We see by the following statistics that throughout the past sixty years, the majority of American women have engaged in masturbation at least once, though the common public perception has often been otherwise. During this time, it has also become a more common activity, women have become more comfortable admitting to it, and/or as a result of increased knowledge about female anatomy and sexuality, they realize certain "pleasurable" activities are actually a form of masturbation. In addition, we see women utilize a wide range of techniques, all of them normal.
From the book, How Big Is Big?, by Dr Zev Wanderer and Dr. David Radell, Copyright 1982
How many women masturbate?
Based on data collected circa 1953
- 62% of all adult women had masturbated
- 58% of these women had experienced orgasm at least once
Based on data collected circa 1977, 1979
- 74% of married women masturbated
- 16% of these women did so frequently
- 52% of teenage girls masturbated
At what age does the average woman first masturbate?
Based on data collected circa 1973, 1979
- Approximately 50% of girls 18 years of age had masturbated at least once
- 37% of girls 13 years of age had masturbated
- Approximately 17% of girls 10 years of age had masturbated
How often do teenage girls masturbate?
Based on data collected circa 1979
- 1% masturbated more than once a day
- 6% masturbated daily
- 22% masturbated 2-3 times per week
- 24% masturbated at least once per week
- 12% masturbated only about once per month
- 35% masturbated less than once per month.
How do women and girls learn to masturbate?
Based on data collected circa 1953
- 57% Learned to masturbate as the result of self discovery
How often does masturbation result in orgasm?
Based on data collected circa 1953
- 95% of masturbation sessions result in orgasm
At what age do women experience their first orgasm?
Based on data collected circa 1971, 1973, 1979
- More than 10% experienced their first orgasm prior to the age of 12
- More than 40% experience their first orgasm by the age of 15
- More than 50% experience their first orgasm by the age of 18
How long does it take for a woman to masturbate to orgasm?
Based on data collected circa 1953, 1971
- More than 70% of women reported they experienced orgasm within 5 minutes when masturbating
- More than 50% of women reported they experienced orgasm within 4 minutes when masturbating
- A few women reported they experienced orgasm within 1 minute when masturbating
How often do women masturbate to orgasm?
Based on data collected circa 1953
- Married women reported they masturbated less than once per month on average
- Single women reported they masturbated to orgasm about once every two weeks on average
How do women masturbate?
Based on data collected circa 1976, 1980, 1981
- 30% sometimes use water spray
- 28% sometimes use vibrators
- "Almost all women rely on manual stimulation..."
From the book, The Hite Report, by Shere Hite, Copyright 1976
How do women masturbate?
Based on data collected from 3,019 surveys gathered between 1972 and 1976
- 73% stimulated their clitoral/vuval area with their hand while laying on their back
- 47% employed clitoral area stimulation
- 17% employed direct clitoral stimulation or clitoral stimulation sometimes accompanied by vaginal entry
- 8.8% employed clitoral/vulval area stimulation
- 5.5% stimulated their clitoral/vuval area with their hand while laying on their stomach
- 4.0% stimulated their clitoral/vuval area by pressing or thrusting them against a soft object
- 3.0% masturbated by rhythmically pressing their thighs together
- 2.0% used water to massage their clitoral/vulval area
- 1.5% employed vaginal insertion
- 11.0% used a combination of the above methods
National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), Published 2010
Findings from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, Centre for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University. Journal of Sexual Medicine, Volume 7, Supplement 5.
Masturbation activity alone by men and women in the past month, past year, and over their lifetime:
| AGE |
18-19
|
20-24
|
25-29
|
30-39
|
40-49
|
50-59
|
60-69
|
70+
|
| Men | ||||||||
| Past Month | 61.1% | 62.8% | 68.6% | 66.4% | 60.1% | 55.7% | 42.3% | 27.9% |
| Past Year | 80.6% | 82.7% | 83.6% | 80.1% | 76% | 72.1% | 61.2% | 46.4% |
| Lifetime | 86.1 | 91.8% | 94.3% | 93.4% | 92% | 89.2% | 90.2% | 80.4% |
| Women | ||||||||
| Past Month | 26% | 43.7% | 51.7% | 38.6% | 38.5% | 28.3% | 21.5% | 11.5% |
| Past Year | 60% | 64.3% | 71.5% | 62.9% | 64.9% | 54.1% | 46.5% | 32.8% |
| Lifetime | 66% | 76.8% | 84.6% | 80.3% | 78% | 77.2% | 72% | 58.3% |
Masturbation activity with a partner by men and women in the past month, past year, and over their lifetime:
| AGE |
18-19
|
20-24
|
25-29
|
30-39
|
40-49
|
50-59
|
60-69
|
70+
|
| Men | ||||||||
| Past Month | 14.5% | 15% | 20.5% | 22.9% | 19.2% | 14.4% | 10.3% | 4.1% |
| Past Year | 42% | 43.5% | 49.3% | 44.7% | 38.1% | 27.9% | 17% | 12.9% |
| Lifetime | 49.3% | 54.5% | 69% | 68.3% | 61.5% | 51.9% | 37% | 31.6% |
| Women | ||||||||
| Past Month | 18.4% | 16.1% | 24.1% | 19.3% | 12.7% | 6.7% | 5.9% | 2.1% |
| Past Year | 36% | 35.9% | 48.2% | 43.3% | 34.8% | 17.7% | 13.1% | 5.3% |
| Lifetime | 38.8% | 46.9% | 64% | 63.1% | 56.1% | 46.9% | 36.4% | 17.5% |
Teens:
| SEXUAL ACTIVITY (%) |
Past 90 Days
|
Past Year
|
Lifetime
|
|||
| Ages 14 -17 |
Males
|
Females
|
Males
|
Females
|
Males
|
Females
|
| Solo Masturbation |
57.8
|
35.9
|
68.6
|
42.6
|
73.8
|
48.1
|
| Partnered Masturbation |
7.9
|
10.8
|
10.9
|
13.8
|
13.4
|
15.0
|
Ages 50 and Over:
| Percentage reporting sexual activity within the past year |
Men 50-80+ | Women 50-80+ |
| Masturbation | ||
|
Not in past year
|
36.5
|
53.3
|
|
A few times per year
|
25.8
|
34.3
|
|
A few times per month
|
20.0
|
10.7
|
|
2 or 3 times per week
|
13.2
|
1.3
|
|
4 or more times per week
|
4.5
|
0.5
|
You may want to see the following in depth surveys to learn a great deal more about the subject of female masturbation.
Female Masturbation and Orgasm - Part I
Female Masturbation and Orgasm - Part II
Female Masturbation and Orgasm - Part III
