Masturbation may be a sign of a deeper, more serious medical disorder.

Masturbation may be a sign of a deeper, more serious medical disorder.

Masturbation is the stimulation of one's own genital area to the point of orgasm.

It is a topic often discussed in whispers simply because it is about sex. What makes it more taboo is the fact that because it is the act of having sex with yourself.

In much the same way talking to yourself or dancing by yourself is interpreted as a sign of a psychiatric problem, masturbation may be a sign of a deeper, more serious medical disorder.

Gratification disorder

Data from the US National Health and Social Life Survey shows that among 18-60 year old adults, 38% of women and 61% of men have engaged in "sex with one's self."

This adult behavior may have stemmed from an undiagnosed and untreated condition called gratification disorder or infantile masturbation.

Researchers at the Fraser of Allander Neurosciences Pediatric Unit conducted a survey from 1972 to 2002. Several children were admitted as cases of epilepsy, seizures or abdominal colic. Upon further evaluation and laboratory testing, these children proved to have gratification disorder.

Common features

The patients had the following features in common:

onset after the age of 3 months and before 3 years

same repetitive motion

may be associated with either load or quiet grunting

redness of the face with excessive sweating

pressing on the lower abdomen or tummy with bending at the hips

no disorientation or loss of consciousness

stopping once distracted

normal physical examination

normal laboratory and EEG studies

Managing masturbatory behavior

Dr. Michele L. Yang from the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has the following advice for physicians and parents caring for children with gratification disorder.

"Practical points for management of masturbatory behavior include videotaping the event in question, helping parents change their view of the child's behavior as a disease, educating parents that scolding or threatening is not appropriate, using redirection to engage the child's interest in other activities or toys, defining milestones in older children to end the behavior in public, and using the term ‘gratification behavior’ instead of masturbation when discussing this behavior with parents who are easily offended."





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