Male Masturbation

Masturbation is one of the great delights of human existence, and relieves sexual tension that naturally builds up over time. Your body produces and accumulates semen, and wants you to ejaculate to make room for more. Sometimes this happens through nocturnal emissions, which are commonly called wet dreams.

More often it occurs through masturbation. Self-love is completely safe; it does not affect the structure or shape of your penis nor your reproductive potential, nor does it stunt your growth or lead to testicular cancer. If the stories people used to believe were true, then there would be an awful lot of blind, insane, hairy-palmed people running around!

Another common misconception is that only lonely and unpopular men and boys masturbate. This is far from the truth; anyone who tells you he doesn't masturbate probably feels guilty about his self-pleasuring and wants you to as well. This vicious cycle propagates the unfounded silence and shame that still surrounds masturbation. The fact is that both married and single people masturbate, and one’s level of masturbation does not necessarily depend on how often one has intercourse. So relax.

Boys usually start masturbating quite early, though most don’t ejaculate until around age 12 to 15. Frequency typically peaks around puberty and continues throughout adulthood, even when other forms of sexual activity are available. Still, most adolescent males are embarrassed about masturbation, and only a small percentage discusses it, even with close male friends. Many are terrified that they will be "caught in the act" by a parent, so they learn to get it over with quickly. Only later in life do they learn that the ability to delay orgasm is very important to maximizing sexual pleasure -- all those "quickie" techniques must be unlearned.

Similarly, some adult men try to hide their masturbation from their partners, believing that it might be viewed as a form of rejection. But men who have progressed past this point with their partners almost invariably report having a very satisfactory sex life.

Techniques:

Men employ a variety of masturbation techniques. The simplest is to wrap your fingers around the shaft of your penis, like holding a baseball bat, and rub it up and down. This provides a lot of contact between your hand and the penis the more contact, the more pleasure. There are innumerable variations on this basic technique; experimentation is key. The backhand grip, for instance, is a little difficult at first, but feels great once mastered.

Speed and pressure are completely dependent on what you like. Concentrating at first on the base of the penis and avoiding the tip helps sustain an erection, and is a basic technique for delaying ejaculation. Though most men begin with penile stimulation, the entire groin area becomes more sensitive to the touch during masturbation. Other parts of the body, such as the nipples, can also make masturbation more intense. Naturally, fantasies also add to the pleasure.

If you're looking to up the ante, you should explore the world of sex toys. One of them is bound to provide the stimulation you're looking for. One of the better toys on the market is the Vibrating Oro Stimulator. Alternatively, if you prefer a different sort of design, there are more realistic styled toys such as Cyber Snatch.

Many men use a lubricant. If you are uncircumcised you may not find much need for it, but it really is a matter of personal choice. If you are circumcised and chose not to use lube, you can grip the penis firmly and move the top layer of skin (most effective if the skin is a bit loose), or you can grip lightly and slide your fingers/hand across the surface of the shaft. Be aware, however, that your penis can become raw and sore. Lubricants will solve this problem and make the sensation more intense.

It is not advisable, however, to use household products like shampoo or soap as lubricants. They often irritate and dry out the skin, they sting if they contact the urethra, and they may be oil based, which is unsafe if intercourse with a condom is to follow. Vaseline is great in theory, but again is oil based and a real pain to clean up. The best lubes are water-based gels such as K-Y or the Wet lube products: they have a perfect consistency, clean up easily and will not destroy condoms, so they are best if you are having intercourse afterwards. The only disadvantage is that they dry out quite quickly, so you may need to reapply. Pre-ejaculate is also an excellent lubricant, although the supply may be somewhat limited.