Masturbation Strengthens Sexual Arousal Differently in Men and Women

What is it about?

Masturbation is a common sexual behavior and part of the diversity of human eroticism, and it is currently recognized as a practice that is beneficial to health. Traditionally, scientific research has been limited to studying how frequently people engage in it. However, recent research proposes a broader and more holistic approach, considering other parameters such as attitudes toward this behavior, solitary sexual desire, and the subjective orgasm experience achieved through its practice. Previous studies have linked these parameters to the ease of achieving orgasm and satisfaction with it in the context of sexual relationships. This study aims to delve deeper into this line of research by relating these parameters to sexual arousal experienced in response to visual sexual stimuli, thereby providing evidence of their validity. The study included 80 young adults (40 men and 40 women) with experience in heterosexual relationships and solitary masturbation. While viewing films with explicit sexual content consistent with their sexual orientation, genital responses were recorded (in men, penile diameter measured by plethysmography; in women, vaginal pulse amplitude measured by photoplethysmography). In addition, participants completed a self-report rating of sexual arousal and genital sensations after viewing the films. Masturbation parameters—namely, negative attitudes, solitary sexual desire, frequency of practice, and the intensity of the orgasm experienced through this behavior—were related to different measures of sexual arousal. The results showed differences between men and women in the association between masturbation parameters and sexual arousal. In women, a higher frequency of masturbation was positively related to greater vaginal pulse amplitude and to higher ratings of sexual arousal and genital sensations in response to sexual videos. Moreover, the rewarding effects of orgasm obtained through masturbation (e.g., relaxation or calmness) were also positively associated with ratings of genital sensations. In other words, a higher frequency of masturbation and greater intensity of the orgasmic experience imply greater female sexual arousal. In contrast, in men, solitary sexual desire was positively associated with ratings of genital sensations in response to sexual films, whereas masturbation frequency was negatively associated with these ratings. That is, while greater solitary sexual desire is associated with higher subjective sexual arousal, greater masturbation frequency is associated with lower sexual arousal. It is also worth noting that negative attitudes toward masturbation were not related to sexual arousal in either men or women, probably due to the participants' age, as they were young individuals with positive and open attitudes toward masturbation. These sex differences in the results may be explained by the fact that masturbation in women is associated with greater sexual self-knowledge. In contrast, in men, it may play a compensatory role in response to sexual dissatisfaction.

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Photo by IFONNX Toys on Unsplash

Photo by IFONNX Toys on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Ultimately, this work reinforces the need for an individualized evaluation of masturbation behavior, considering its different parameters. These findings are fundamental not only for sex education but also for clinical practice, as they allow professionals to understand how individual pleasure can be a key tool for enhancing each person's overall sexual health.

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