Answer:
by Mitchell Tepper: (05/16/2004)
Betty Dodson says masturbation is the ongoing love affair that each of us has with ourselves throughout our lifetime. It's a way
to learn about our sexual responses, enhance sexual self-esteem, and build confidence so we can communicate clearly with
our lovers. This may be true for most people, but for those of us with changes in genital function following spinal cord injury,
multiple sclerosis or surgery, masturbation can just confirm a feeling of asexuality.
When or if you choose to explore what feels good again, I recommend not limiting yourself to methods of masturbation used
before your injury, and not just to the genital area. Experiment with all areas you can reach including your hair, face, ears,
neck, chest, nipples, underarms, abdomen and, especially, the area around your level of injury.
It is helpful to move beyond skin stimulation and explore other senses. This may include erotic videos or literature, favorite
scents or music, fantasizing, meditating or even praying. These forms of stimulation are not dependent on genital functioning.
Take your time, explore your responses and linger in places that feel good. Note that research suggests that people with
spinal cord injuries take much longer--more than 15 minutes longer for the majority--to reach peak sexual response than they
did before their injures.
A Kinsey Institute study of 140 males and 46 females with spinal cord injury--both before and after injury--reported that 95
percent of the men masturbated before injury, and only 55 percent after. Of the women, 70 percent masturbated before, and
61 percent after. Statistics, it should be noted, are not destiny.
A good resource is Sex for One: The Joy of Selfloving by Betty Dodson, Crown Publishers, New York, 1987.
--Mitch Tepper
Reviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team
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