Menstuff® has compiled the following information on Masturbation.
Why Masturbate?
Are there benefits to
masturbation?
Ana Catarian Bezerra, Brazilian Woman,
Legally Entitled To Masturbate At Work
I'd Rather Be Masturbating!
May is Annual National Masturbation Month
Abstinence isn't the only way to stay
STD free
Louis
CK Saddest Handjob in America
Newsbytes
Turn-of-the-century magazines featured advertisements for penile rings which were spiked on the inside so that if the wearer experienced an erection during the course of the night, he'd wake from the pain. Bondage belts, restraints, straitjackets, cauterizing irons and even clitoridectomy (the surgical excision of the clitoris) were all methods used to prevent young women from masturbating. American health reformers of the 19th century preached, as in these words from John Kellogg, that masturbation was "the vilest, the basest and the most degrading act that a human being can commit."
Although most men and women today are aware that masturbation isn't a "degrading act," many are still constrained by the notion that it's a selfish, immature activity or a second-rate substitute for partner sex. We live in a society in which sexual expression has always been legislated and restricted and the pursuit of pure pleasure is frequently condemned as selfish and childish. A lot of people who consider themselves free of sexual hang-ups have simply rewritten the equation "sex is only good if it involves procreation" to "sex is only good if it involves two loving people." The fact that masturbation is a pleasurable end in itself gets short shrift in mainstream sex manuals, which focus on masturbation as a useful tool in the building of a better sex life with one's partner. While it's certainly true that masturbation provides valuable information about your own and your partners' sexual responses, masturbation is much more than a means to the exalted end of better partner sex. Masturbation is our first sexual activity, a natural source of pleasure that's available to us throughout our lives, and a unique form of creative self-expression. Each time you masturbate, you're celebrating your sexuality and your innate capacity for pleasure, so give yourself a hand!
While giving yourself pleasure may seem as natural as taking a breath, masturbation is by no means a widely accepted form of sexual activity. Today, in many parts of the world (including the U.S.) children are punished if they are caught masturbating, which can affect their sexuality for the rest of their lives. Adults in cultures across the globe are presented with heterosexual marriage as the only acceptable form of sexual expression. Masturbation is not honored as an important form of safer sex, much less as a way a person can love herself, learn about himself, or exercise, as one wonderful Chinese euphemism puts it, "self-comfort."
Masturbation can be a radical act, and the culture that suppresses masturbation may suppress many other personal freedoms as well. While celebrating National Masturbation Month and doing your part to bring self love out of the closet, keep in mind that erotic freedom is essential to true well-being, everywhere.
For these and many other reasons we celebrate National
Masturbation Month and affirm the inalienable right to the pursuit of
happiness and sexual pleasure!
Source: www.goodvibes.com/cgi-bin/sgdynamo.exe?CODIV=0102&UID=2003050117340570&HTNAME=about/nmm/selflove.html
Are there benefits to masturbation?
See the Sexual FAQ Pages for more answers about Masturbation
Ana Catarian Bezerra, Brazilian Woman,
Legally Entitled To Masturbate At Work (VIDEO)
Ana Catarian Bezerra successfully argued that she suffers from a chemical imbalance that triggers severe anxiety and hypersexuality, according to a viral news story.
Her work situation began to suffer because the only way she can
relieve her anxiety is by masturbating frequently, according to
Guanabee.com
.
"I got so bad I would to masturbate up to 47 times a day," she said. "That's when I asked for help, I knew it wasn't normal."
After winning a court battle and seeking professional help, Bezerra is legally entitled to combine work with pleasure.
Her doctor has also given her a medical cocktail of tranquilizers that has reduced her need to masturbate to about 18 times a day.
As might be expected, Bezerra's case raises all sorts of eyebrows
(among other things) by various experts such as Dr.
Carol Queen ,
resident sexologist for Good Vibrations, a San Francisco-based sex
toy shop.
