5 Facts You Didn't Know About Masturbation

4. Some countries (though obviously not the prudish U.S.!) encourage daily masturbation for their teenage population. In 2009, the U.K. government got on the bandwagon with other European nations to encourage teenagers to masturbate at least once a day. Not only was masturbating defined as a "right" in health pamphlets, but it was also touted as helping to reduce STDs and teen pregnancy. Smart thinking!

5. Masturbation wasn't always taboo. Why do we love the early Romans? Because they were open about their sexuality! Even as early as the 4th millennium BC, a clay figurine depicted a woman touching herself, and obviously enjoying it. All was great until the early 1700's when an anonymous pamphlet entitled Onania was published and put an end to all the fun. Calling masturbation
a "heinous sin" of "self-pollution," and depicting archaic devices to prevent this "pollution," it gave masturbation a bad rap for centuries to come (no pun intended). This mentality continued through the 16th and 17th century, when those who did masturbate were regarded as mentally ill. Over 60 percent of mental and physical illnesses were blamed on masturbation.

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Although the 60's helped turn around some of these ancient views, for some, especially those who are fiercely religious or are my mother, masturbation will never be acceptable. Hey, your loss. So during this National Masturbation Month, go ahead and touch yourself; you'll make the Divinyls proud. 

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Do any of these facts about masturbation surprise you?