I love to use both soft-core magazines and a hardcore film, and shift from one to the other. Sometimes I close my eyes, which helps me to concentrate on the physical sensation, and then I enjoy the film more when I haven't seen it for a few seconds. When porn is available, I don't use a lot of fantasies, except a little in the beginning. However, when porn is not available, for instance when I'm abroad, I find it essential to fantasize. As a teenager, I would often masturbate concentrating just on the physical sensation, without any porn or fantasies. Now it seems to me that just the physical sensation would not be enough to arouse me. Maybe it's a matter of habit; I don't know.
- age 40, Belgium
Usually, I just start masturbating. Once I'm into it, I'll start to use mental images. Pictures and videos are good, but I prefer my imagination. I don't have to mess around with setting the volume or rewinding. For me, imagination is best at the end of a session. I don't have to wait for the video to reach a good point. I can just let it go whenever I feel like it.
- age 18, Iowa
I use erotic imagery, mostly pictures, during almost every masturbation session, although sometimes I include erotic stories. Occasionally I use videos, but most of the time, it's pictures from magazines. I generally use fantasy to get an erection and then move on to the pictures, which I continue to look at as I fantasize all the way to orgasm. So, the very beginning is the only time I don't look at pictures. On the rare occasion that I masturbate to a video, I watch it from when I begin masturbating until I climax.
- age 47, Tennessee
It depends on how long it has been since I last masturbated. The longer it's been, the less imagery I use.
- age 17, Australia
About one-tenth of the time, I'd say – if I come across a new picture on the Internet that really turns me on, I might take out my penis and masturbate right then. I usually can because I'm home alone on most weekdays. The other nine-tenths of the time, I do it right – I get naked, sprawl on the bed, and take my time enjoying myself. I may recall some of my favorite pictures or video scenes as I masturbate, or I may weave a bunch of what's stored in my mind into a fantasy scenario.
- age 76, Florida
I usually can't use erotic images when I masturbate. But when I can, it is for almost the entire session, except for when I ejaculate. I do that in the bathroom.
- age 15, Sweden
I use erotic imagery about 15% of the time. The rest of the time, I use erotic reading. I tend to use either one only at the beginning of a session, or even just to get in the mood for the session. Once I get started, I usually don't care at all about what there may be to look at or read.
- age 34, California
I have found (at least for myself) that if I look at erotic images or read erotic articles and stories, I come to orgasm faster than when I don't. Before I masturbate, I usually look at some photos or magazine shoots of models in bikinis (yummy). Then when I actually masturbate, I imagine that picture in front of me, or I imagine an attractive girl stripping in front of me. So erotic photos and videos play an important role in my masturbation. It helps me to get a good erection and then reach orgasm faster.
- age 16, Israel
Using erotic imagery is best at the start of my session because it helps me to get an erection. If it's pictures, I use them only at first, but I like to masturbate with erotic movies throughout the entire session.
- age 18, United Kingdom
I definitely like to use erotic imagery when I masturbate. Well, obviously not when I'm slipping in a quickie in the shower in the morning, but otherwise, yes. After much experimentation, I find that I am most stimulated by photos of men masturbating, alone or together, rather than by images of couples having sex, especially if ejaculation is shown. Seeing a man satisfy himself just as I am about to do the same is quite exciting and has given me some of my best and most intense orgasms.
- age 47, Louisiana
Actual videos and pictures don't usually play a large role for me. More often, I let my imagination run wild. If you consider mental fantasies as erotic imagery, then I suppose I use it most of the time. Also, I sometimes read erotic stories to get me going before I really get into the session.
- age 18, Massachusetts
I usually don't need erotic imagery. My boyfriend gets so turned on when I pleasure myself that I do it mostly for him. Sometimes, though, I need some time for me. Then I usually use girl-on-girl porn. I watch it and use my "little friend" the whole way through the session.
- age 21, Texas (female)
I always use erotic imagery. With it, I can have fun during the buildup, as well as at the actual moment of orgasm. Finding a good piece of erotic imagery can determine whether or not I masturbate. Without it I can use my imagination, but I have to be in bed and close my eyes, and I frequently fall asleep afterward. What I do enjoy is mixing the two – for instance, writing over pictures on my computer with imaginary situations.
- age 17, United Kingdom
I never use erotic imagery. Erotic writing can get me up and running, so to speak, but pictures and videos are too literal, too clinical. They turn me off. Most of the time, I rely on my own imagination, which generates all the sexy pictures I need.
- age 53, Massachusetts
As a woman, I rarely use pictures or videos to aid my masturbation session, although I believe there should be more pornography for women. Sometimes, however, I do use erotic stories. I usually just imagine my boyfriend and me doing things, and that gets me going. However, I always have to concentrate, because if my thoughts wander, I could lose my drive. I find that when I use stories or watch a pornographic video, I climax faster.
- age 15, New York (female)
Since I was around 11 years old, erotic imagery has been my main source of arousal. I'd say it accounts for nearly 100% of my masturbation sessions. Once in a great while I try to remind myself to keep out pornographic thoughts and focus on the sensations and pleasure coming from my penis. It reminds me of how exciting masturbation used to be when I first discovered it at age 8 and didn't have any porn to infest my mind.
- age 20, Hawaii
For me, it plays a role about 99% of the time. The 1% is when I just need to masturbate and get it over with. I prefer to use images at the beginning of the session.
- age 16, Ohio
When you've lost your sight as I have, imagery becomes pointless. However, I do own a few videos, just so I can listen to the noises of lovemaking.