"This case is interesting because it shows the difference between Brazilian culture and the U.S.," Queen told AOL Weird News. "It's unlikely a workplace here would allow her the time to do that, even though practically everyone who has masturbated knows that it relieves tension."
Although Queen admitted Bezerra's condition is not common at all, she said she found it interesting that the ruling came in the middle of "National Masturbation Month," an event she helped organize back in 1995 and is now celebrated in pockets all over the world.
"We started it to honor then-surgeon general Dr. Joycelyn Elders, who was forced to resign after she made some sensible comments that perhaps teens should be taught about masturbation in sex ed classes," Queen said.
Nothing like Bezerra's particular case seems to show up in medical textbooks, including her doctor's diagnosis of "hypersexuality," according to psychotherapist Dr. Julie Elledge.
"Hypersexuality is not listed as an accepted diagnosis in the Diagnostic Statistical Menu," she said. "It's possible there could be a co-diagnosis of bipolar disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder as well. When sex addiction is the diagnosis, it's usually not because of the sex, but the behaviors surrounding it."
Elledge said she'd need to have more information about Bezzera's case to be able to make a diagnosis, but she does concede the case -- and Bezerra's doctor's recommendation -- both seem extreme.
"This is definitely an unusual way to address her issues," she said.
Bezzera's case may set a precedent in the Brazilian court, but legal experts who deal in workplace issues are skeptical it could pass the test stateside.
Lawyer Virginia Keeney said that while workplace laws are meant to protect people with disabilities and provide them with reasonable accommodations, she's never heard of a similar decision in U.S. law.
"There have been cases where employees have been allowed multiple rest periods or bathroom breaks," Keeney said. "In theory, I suppose a case could be made to allow her to go to the bathroom as well without stating exactly why. However, my issue is that her needs could be difficult to accommodate."
Suzy Moore, who also specializes in workplace law, offered a similar argument.
"Really, it's hard to make a case for reasonable accommodation in this example because you'd have to take into account the other employees' privacy rights -- and the risk for sexual harassment," she said.
Etiquette expert Jason Tesauro, author of "The Modern Gentleman," believes good manners are a better solution than legal rulings.
"She can't go ankles up on the desk and, honestly, she shouldn't dress provocatively in fishnets or show off her décolletage," Tesauro said.
Of course, Bezerra's coworkers have a duty to keep everything aboveboard as well.
"Anytime you have a coworker, friend or family member with a medical anomaly, the proper response is to avert attention, and don't call attention to it," Tesauro said. "This is no excuse for Bezzera's coworkers to presume intimacy with her. The social boundaries haven't moved for them, just her."
WATCH: 1:34 Masturbation and Negative Side Effects, Sallie Foley, University of Michigan Health System
Abstinence isn't the only way to stay
STD free
I'd Rather Be Masturbating! May is
the Seventh Annual National Masturbation Month
Join Good Vibrations, the legendary San Francisco-based, women-owned and -run sex toy, book and video store, in celebrating the seventh annual National Masturbation Month this May. Feel the love -- your own, that is -- and don't miss the nationwide festivities honoring the gratifying yet under-appreciated activity of solo pleasure.
"Masturbation is an elemental component of healthy, happy sexuality for so many people," says author and sex educator Dr. Carol Queen. "The popularity of National Masturbation Month reflects the Good Vibrations motto: If you want something done right, do it yourself! Our overwhelming customer response only reinforces the fact that everyone's doing it -- we're just the only ones talking about it."
Since the first Good Vibrations Masturbate-A-Thon, approximately 1200 people have participated. The largest amount of money raised by a single participant was $500. However, over the years, many small groups have gathered, including the Center for Sex and Culture, in the name of the Masturbate-A-Thon and collectively raised thousands of dollars. Participants from across the globe have also taken part in the Masturbate-A-Thon. In fact, Good Vibrations has received donations and sponsorship sheets from as far as Great Britain.
