What is masturbation?
How often is it "okay" to masturbate?
Is it okay for women to masturbate? Is it okay for men to masturbate?
If I masturbate too often, will I stop wanting to have sex with another person?
Will I run out of sperm or eggs if I masturbate a lot?
Can masturbating harm me in any way?

Masturbation means touching your own sexual organs for sexual pleasure. Mutual masturbation is when two people stimulate each other's sexual organs, or when partners each stimulate their own sexual organs at the same time. Masturbation is a perfectly normal, healthy part of life. Most men and women masturbate at some time in their lives. It is also perfectly normal not to masturbate.
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| How often is it "okay" to masturbate? |
There is no "correct" answer to this question. Some people may never masturbate and others may masturbate quite often. As long as you are comfortable with what you're doing, it's normal.
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| Is it okay for women to masturbate? Is it okay for men to masturbate? |
Yes. Both women and men masturbate. Masturbation is a safe option for anyone who is having sexual feelings but who does not want to risk pregnancy or infection. It also can help people learn more about their own sexuality and have more fulfilling sexual experiences with their partners.
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| If I masturbate too often, will I stop wanting to have sex with another person? |
No. Masturbating, whether frequent or infrequent, does not usually affect feelings about having sex with another person.
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| Will I run out of sperm or eggs if I masturbate a lot? |
No. Masturbating will not cause you to run out of sperm or eggs. Men constantly produce sperm and will continue to do so over their entire lives. In women, neither masturbation nor orgasm will cause an egg to be released from the ovaries. Eggs can only be released through the production of hormones during women's menstrual cycles.
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| Can masturbating harm me in any way? |
No. Masturbation is harmless to the body, both physically and psychologically. There are many myths about masturbation that are not true; masturbation does not cause blindness, sexual inadequacy, loss of sexual organs, acne or hair growth on the palms or anywhere else.
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