without risking sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy.

Can masturbation hurt you?

• In short, no. Masturbating cannot hurt you or physically change your body.
• You cannot get sick, go blind, grow extra hair, or change the size of your genitals from masturbating.
• You cannot lose sexual sensation from too much masturbation.
• Masturbation cannot affect your future ability to get pregnant or get someone else pregnant.

How often is it okay to masturbate?

• There is no magic number for how often it is okay to masturbate in a day or week.
• Some people masturbate several times a day, some a few times a week, and others every once in a while. Everyone is different and it’s important to find out what feels right for you.
• You can masturbate as much as you like as long as you are still enjoying other activities in your life too.

Useful Tip

Talk to your health care provider if you spend so much time masturbating that you avoid hanging out with friends and family, or have trouble at work or school.

If you have questions about this topic, feel free to contact one of our peer educators. [Link]

Last Edited: May 2020