For the very first time in Masturbation Month history, Good Vibrations will partner with a sperm bank to raise awareness about the bank's services and recruit donors. The Sperm Bank of California is a 20-year-old Berkeley-based non-profit specifically aimed towards lesbians and women who have historically faced discrimination in the sperm banking industry.
"The Sperm Bank of California is excited about participating in Good Vibrations' Masturbation Month," enthuses Sperm Bank of California Executive Director Alice Ruby. "We hope this event will encourage men between the ages of 18 and 40 to masturbate for another excellent cause -- helping women's dreams of building a family become a reality, by becoming donors."
Good Vibes will include Sperm Bank information on all Masturbation Month marketing materials and Masturbate-A-Thon sponsor sign-up sheets to help boost donations and publicize the sperm bank to male customers. The bank will in turn promote Good Vibrations throughout the month of May by helping Good Vibes raise money for The AIDS Health Project of San Francisco.
National Masturbation Month kicks off the festivities on Thursday, May 1 with special discounts offered on a huge selection of products. Throughout the month, Good Vibrations will feature a diverse line-up of activities to educate and excite people about the healthy practice of self-gratification.
National Masturbation Month Highlights
"Come For A Cause" Masturbate-A-Thon
Masturbation Month also means the launch of the internationally loved and renowned "Come for a Cause" Masturbate-A-Thon. This is Good Vibrations fifth annual marathon of self-lovin'. Participants are encouraged to recruit their friends and co-workers to sponsor them for every minute they spend masturbating during National Masturbation Weekend, Friday, May 16 through Sunday, May 18. Co-sponsored by Toys in Babeland (New York and Seattle), Grand Opening! (Boston) and Come As You Are (Toronto). All proceeds raised will go towards the fight against HIV/AIDS (masturbation is the one foolproof safe sex method!). Pledge sheets will be available in late April on the Good Vibes web site, www.goodvibes.com, and at all three Good Vibrations retail locations (Berkeley and San Francisco).
In-store appearances by masturbation author and experts: Exclusive book signing and lecture at the Good Vibrations Polk Street store (San Francisco) by Thomas Laqueur, author of Solitary Sex: A Cultural History of Masturbation. Date and time to be announced.
Online Masturbation Round Table on Salon.com Sex toy pioneers Good Vibrations, Toys in Babeland, Grand Opening! and Come As You Are, all leaders in the sexual health community, discuss their experiences and collective 45 years of supporting masturbation all over the world in an online discussion on Salon.com. Date and time to be announced.
Party at Red Devil Lounge,1695 Polk Street at Clay, San Francisco, Thursday, May 15, 2003 from 8 pm-10 pm. Mingle with other self-loving folk at one of San Francisco's premiere nightclubs, the Red Devil Lounge. Good Vibrations shoppers will receive free entry to the club until 10:00 pm and will be eligible to win dozens of prizes from Good Vibes. $2 "Come Shots" (Good Vibrations' signature drink: vodka, triple sec and grenadine) served all night. $1 off all other sex(y) drinks including "Screaming Orgasms," "Blowjobs," "Buttery Nipples,"" Sex on the Beach," "Purple Hooters" and more!
About Good Vibrations
Established in 1977, Good Vibrations is a worker-owned and
operated cooperative comprised mostly of women, who strive to help
women and men realize and celebrate their sexual health and
potential. They're a group of individuals committed to making the
world a place where sex and pleasure are recognized as a birthright.
Good Vibrations' branches include retail stores in San Francisco and
Berkeley, California; a mail order catalog; web site,
www.goodvibes.com; publishing company Down There Press; audio
division Passion Press; Sexpositive Productions, the GV Video
Production Team; and an Education/Outreach department that presents
educational workshops nationwide.
Source: www.goodvibes.com/cgi-bin/sgdynamo.exe?CODIV=0102&UID=2003050117340570&HTNAME=about/pr/20030412-nmm.html
For more information about Good Vibrations online, contact Andrea
Burnett, 415.974.8985 ext 203, or visit www.goodvibes.com
Note to editors: Photos and logos for Masturbation Month available in
300 dpi or jpeg formats.
