Sue's Sex FAQ

Masturbation

Sex FAQs provided by Sue Johanson of the Sunday Night Sex Show.

Q. I wanted to see my boyfriend masturbate and after that happened he only wants to do that. I don't know how to reintegrate myself into the picture.

A. I'd be angry. He is being selfish, just looking after his own pleasure and satisfaction. I'd say to him... "That's very nice for you dear, but what about me? Once is enough and I don't want to do that again. Why do you need me? Take it and do it in the bathroom." I have a sense that he does not really care about you. If this attitude continues he is toast. Give him a little bit of time. The thrill may wear off. Turn a TV on behind him and watch that instead. It's not a great way to spend the evening. Give him an alternative. "Either this changes or..."

Q. Is it possible to over-masturbate? Are there symptoms?

A. No, you can't overdo it. The only time I would worry about masturbation is if that is all you do. If you don't have any friends or a social life. If you don't go out and be involved in sports, have any time on the computer to be with the family or socialize. If you come home from work, go to your room, lock the door and masturbate, eat a peanut butter and jam sandwich and masturbate. Then I worry. Not about the masturbation but what is happening or not happening in your life. What's going on here? What's happening? Are you depressed? Anti-social behaviour? What's going on here? Most males masturbate, some quite frequently but they also "have a life." You're just fine. Myths of masturbation are: you will go blind, get hair on the palms of your hands, go bald, your brain will go to mush, you'll go deranged, your acne will get worse, you will reduce your sperm count and only gay males masturbate. They are all wrong.

Q. Why when I masturbate with a portable showerhead to I sometimes feel pain?

A. Don't use the showerhead. Put a few inches of water in the bathtub. Set the tap so a nice flow of warm water comes out of the tap. Lie down flat in the tub and slide down to the end of the tub. Put your legs up on the walls of the tub and let the nice warm water flow over your genitals. It's not that piercing movement but a gentle flow of water.

I don't know what the pain is or why you would have pain in the clitoris unless the force of the water is too strong.

Q. Can masturbation cause cancer of the cervix? I have a friend who has only had three partners and got it.

A. Heavens, no. She may have picked up venereal warts and those may be pre-cancerous for women if they are not treated. They can be, they are not necessarily. Nothing is carved in stone. She has got to get checked up and for a while I would tell her to use condoms. Absolutely nothing to do with masturbation.

Back to Sue's Faq