In 1995, sex toy shop mogul Good Vibrations proclaimed May to be Masturbation Month. In 1999, the annual Masturbate-A-Thon was established by the same company to raise money for charity. As it were, masturbation has been receiving national attention for years, although not always in a positive light. President Clinton’s first Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Jocelyn Elders, was asked to leave when she was quoted in US News and World Report as saying: “masturbation…is something that is a part of human sexuality and a part of something that should perhaps be taught.” It is unfortunate that society balks at the mention of a natural sexual behavior when it provides such positive health benefits, such as stress reduction, potentially decreases the risk of cancer and cannot result in pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease.

What is Autoeroticism?

Just to clarify, it has nothing to do with cars…unless that’s what turns you on.  Autoeroticism is most commonly known as self-masturbation. While masturbation, sexual stimulation of genitals, is possible alone or with a partner, autoeroticism refers specifically to erotic self-stimulation. Whether you prefer the term autoeroticism or self-masturbation, both lead to sexual arousal, pleasure, and often orgasm. One national study found that 95 percent of men and 89 percent of women have masturbated, taking part in a healthy sexual activity that most people first experiment with during early adolescence.

How Can I Accomplish Autoeroticism?

As the majority of people surveyed above can confirm, there are many basic methods of self-masturbation.  While manual stimulation of erogenous zones, such as the penis and the clitoris, are a fairly common way to masturbate on your own, many people also use other parts of their bodies, different objects, toys or tools, or some combination of these to get the job done.

There are some similarities and differences in the ways that men and women choose to self-pleasure. Both sexes enjoy rubbing and pressing their sex organs with their fingers, towels or pillows. Both men and women may find anal stimulation with fingers or other objects to be pleasurable. Vibrators can excite both the penis and the vulva, as well as be used in the anus and vagina. Nipples and other erogenous zones can be stimulated in both sexes by touching, pinching, twisting and rubbing. And to make all of these solo activities smoother, the use of lubrication by both men and woman can increase the pleasure. Visual stimulation is another method that can help with sexual arousal. Many people use movies, magazines and the Internet to add to their excitement.

What Makes Autoeroticism Advantageous?

Autoeroticism is a do-it-yourself activity, and it doesn’t cost anything. Despite the views of different religious groups, autoeroticism is a normal and healthy sexual behavior. Even people with regular sexual partners masturbate. It is an excellent way to get sexual pleasure and avoid pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted diseases. Masturbation is important for maintaining healthy relationships and positive sexual health. Autoeroticism can help with stress and depression. It is also an opportunity for an individual to figure out what is sexually pleasing for them. The bottom line is that it feels good to pleasure yourself.

Why Does Autoeroticism Feel So Good?

The short answer is that the three musketeers of sexual feelings live in your skull.
These repeated feelings of sexual pleasure result from the stimulation of certain areas of the brain, often referred to as the pleasure center. It is activated by stimulating the erogenous zones. The pleasure center of the brain can include three different areas: the nucleus accumbens, the septum pellucidum, and/or the hypothalamus. All of these areas are considered part of the limbic system, which, together with other parts of the brain, generate emotions, feelings, motivations and behaviors related to these sentiments.

There is one nucleus accumbens found on each side of the front section of the brain, somewhat behind the frontal cortex. Since the 1950s, there has been research showing that when electrodes are placed in the nucleus accumbens of a subject’s brain and the subject is given a method to fire up those electrodes, the subjects continue to repeat the methods that result in the stimulation, because it is so pleasurable.

The septum pellucidum can be found in the middle of the front section of the brain above the nucleus accumbens and right below the corpus callosum, which connects the left and right halves of the brain. The septum pellucidum is one area associated with sexual pleasure and orgasm.

The hypothalamus is located just above the brain stem and below the septum pellucidum and nucleus accumbens.  It is an important area for general body function as it makes and distributes hormones.  It also regulates automatic body responses, like feeling hungry, thirsty, angry or tired, the temperature of the body, and other basic body rhythms. The hyporthalamus is part of the pleasure center, because it makes and responds to hormones released during sexual stimulation. All of these brain areas are stimulated by chemicals in the body targeting the various sections of the brain that result in the emotions and behaviors that incorporate sexual arousal.

How is Science Trying to Improve Upon Autoeroticism? 

While one might think that there’s really no way to improve upon self-masturbation, science is finding ways to make the pleasure even easier to access. Scientists have been working to develop an autoerotic implant, or chip that can be placed in your brain to excite the pleasure areas at will. This chip would stimulate the same front section of the brain that houses the three pleasure center areas. There has been one trial of an implant that succeeded in improving sex drive; however, the recipient did not enjoy the sudden change and the wires were removed. Currently, the surgery to implant the wire is more invasive than necessary and with more development the potential is limitless. With more research and advancement in technology, scientists hope to create a chip that allows a person with the implant to turn the pleasure on and off as needed. These implants could potentially help make that elusive orgasm easier to achieve through science.

Another researcher has developed a device that stimulates the spinal cord to help women experience orgasm. This device is appropriately called the Orgasmatron. It involves electrodes implanted at the bottom of the spinal cord, which are also attached to a remote, that send electrical impulses to stimulate the spinal cord and block pain signals. It is currently FDA approved for problems with the bladder and pain. With the Orgasmatron,  nerves are re-stimulated and the result can improve sensitivity, lubrication of the vagina, and may include sexual feelings and even orgasms. However, this device carries a hefty $12,000 price tag that may prevent widespread use at this time.

Are You Now Wondering How to Survive Without these Great Advancements in Science?

First of all, don’t fret! While scientists are designing orgasmic implants and working to make these fancy sex toys affordable to most of us mere mortals, you can still enjoy yourself. Autoeroticism is something you can do alone, without any props, and still experience the same stress reduction and sexual pleasure as people who use toys and devices. Self-masturbation is a pregnancy and disease-free experience that you can enjoy anytime you want! And remember: almost everyone is doing it!