The Lesser-known Benefits of Masturbation
             Masturbation, or the act of autoerotic behavior, has been considered a cultural taboo in the United States since the Puritans first set foot on the soil. This, however, does not mean that it stopped any one of them from at least experimenting with the act, even accidentally. In today's society the taboo still exists but its strength is most apparent among the female population. Researchers since the time of Kinsey have spent countless time and effort in compiling information as to why males and females masturbate and why they do not. The causes and effects of masturbation can be analyzed in biological, physical and social areas all relating to the psychological analysis of the act. Further divisions of the areas can be categorized by each gender's response to masturbation in the particular areas of biological, physical and social ramifications.
             The area of the biological effect on masturbation has just recently become an area of study. Researchers Baker and Bellis have been studying the reproductive value of masturbation. Their findings show that masturbation has different effects on reproductive success when compared between men and women. Masturbation in males prior to sex leads to a lower sperm count in the ejaculate during sex, yet the sperm ejaculated are found to have a higher tenacity than the sperm ejaculated during masturbation (Baker and Bellis, 1993). The reason behind these findings is that masturbation allows the man to rid his body of older, less virile sperm. When a man does engage in intercourse the sperm he utilizes is younger, more powerful sperm that is able to survive and be more competitive for longer in the woman's body (Bellis, 1993).
             The woman's biological effect of masturbation can have quite the opposite effect on the reproductive success of the sexual encounter. The number of sperm that a woman retains after intercourse dep...