The LabSex UGR at the CIMCYC presents a series of studies that provide evidence on masturbation as a key practice for sexual health and self-knowledge.
Masturbation is a common sexual behavior that forms part of human erotic diversity. Currently, it is recognized as a beneficial practice for health and can be used as a tool in sex therapy.
Traditionally, scientific research has been limited to studying how often people practice it. However, other relevant aspects have been overlooked, such as attitudes toward this behavior, solitary sexual desire, or the subjective experience of orgasm through its practice. In fact, previous studies have linked these parameters to the ease of achieving an orgasm and satisfaction with it, within the context of sexual relationships.
Furthermore, research in this field has focused primarily on heterosexual individuals, which has resulted in a poor representation of sexual diversities.
To offer a more complete overview of the study of masturbation, several researchers from the LabSex UGR Human Sexuality Laboratory have conducted studies to understand different parameters better.
Masturbation strengthens sexual arousal differently in men and women
A study conducted by Gracia M. Sánchez-Pérez, Reina Granados, Pablo Mangas, Oscar Cervilla and Juan Carlos Sierra, published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, analyzed how masturbation strengthens arousal in response to visual sexual stimuli.
The study involved 80 young adults (40 men and 40 women) with experience in heterosexual relationships and solitary masturbation.
While watching films with explicit sexual content aligned with their sexual orientation, their genital response was recorded (penile diameter via plethysmography in men, and vaginal pulse amplitude via photoplethysmography in women). Additionally, using a self-report questionnaire, participants were asked to evaluate their sexual arousal and genital sensations after the films ended.
Masturbation parameters—namely negative attitude, solitary sexual desire, frequency of practice and the intensity of the orgasm obtained through this behavior—were linked to the different measures of sexual arousal.
The results showed differences between men and women in how masturbation parameters associate with sexual arousal.
Results in women
In women, a higher frequency of masturbation was positively linked to a greater vaginal pulse amplitude, and to a more intense evaluation of sexual arousal and genital sensations in response to the sexual videos. Furthermore, the rewarding effects of orgasm obtained through masturbation (e.g., relaxation or tranquility) were also positively associated with the evaluation of genital sensations. In other words, a higher frequency of masturbation and a greater intensity of its orgasmic experience imply higher female sexual arousal.
Results in men
In contrast, in men, solitary sexual desire (positively) and masturbation frequency (negatively) were associated with the evaluation of genital sensations in response to the sexual films. That is, while higher solitary sexual desire is associated with greater subjective sexual arousal, a higher frequency of masturbation is linked to lower sexual arousal.
It is also worth noting that a negative attitude toward masturbation was not associated with sexual arousal in either men or women, probably due to the age of the participants, who were young adults with a positive and open attitude toward masturbation.
These sexual differences in the results obtained may be because the practice of masturbation in women is associated with greater sexual self-knowledge, whereas in men it might serve as a compensatory mechanism for sexual dissatisfaction.
Gender and sexual orientation do matter
A study conducted by Millán Landaluce, Juan Carlos Sierra, Óscar Cervilla and Gracia M. Sánchez-Pérez, published in Psychology & Sexuality, analyzed different masturbation parameters (i.e., age of first masturbation, negative attitudes, solitary sexual desire, current frequency and subjective orgasmic experience) according to gender and sexual orientation.
The study involved 1,568 cisgender individuals (493 heterosexual men, 478 gay men, 490 heterosexual women and 107 lesbian women) residing in Spain.
The results revealed differences based on gender. Men, compared to women, despite reporting more negative attitudes, begin masturbating earlier, experience more solitary sexual desire and masturbate more frequently. However, women describe more intense orgasms during masturbation, especially in their affective, sensory and intimate dimensions.
Regarding sexual orientation, gay individuals (both men and women) begin masturbating earlier than heterosexual individuals, with no significant differences observed in the remaining masturbation parameters.
