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Masturbation is self-stimulating your genitals in a sexual way to the point of reaching an orgasm.
It is a very common behaviour among men and women and is a very normal part of growing up for children of both sexes.
(To know more about male masturbation please see: Male Masturbation: Side Effects, Benefits and Risks )
Most children play with their genitals between the ages of two and six. To a grown-up person, the sight of children fondling their own genitals can feel disturbing because he/she looks at the act through adult filters. However, this act is a very normal part of growing up for every child, as it is a process of self-exploring their own bodies and discovering how each part of their body responds to touch, and how some parts are more pleasurable than others. To a child rubbing his/her genitals simply feels innocently pleasurable and is not “wrong” or “bad”. These “adult filters” are introduced to the children by the adults, and often the child ends up feeling confused and worried.
The adults react to the child in the same way that they saw their own parents or grown-ups around them react, while they were exploring their own bodies as children. Therefore, they continue to carry those feelings of shame and guilt and never got a chance to get comfortable with their own sexuality.
The act in itself is not “good” or “bad”, though in some cases religious beliefs may induce people to label it as “bad”.
The crucial factor in such a scenario would be, how an adult approaches a child and without shaming the child makes the child feel comfortable with his/her own body, and gently explains the propriety side of it, if child indulges in the act in front of people.
Sexual development is a very much an essential part of normal growth and development for a child, just as physical development, emotional development, learning and developing language and communication skills are normal.
Having said that, what also needs to be stated is, even though there is nothing wrong with masturbation, it is also okay not to masturbate. Some people have naturally lower levels of sexual desire or may decide that they want to abstain from masturbation for religious or personal reasons. You can follow whatever option you feel is best for you.
Women in India, culturally, are always expected to either never recognize their inherent sexual longings, or to easily overcome their sexual desire. Here, the feeling of experiencing pleasure for a woman comes with the burden of shame and guilt. Even now it’s easy for a woman who is comfortable with her sexuality to get labeled as a “slut”.
The recent release of the movie "Veere Di Wedding", stirred a hornet's nest of hot debates on how Indian women 'should' and 'should not' display their sexual desire. It brings to the forefront where the Indian mindset stands regarding women and sexuality. And it can be safely concluded, it is still not in a healthy place.
To compound the problem further, even to this day, not many women in this country are comfortable with their sexuality and their bodies. They do not know their own likes and dislikes when it comes to an intimate relationship with their partners.
Many women are not even aware of a particular part of their body, called the clitoris. In fact, the clitoris is also not mentioned in the sex education classes or conversations, as sexual pleasure for women is largely identified only with penetration.
The clitoris is a small, sensitive organ made of erectile tissue in the vulva of the female reproductive system. It contains thousands of nerve endings that make it an extremely sensitive organ. Masturbating stimulates the clitoris and produces sensations of sexual pleasure.
To know more about the clitoris please see: Le clitoris - Animated Documentary on How the Clitoris Provides Pleasure to Women
Masturbation can actually help women to understand their own bodies better, and they can do so without any shame or guilt. In fact, if anything, masturbation can help enhance a woman’s sexual experience with her partner.
The fact is there is enormous potential for healing, fulfillment, and wellbeing through exploring your sexuality as a woman and expressing it and experiencing it with joy.
Sexologists, as well as researchers, are of the opinion that masturbation is a completely normal process for human beings and is a healthy sexual behaviour. It probably has a bad reputation because it is an intensely private sexual behaviour, which no one discusses, even with the closest of friends.
No. From a health science perspective, masturbation is not at all harmful to you. Some people think masturbation is bad for moral reasons, however, that is a personal choice.
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Masturbating daily can be normal for some women, depending on their age and sexual drive, whereas for others it can be excessive. As long masturbating does not affect your overall energy levels, and does not encroach into your daily life and activities you should be fine. A few sex experts though, consider masturbating daily to be excessive. Masturbating daily can lead to weakness, fatigue, early ejaculation and may inhibit sexual activities with your partner.
Excessive masturbation can also inhibit sexual intimacy with your partner.
On the other hand, missing out on regular orgasms during sex with your partner, can increase your stress levels and can add to mental health issues, frustration, and unhappiness in general.
Masturbating aids stress release and helps to stabilize your mood, making you happier and healthier.
For more information how and why satisfaction is achieved by women while masturbating please see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_3OA_VZVkY
The frequency per week can vary from woman to woman, based on her general health conditions. There are women who masturbate two to three times a day, or five times a week, seven times a week, or even not at all. This does not in any way make them more or less sexual.
Sexual drive is natural, however, an excess of anything is harmful. Therefore, rather than increasing the frequency of masturbation you can consider diverting your energy to things such as sports, creative arts or any other hobbies. This ensures that you live a balanced, healthy, and happy life.
Masturbation in itself is a pleasurable activity which stands apart from sex. In fact, masturbation can enhance the experience with a sexual partner, because it helps you understand your own body better as a woman.
However, if you are only masturbating and are ignoring or missing out on physical intimacy with your partner, then it could be a sign of a problem.
There are valid times though when masturbation can replace sex, for example:
Masturbation is generally safe. However, if it is done excessively and aggressively then it can be harmful.
The benefits of masturbation for women are many, it is beneficial in following ways:
Even good things in excessive proportions can be harmful. If you masturbate excessively it can lead to:
You know you’re masturbating excessively when:
Facing any of the above problems? - BOOK APPOINTMENT Now!
If you are or feel you are masturbating excessively and it is hindering your daily life, immediately consult a general doctor - BOOK APPOINTMENT Now!, who may, in turn, refer you to a psychiatrist or a counselor. A psychiatrist or a counselor will help you to regulate and divert your energies in a more productive way and gradually wean you away from aggressive masturbation.
At times, medication may also be suggested depending on your symptoms and general health conditions.
During masturbation the release of natural chemicals such as dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin into the bloodstream occurs which can induce pleasure-enhancing and pain-relieving sensations. Among the list of things this release of chemicals can cure are hiccups, headaches and pre-menstrual cramps in women.
Spring Chenoa Cooper, Associate Professor, City University of New York and Anthony J Santella, Assistant Professor of Health Professions and Public Health, Hofstra University, writes in ‘The Conversation’ (which brings analysis and research from real experts), “For women, masturbation can help prevent cervical infections and urinary tract infections through the process of “tenting,” or the opening of the cervix that occurs as part of the arousal process. Tenting stretches the cervix, and thus the cervical mucous. This enables fluid circulation, allowing cervical fluids full of bacteria to be flushed out.” They further state, “Masturbation can lower risk of type-2 diabetes (though this association may also be explained by greater overall health), reduce insomnia through hormonal and tension release, and increase pelvic floor strength through the contractions that happen during orgasm.”
Spring Chenoa Cooper, Associate Professor, City University of New York and Anthony J Santella, Assistant Professor of Health Professions and Public Health, Hofstra University, writes in ‘The Conversation’ (which brings analysis and research from real experts), “Masturbation also improves immune functioning by increasing cortisol levels, which can regulate immune functioning in small doses. It also reduces depression by increasing the amount of endorphins in the bloodstream.”
Hysterectomy is an invasive surgical procedure, performed on women, to remove the entire uterus (womb), or parts of it.
The cells of the cervix began to develop anomalously, there is a high chance of them transforming into cancerous cells leading to cervical cancer.
Abdominal hysterectomy is an invasive surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed, sometimes with the cervix, ovaries, ligaments and the fallopian tubes through a horizontal incision made in the lower abdomen or the bikini line.
Also , if she doesn't masturbates, does this effects her ovaries health/functions ?