Association of Masturbation Parameters with Ease and Subjective Experience of Orgasm in Sexual Relationships

Masturbation, defined as the manual or object-based stimulation of one's genitals, is widely recognized sexual behavior. However, its relationship with sexual relationships has rarely been the focus of research, and few studies have explored the connection between solitary masturbation and orgasm in sexual relationships. Therefore, this study examined the association of gender and various parameters of masturbation (i.e., age of first masturbation, negative attitudes toward masturbation, solitary sexual desire, current masturbation frequency, and subjective orgasm experience) with the ease and intensity with which orgasm is experienced in sexual relationships. A total of 1,055 cisgender heterosexual adults (482 men and 573 women), aged 18 to 70 years (M = 36.55; SD = 11.22) participated in this study. The results indicated that subjective orgasm experience in masturbation is associated with orgasm obtained in sexual relationships, although with differential nuances between men and women. This study highlights the need to deepen the understanding of the relationship between masturbation and sexual relationships, and the role that solitary masturbation plays in the orgasm obtained in sexual relationships, emphasizing not only the understanding of this relationship but also the need for a detailed assessment of masturbation behavior before its use as a therapeutic tool in sex therapy.