Finally, the results also show that these masturbation parameters differ between men and women depending on their sexual orientation. Specifically, while gay men indicate higher solitary sexual desire, higher frequency of masturbation and more intense orgasmic experiences than heterosexual men, lesbian women report the lowest scores across all these variables.
A possible explanation for this is that masturbation in heterosexual men might fulfill a more compensatory function regarding sexual dissatisfaction in their relationships, whereas gay men might focus more on the physical sensations and physiological consequences of masturbation, resulting in more intense orgasmic experiences.
In women, the orgasm seems to hold a greater subjective value for heterosexual individuals compared to lesbian women, which could explain the lower orgasmic intensity reported by the latter within the context of masturbation.
How is the combination of solitary masturbation and partnered sexual activity associated with sexual functioning?
When in a relationship, sexuality has traditionally been understood as dyadic or shared sexual activity, relegating solitary masturbation to the background. However, this practice is part of the sexual repertoire of many people in relationships and can play a relevant role in their sexual well-being.
Despite this, there is still a certain cultural stigma surrounding masturbation, which has limited research on how its practice relates to sexual functioning within the context of a relationship.
A study conducted by Óscar Cervilla, Carmen Gómez-Berrocal and Juan Carlos Sierra, published in Sexuality Research and Social Policy, analyzes how patterns of solitary masturbation and partnered sexual activity are associated with different indicators of sexual functioning (desire, arousal and orgasm) and sexual satisfaction in adult Spanish individuals in heterosexual relationships.
The research involved 1,028 people between the ages of 18 and 75 in exclusive relationships with partners of a different gender. Through a cluster analysis, three sexual profiles were identified based on the frequency of masturbation and partnered sexual activity:
- (1) high frequency of sexual intercourse and high frequency of solitary masturbation (SI + M)
- (2) high frequency of sexual intercourse and low frequency of solitary masturbation (SI)
- (3) high frequency of solitary masturbation and low frequency of sexual intercourse (M).
The results showed that the combined practice of sexual intercourse and solitary masturbation (SI + M) is associated with positive indicators of sexual health, especially in women.
Women in the SI + M group reported better overall sexual function, higher dyadic sexual desire, greater propensity for arousal, lower sexual inhibition, fewer arousal/lubrication difficulties, and higher satisfaction with orgasm and sexual satisfaction in general, thereby showing a complementary pattern of masturbation in their sexual lives.
However, men in the SI + M group reported more erection difficulties than those in the SI group, which could indicate a compensatory role of male masturbation for sexual difficulties.
Both men and women in the M group (i.e., high frequency of masturbation and low frequency of sexual intercourse) were characterized by poorer sexual health, reporting lower dyadic sexual desire toward the partner and lower sexual and relationship satisfaction. This reinforces the idea that the almost exclusive presence of solitary masturbation can be an indicator of sexual or relationship dissatisfaction in people with a partner.
Conclusions
In short, these studies reinforce the need for an individualized assessment of masturbation behavior, taking into account its different parameters. Furthermore, they underscore the need to normalize and destigmatize masturbation in sexual education and clinical interventions.
Ultimately, the importance of considering both gender and sexual orientation to better understand masturbation and its relationship to sexual health is highlighted. It is also essential to view masturbation as an integral part of a couple's sexual health.
Finally, understanding individual pleasure is key to enhancing the comprehensive sexual health of every person.
References
- Cervilla, O., Gómez-Berrocal, C. y Sierra, J. C. (2025). Masturbation and partnered sex in different-gender relationships: Examining sexual functioning. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. Publicación anticipada en línea. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-025-01168-7
- Landaluce, M., Sierra, J. C., Cervilla, O. y Sánchez-Pérez, G. M. (2025). Parameters of masturbation: Effects of gender and sexual orientation. Psychology & Sexuality. Publicación anticipada en línea. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2025.2537064
- Sánchez-Pérez, G. M., Granados, R., Mangas, P., Cervilla, O. y Sierra, J. C. (2026). Validation of masturbation parameters: A laboratory study measuring psychophysiological and subjective sexual arousal. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 26, Artículo 100662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2025.100662
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