Is “onanism” so bad? Or...

From the point of view of modern medicine, masturbation is considered to be neither biologically nor socially damaging to the organism of young or old (sexually mature adults). It was found that adolescents' self-esteem did not interfere with sexuality, had no effect on future sexuality, and was not associated with the formation of sexual deviation (parafilia), but the stereotypes of masturbation fantasies appeared in the human mind. can also be influenced by the preference given to the choice of sexual companionship and sexual enjoyment.

The manifestation of masturbation activity is recorded throughout the life of a person from his childhood. The first psychosexual mechanism for baby satisfaction is suckling. Later, with the development of muscular activity and nervous system, the child becomes more satisfied with sexual stimulation, that is, onanism.

Between 7 months and 2 years, cases of masturbation have been reported, usually in the form of rubbing the genitals on different subjects. Masturbation in childhood is a normal stage of sexual socialization from a medical point of view; later on, these memories become conscious and affect the development of sexuality. Excessive masturbation at this stage is usually a sign of a child's lack of physical and emotional contact with loved ones.

Many psychiatrists believe that onanism can relieve depression, stress, and increase self-esteem. Masturbation is a factor in the relationship when there is an imbalance between the sexual needs of couples, which helps to relieve both parties' sexual tension. In addition, masturbation during intercourse allows for a better understanding of the partner's needs, identifying the location of the erogenous zones, and the methods of stimulation.

In 2003, a group of Australian researchers led by Graham Giles concluded that frequent masturbation could prevent men from developing prostate cancer and that it is safer than frequent intercourse with women. Other studies have challenged this conclusion, suggesting that the positive effects may be significantly related to age and the number of masturbations: for example, men aged 20 to 40 are exposed to onset 2-7 times a week. When exposed, the risk of developing prostate cancer was, on the contrary, higher; On the other hand, masturbation once a week has been shown to reduce the risk of developing cancer in men over 50.

There are numerous private assessments of the prevalence of masturbation in different countries and social groups. For example, according to a classic report by the sexologist Alfred Kinsy, 93% of men and 62% of women have masturbated. Other studies show similar rates: 80-90% of young and mature men and 60-70% of women masturbate. For example, a random sample survey in the UK found that 95% of men and 71% of women said that women had masturbated at some point in their lives. A survey of 1,000 British women by the Gossard women's underwear manufacturer in 2008 showed even higher results: 92% of women between the ages of 18 and 30 were masturbated, and two thirds - at least three times a week .