Ally or Substitute? What Masturbation Reveals About Sexual Arousal During Partnered Sexual Activity

What is it about?

Masturbation is a common practice in many people's sex lives. Although it has been shrouded in myths and taboos for years, science now considers it an important factor in understanding sexual health. However, one question continues to generate interest among both specialists and the general public: does solitary sexual experience influence the sexual response we experience with a partner? To shed light on this issue, this study involved 1,028 heterosexual cisgender men and women and examined different aspects of masturbation, including age of first masturbation experience, attitudes toward the practice, masturbation frequency, solitary sexual desire, and the perceived intensity of orgasms. The aim was to determine how these variables are related to sexual arousal during partnered sexual activity. The authors started from two theoretical explanations. The first, known as the compensatory model, argues that masturbation can function as an alternative when partnered sexual life is not satisfying. The second, the complementary model, proposes that both experiences can coexist and may even enhance one another. The results showed that the relationship between masturbation and sexual arousal is not the same for men and women. Among men, the connection was relatively weak. The only factor associated with greater sexual arousal in partnered sexual activity was the level of sexual desire experienced in solitude. In contrast, aspects such as masturbation frequency and orgasm intensity were not related to erectile response. Women showed a different pattern. Those who reported greater solitary sexual desire also exhibited higher levels of sexual arousal and better vaginal lubrication during partnered sexual activity. In addition, women who described their masturbatory orgasms as more intense from a sensory perspective also tended to report better sexual responsiveness during partnered sexual activity. Conversely, holding negative attitudes toward masturbation was associated with lower levels of vaginal lubrication. These findings suggest that, in women, the way masturbation is experienced and perceived may be more closely related to sexual response during partnered sexual activity. Familiarity with one's own bodily sensations and a positive attitude toward sexuality appear to play a significant role in this process.

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Photo by Ozkan Guner on Unsplash

Photo by Ozkan Guner on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Overall, the study offers a more nuanced view of the relationship between masturbation and sexual functioning. Far from the idea that masturbation replaces partnered sex, or that both experiences are completely independent, the results indicate that this relationship is complex and may manifest differently in men and women. Once again, scientific evidence invites us to set aside myths and understand human sexuality from a broader, evidence-based perspective.

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