Episode 294: The Science of Self-Pleasure (Essential Listen)

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May 21, 2024

This podcast explores the history and science of self-pleasure, including changing views over time, fantasies during masturbation, effects on testosterone levels and athletic performance, healthier relationships with self-pleasure, and how it can help with falling asleep faster. Guests include experts in urology, sex therapy, and sleep research, offering insights and debunking myths about masturbation and its benefits.

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INSIGHT

Masturbation Is Deeply Human

Masturbation likely dates back to early Homo sapiens and is tied to our capacity for fantasy-driven, goal-directed orgasm.
Human imagination lets us create sexual worlds absent external partners, boosting solo sexual duration and likelihood of orgasm.

INSIGHT

Medical Panic Reframed Masturbation

From the 1700s on, medicalization recast masturbation as harmful, spawning bizarre cures and moral panic.
Doctors and reformers framed ejaculation as loss of vital fluids, linking masturbation to many imagined ailments.

ADVICE

Match Stimuli To Your Arousal

Use either porn or imagination depending on what reliably arouses you; women more often use fantasy, men more often use porn.
Recognize cultural influence on fantasies and pick stimuli that match your preferences for better solo pleasure.

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It’s Masturbation Month, so today’s episode is going to be all about self-pleasure! The origins of Masturbation Month date back to 1995, when US Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders stated that masturbation is a natural part of human sexuality and something that should perhaps be taught in sex ed. Elders’ comments set off a political firestorm that ultimately led to her being fired. To mark her unjust dismissal, May 14 was declared National Masturbation Day, which was later expanded to include the entire month of May.

For this show, we’re revisiting some of my favorite clips on the history and science of self-pleasure. My guests include Dr. Eric Sprankle, Marie Aoyama from TENGA, professor Carole Hooven, urologist Joshua Gonzalez, sleep researcher Michele Lastella, and sex therapist Emily Jamea.

Some of the questions this fascinating group of folks addresses for us include:

How have views on masturbation changed over time?
What do people fantasize about when they masturbate?
Does abstaining from masturbation boost testosterone?
Can avoiding sex and masturbation actually increase athletic performance?
How can we have a healthier relationship with self-pleasure?
Can masturbation help us to fall asleep faster?

Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.

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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.