Masturbation Month Fast Facts
Good Vibrations began celebrating National Masturbation Month in
1995 because we wanted to highlight the importance of masturbation
for nearly everyone: it's safe, it's healthy, it's free, it's
pleasurable and it helps people get to know their bodies and their
sexual responses. Of all the kinds of sex people can have,
masturbation is the most universal and important, yet few people talk
about it freely -- worse, many people still feel it is "second best"
or problematic in some way. National Masturbation Month lets us
emphasize how great it is: it's natural, common and fun! This year's
theme is "I'd rather be masturbating."
Press contact: John Bouvier, 415.974.8985 ext. 264 or
E-Mail
Why May?
Because "the merry, merry month of May" has long been seen as
symbolizing sexual awakening. Also, because "May" and "masturbation"
both start with "M" -- it's nice and alliterative.
Why talk about masturbation?
Because many people still feel guilty about it, or feel they do
it too much, or feel it's a second-best substitute for "real" sex. We
think it's important to bring it out into the open and let people
feel better about what they're doing -- and, for those who may not be
doing it, we want to encourage it! Masturbation is, for many, the
cornerstone to a healthy and good sex life. It isn't second-best --
it can give you the information and awareness you need to enjoy the
rest of your sex life. Self love rules!
How does someone make it into the Masturbation Hall of
Fame?
The Masturbation Hall of Fame features people who have
contributed to the cause through advocacy, teaching or their public
position (like Betty Dodson and Dr. Joycelyn Elders) or celebrities
who have helped the cause of masturbation awareness with their high
profiles -- most of these have mentioned self love positively in an
interview (like Roseanne, Howard Stern and Jamie Lee Curtis), others
are artists who have used masturbation as a theme (Prince, Madonna
and the cast of "Seinfeld").
What about that Masturbate-A-Thon?
This is our fifth year of celebrating with a pledge drive -- it's
like a Walk-A-Thon, only different. Participants ask friends and
loved ones to sponsor them for a certain amount of money for every
minute they masturbate during the Masturbate-A-Thon Weekend, May
16-18. They send their pledges to Good Vibrations and we distribute
every cent of it to AIDS research. The first Masturbate-A-Thon raised
$8500!
Over the past five years participants from Nunavut to Key West and from Baja to St. John's have raised over $25,000 for an important group of women's health initiatives. Here's a collection of sultry and sundry statistics from the history of the Masturbate-A-Thon:
How is the Masturbate-A-Thon judged? Where does it take
place?
There are no judges -- it is strictly on the honor system. People
will mostly do it in privacy, although we encourage couples to do the
Masturbate-A-Thon together. It can be enlightening as well as
arousing!
How else can I celebrate National Masturbation Month?
Why not become a sperm donor? Get paid (up to $500) for something
you're already doing and help create families! The Sperm Bank of
California, a friendly, progressive, non-profit (the only non-profit
sperm bank in the U.S.), is seeking healthy men of all ethnicity's to
become paid sperm donors. Visit The Sperm Bank of California or call
510.841.1858 for more information.
Are you planning anything else to celebrate National Masturbation Month?
Yes! We have planned several events in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Good Vibes Magazine will feature a variety of "one-handed reading."
Resource: Andrea
Burnett, Good Vibrations Public Relations, 415.974.8985 ext 203 or
andreab@goodvibes.com
Newsbytes
Frequent Ejaculation Won't Prevent
Prostate Enlargement
Researchers say there's a common myth that "exercising" the prostate might somehow prevent prostate problems. But their study shows no evidence that frequent sexual activity prevents prostate enlargement.
Non-cancerous prostate enlargement, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a common problem among older men and can cause symptoms such as difficulty urinating, frequent urination, and weak urine stream. Although this condition is not usually dangerous, if severe and untreated it can lead to kidney problems.
