HEALTH - MASTURBATION (Causes and effects)

Masturbation is the process of bringing about a
voluntary excitement of the sexual centers
following generally by the discharge of semen,
through some method other than normal sexual
intercourse. In other words, "Masturbation" means
ejaculation of semen by hand. There are various
devices resorted to for the purpose, but because of
the hand to practise it, it is widely known as "Hand
Practice". This habit is also known as "Self-
Abuse", since it is done by one's own self by his
own hand.

There are exceptions, when masturbation is also
done by some one else i. e., one engages one's own
wife for this act and rather prefers it even to
normal coitus. This sort of device is found among
those who are accustomed to hard friction and this
habit is formed since childhood and therefore they
cannot derive much thrill and pleasure from
normal coitus. The other common device is to lie
down on the abdomen and rubbing the penis
against the pillow or the bed as if performing the
sexual intercourse and to discharge semen with
thrill and pleasure.

There is haradly any young man who does not
masturbate at one time or the other. The self-abuse
is the prime cause of various sexual disorders and
it is one of the earliest abuses when a boy engages
himself in this evil act. Masturbation has serious
consequences since it drains the young men of his
vital forces and in many case it causes impotency,
if it is over-indulged. Therefore, parents are
advised to keep a watch on their children against
all possible factors which can tempt their children
to masturbate.

Following are some of the causes which incites
young men to undertake this evil practice :

1. The main cause is bad company, where children
hear and discuss sexual topics and in the bad
society they themselves engaged in
masturbation collectively without any shame.
This is the very first and wrong step which leads
to many bad practices to play with the immature
sexual organs at the very tender age. Since this
evil act gives intense pleasure, they keep on
doing quite regularly without knowing the
adverse effects of the masturbation in the future
to come. If this practice is over done, it ruins the
matrimonial lives due to impotency.

2. Secondly, house servants also incite young
boys to this vice by playing with their sexual
organs. Thus, parents should keep an open eyes
and they should not allow their children for
longer hours to be with their domestic servants
in seclusion. Furthermore, sending their boys to
distant schools along with their young children,
without any supervision, may also lead to
similar consequences since servants can caress
the children if they find lonely road or place.
Further, young children should also not be
carried on cycles in front of the servants or in a
car beside the driver.

3. Not only domestic servants, but even young
friends or relatives should be relied upon.
Therefore, children should not be allowed to
sleep on a common bed along with the relatives
or friends as some of them may pollute the
children or young boys.

4. It has also been found that in many instances,
the young ones are taught the first sexual lesson
by the maid-servants. Thus, boys should not be
allowed to be with maid-servants in seclusion or
to lie in the same bed.

5. The parents, in the best interest of the boy's
future, they should also take guard to avoid his
boy to lying in the same bed with other young
ladies who are separated from their husbands
since it has also been noticed on several
occasions that such ladies due to their
ungratified sexual desire, they lure the boy to
spoil him.

6. Furthermore, sleeping more than one children in
the same bed should also be avoided, since they
may handle one another's male organ. Once
they are habitual of this, they would like to
masturbate in seclusion places like bathroom,
latrine or in lonely places.

7. The parents should also take care not to indulge
themselves in interecourse where the children
are present since it is one of the prime cause of
this evil as the children imitate their parents out
of their curiosity.

8. Another cause which invites boy to masturbate
is the uncleanliness of the genital organ, since
collection of smegma in the pit of glans leads to
sexual excitement in several cases. Therefore,
daily cleanliness of the genital is needed.

9. The other cause of masturbation is rectal
worms. The worms cause irritation to the anus
and consequently it gives rise to erection of
penis. In such circumstances, boy handles his
penis which gives intense pleasure to
masturbate and later it forms the habit of
masturbation.

Following are also the causes
to excite sexual organs to masturbate :

a. Chronic Constipation.

b. Excessive use of sour foods.

c. Excessive use of stimulating diets such as
meat, eggs, tea, etc.

d. Seeing of sexual and love scenes in T. V.,
cinemas.

e. Reading of amorous literature, novels,
etc.

f. Talking of sexual problems with young
ladies in seclusion.

There is no definite age is fixed to commence this
abuse since long before the attainment of puberty,
boys have been found involved in this practice.

Once the habit of masturbation becomes the part
and parcel of life, among young unmarried boy it
may also resort to prostitution, which invites
horrible venereal diseases.