- age 43, Washington
I generally use my imagination more than anything else (well, I probably use my hand even more than that), but occasionally, I look at pictures. Usually they're not "sexy" images, just something that makes me horny (I like to leave the sexy things to my imagination). I almost always use pictures at the beginning of my session, just to get me in the mood. Once I'm going at it, my imagination is a much more powerful tool than any erotic imagery.
- age 15, Illinois
Pictures play a small role, perhaps 10% for me. Erotic literature is a much bigger turn-on, but it is not essential. Fantasy is always the biggest aspect of a masturbation session for me. The erotic literature and pictures normally serve as a jumping-off place for my mind to take over and go wherever it wants.
- age 24, Indiana
I watch pornography on the computer in my room 90% of the time I masturbate, normally to get me started and sometimes as I get close to climax. Then I walk to the washroom and finish up so there's no mess, and it's less suggestive to others that I've just masturbated. So to answer the second part of the question, erotic imagery takes place at the beginning of my session.
- age 17, Canada
At least 75% of the time when I settle in for a good self-pleasuring experience, I use erotic stories or videos. The erotic imagery happens at the start rather than the end of a session. However, I can recall many times when the erotic imagery has continued after the session.
- age 54, Oklahoma
I use erotic imagery only about 20% of the time or less. I am a strong Christian. While I do not believe masturbation is a sin, I do think lust is. Lusting for an erotic image is therefore a sin in my mind. So I try to concentrate on the wonderful feelings of masturbation and not much else. However, I'm human and sometimes I slip. I wouldn't say I never fantasize about a hot girl, but I try to keep it to a minimum.
- age 17, Illinois
I think that most of the time that I spend masturbating, I have erotic images in my mind, but I don't often use actual pictures. I usually prefer to read erotic stories for arousal and then use my imagination to form mental images.
- age 23, Australia
I used to enjoy my masturbation sessions just using my imagination. However, I have recently taken to using pictures and videos almost addictively. I seem unable to masturbate without them.
- age 19, United Kingdom
Usually, pictures and videos don't help me, because what really gets me off is thinking about people that I know masturbating. So, I often think about my friends nude or pumping away.
- age 15, Canada
Ultimately the percentage is based on how accessible the pictures and videos are. Now that I live alone, I can masturbate with the aid of good photos and movies as much as I want. I use them primarily as a starting point to get me aroused, and then I move off into fantasies of my own.
- age 23, Indiana
It's quite often, if you count looking at pictures or videos and then going elsewhere to masturbate. My computer's location and orientation let me look at pretty much anything I want, but if I were to masturbate in front of it when others are at home, I would be worried about someone walking in on me. So, I usually get myself worked up at the computer and then go masturbate in the privacy of my bedroom, unless no one is home.
- age 17, Scotland, United Kingdom
My routine involves pornographic videos; without them, I have a difficult time climaxing. Using erotic films helps "get the train out of the station." As I grow older, I don't fantasize about sex 24/7 as I did when I was 15, and so I need erotic imagery to ensure a pleasurable and smooth session.
- age 19, Ohio
Unless I am quite horny, I just focus on how good it feels. However, erotica sometimes helps the mind and pleasure factor before I start to masturbate.
- age 17, Rhode Island
When I masturbate, I look at erotic imagery only a small amount of the time, maybe 20%. However, when I do, it makes for an amazing orgasm. I wait until the house is empty, strip naked, and either go on the Internet or put in some of my soft pornographic movies and slowly begin to stroke my erect penis. As I near orgasm, I pick a woman on the movie or the porn site and imagine that she is someone I know, someone I have class with, someone I really like, or just someone I want to fantasize about. Then I stroke my penis until it brings forth an awesome orgasm. Although I don't do this often, it is always great when I do.
- age 20, Maryland
I tend not to use pornography when I masturbate, because I find that I ejaculate too quickly and don't get as much pleasure out of it.
- age 16, United Kingdom
Most of the time, I get to masturbate only before bed and in the shower. So using erotic imagery there is quite complicated – waterproofing it and hiding it when I'm finished masturbating before bed. I can often imagine everything that I need, and this can be just as good if not better than viewing actual pictures, videos, or any other media because I can imagine what I want to see. It's perfect when you know exactly what turns you on.
- age 15, Rhode Island
As I am in my 50s, video imagery is like visual Viagra without the expense or residue for your liver to deal with. I enjoy the imagery from start to finish. However, if I'm not careful, over-stimulation (too long a session) causes me to lose and not be able to regain my erection.
- age 54, California
I use erotic imagery probably about 90% of the time. Erotic imagery gives me a harder erection and longer masturbation time (I prefer Stop & Go, which is best with erotic material), for the entire session!
- age 15, Pennsylvania
The feeling of my erection in my hand and the thought of ejaculating keep me stroking after the porn or the fantasies run out.
- age 58, Ohio
Erotic imagery plays a role only when I have the chance to use it, and I prefer to use it at the end of a masturbation session, when I'm about to have an orgasm.
- age 15, Venezuela
The only imagery I "use" when masturbating is what I conjure in my own mind. I enjoy gently fondling my penis while looking at some pornography as long as it doesn't degrade any of the subjects. However, when I begin active masturbation, I prefer to focus upon the feeling of my penis in my hand, the increasing sexual tension in my testicles and penis, and the slippery sound of my natural lubricant as I rub it upon my penis while increasing my stroke and pressure. If I do think of someone, I remember masturbating with my pal, although I do this rarely. Near the end of my session I'm totally focused on the sight, sound, and feeling of my penis in my hand, the onset of ejaculation, and the utter joy of release that is orgasm. At the end of my session, the only thing I focus on is cleaning up my mess.
- age 63, Michigan