The study, published in the current issue of Urology, followed a group of about 2,000 men between the ages of 40 and 79 and compared their frequency of ejaculation with the prevalence of urinary symptoms reported.
Although men who reported ejaculating at least once a week were less likely to have moderate to severe urinary symptoms, once researchers took the men's age into account, this association was no longer significant. In other words, age was a more significant factor affecting the risk of prostate enlargement than ejaculation frequency.
For example, 33% of men in their 40s who ejaculated less than once a week reported symptoms compared with 31% of men the same age who ejaculated more frequently.
Although this myth has persisted for years, researcher Steven J. Jacobsen of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and colleagues say this is one of the first times it has ever been scientifically evaluated.
"These results should help to debunk the myth that increased
sexual activity prevents the exacerbation of symptoms of BPH," they
write. "Moreover, no evidence was found that men with BPH are less
likely to engage in sexual activity, once ages differences were taken
into account."
Source: Jennifer Warner, Urology, Vol. 62, no.
2, 2003. my.webmd.com/content/Article/62/71595.htm?printing=true
Editor's comment: I
have never heard that once a week is the benchmark. It has always
been "at least 3 times a week." And, until I see valid research on
that one, I'm going to continue to get my 3 ejaculations in per week.
Besides, I don't have anything to loose, even if they come up with
research that says that doesn't help either.
We wrote the Mayo Clinic through their web site at mayoclinic.com/health/contact-us/contactus
.
Here's what we said. "Researcher Steven J. Jacobsen of the Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, Minn.,claimed that masturbating at least once a
week didn't help the prostate stay healthy, especially for BPH. (Vol.
62, no. 2, 2003 issue of Urology). I never heard the "once-a-week"
myth. I have only heard of "at least 3 times a week" and it doesn't
appear that that myth was tested. Until it is researched, we will
continue to recommend it with the caveat - what do we have to loose?
If you do have other research that speaks to this topic, we are most
interested in knowing about it. Thank-you." We haven't heard
back from them yet, except for the automatic "Thank you for your
email - we'll get back to you" email.
(3/15/08)
First off, if you don't live alone, lock the door.
Lie on your side and hold on to your penis with a backhand grip. Roll over farther and brace your hand against the bed, and thrust your penis in and out of your hand.
It's a different feeling to masturbate because your pelvis is moving rather than your hand.
You could add to the feeling by putting your other hand down to feel your scrotum moving back and forth as you pump in and out.
Another hit is the "Rosey Palm." Rub the tip of your penis with
lubrication, your mom's cooking oil oughta do it, against the palm of
your other hand. The orgasm should be pretty good.
Source: www.clickmagazine.net/cm/Articles_Template.asp?Article=618
Fleshlight:
A Man's Masturbation Toy
We saw this awhile back, and we have to say that this is one of the most interesting masturbation toys we've seen yet.
Fleshlight has become one of the best sellers in men's masturbation toys. It has a lifelike sleeve that is housed inside a plastic flashlight casing. You add some lubricant and you're ready to go to town! The vaginal opening makes the experience much more enjoyable. Hey, gotta have that visual!
A radio station in New Orleans put together a care package project for the soldiers in Iraq. They asked their listeners to notify their relatives and friends who are serving over there. One of the items that was requested was a Fleshlight. Who would have ever guessed? We wonder if he got it ok. We just hope he doesn't share it with his buddies in a foxhole!
For the Fleshlight, see: www.mypleasure.com/store/product.asp?cat=Search&dept_id=902&pf_id=0261
Also check out the Sapphire Seductress at www.mypleasure.com/store/product.asp?cat=&dept_id=6000&pf_id=0031
For product reviews on other popular sex toys for men, go to
mypleasure.com
.
They have some of the best-selling sex toys.
Source: www.clickmagazine.net/cm/Articles_Template.asp?Article=817
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