How much is "normal"?

Most females (and males) masturbate. Masturbation is a normal way to enjoy your own body and the way it feels. Masturbation is also a good way to learn about your body and what feels good and what doesn't. It is a normal and healthy way to feel sexually aroused, to get sexual pleasure and to release sexual feelings.

There is no set number of times that girls masturbate. Some girls masturbate several times a day, while others masturbate only once or twice a year.

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Average age to begin

For many young people, masturbation is their first experience of sexual activity. Many girls masturbate at some time during adolescence and it's very common to masturbate frequently due to the hormones in your body. Some only masturbate occasionally, while for others it is a regular activity. An adolescent's sex drive can be very strong. Surveys show that about 60 per cent of females have masturbated by age 18.

Masturbation is one way of gaining sexual pleasure and releasing sexual tension without the risks associated with early sexual intercourse. Masturbation is healthy as long as it happens in private and without feelings of guilt.

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Okay to use different methods?

Some girls enjoy clitoris stimulation only, while for others clitoral and vaginal stimulation is most pleasurable. It takes time to figure out what works for you, and it's okay to experiment with different methods. You might wish to experiment with different ways of rubbing or touching yourself and use other things, such as a vibrator. Many girls also find that water pressure produces good sensations, such as the running water in a bathtub or from a showerhead. The important thing is that you need to be in a safe and private space to masturbate, perhaps in your bedroom, or in the bathroom with the door locked.

It can help to use some kind of lubrication when masturbating for long periods so that your vulva and clitoris don't get sore and rubbed raw. Sexual lubricants, including KY Jelly and Wetstuff, are the best because they're designed for human skin. However, some girls use vegetable oil, Vaseline or spit.

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Is masturbation bad?

Some cultures disapprove of masturbation and some religious beliefs consider it a sin, but masturbation is a perfectly normal sexual activity. As long as you are in a safe and private space, there is no harm in doing it frequently. Masturbating 1, 2 or 10 times a day is healthy, as long as it brings you pleasure and you still continue to behave normally—eat, sleep, go to school, and see friends.

It is also okay not to masturbate if you don't feel comfortable about doing it. In the past there were many myths about masturbation causing all sorts of health problems. The truth is that it is perfectly okay and normal to masturbate as long as you are not doing it to shock or offend somebody else.

Masturbation is one of the safest sexual activities there is. There is no risk of infection (as long as you don't insert or use any unclean objects during masturbation). Some girls will insert something into the vagina for sexual pleasure during masturbation, such as a vibrator. This is fine as long as the object is clean and doesn't have any sharp edges, which could cause damage to the delicate skin of the vagina or vulva.

The most significant benefits are that it feels good, helps us learn more about our bodies and to communicate to our lovers (or future lovers), and serves as a sexual outlet. For girls, masturbation can have other physical and emotional benefits. For example, an orgasm can help relieve menstrual cramps. Masturbation also gives girls the outlet to enjoy sexual pleasure without feeling pressured by a partner to perform a certain way. Ultimately, masturbation can help young women develop a sense of self-confidence, which helps them make healthy sexual choices. It's a perfect way for girls to explore or experiment with their own bodies, and learn what they like or dislike.

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Masturbation myths

Myth: Masturbation is bad.

Masturbation is very normal and healthy. It can relieve strong sexual urges without risking pregnancy or infections. Masturbation can also teach a girl about her own sexual responses. Some girls masturbate, and others do not—both are normal.

Myth: You're no longer a virgin if you masturbate.

It is generally agreed that a person is a virgin if they have not had sex with another person. So, masturbation does not have an impact on your virginity. Tampons go into the vagina, but most people agree that you don't lose your virginity by using tampons.

Myth: You can get pregnant.

Unless sperm enters your vagina, you can't get pregnant. If you have sperm on your hands and then masturbate, there is a slight chance of pregnancy.

Myth: You're "hard up" if you masturbate.

All people feel sexual urges and sexual tension at one time or another and masturbation is a great way to relieve those feelings without getting a sexually transmitted infection or an unwanted pregnancy. Masturbation is also a way to learn about your body and give yourself risk-free pleasure with someone you love—you!

Myth: If you're in a relationship you don't need to masturbate.

Girls who don't have sexual partners masturbate, and so do girls that do have partners. The sensations that are created from self-stimulation can be different and unique from sexual stimulation with a partner, and many girls enjoy both expressions of their sexuality.

Myth: Nice girls don't!

Girls should feel as free as guys to touch their own bodies without feeling shame or guilt. Whether or not a girl masturbates is a personal decision based on her own values and religious beliefs. Women and girls should be able to express themselves sexually in any way that they want as long as it is not harmful to others. They can feel pleasure in a safe and responsible way, and feel good about it. So, nice girls do!

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More information

This fact sheet was developed for Somazone by Robyn Drysdale, Manager of Education Research and Development, Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT. Copyright © 2004 Australian Drug Foundation.