Other observations: Many people of both genders find arousal easier if they are already "in a sexual mood," often aided by seeing sexy pictures, reading erotic stories, or remembering or fantasizing about a sexy situation. Arousal can occur more quickly when people are with others in a sexual situation. And, it is more difficult when people are tired, ill, worried about their privacy, or have other concerns on their minds.
Finally, these responses suggest some common, gender-specific patterns of arousal. Men seem to respond more to direct physical and visual stimulation that focuses on genitalia and sexual activity. Women seem to respond best to more subtle, mood-setting environments – romantic situations and behavior, love expressed between two people. Many women also mentioned their menstrual cycle is a factor.
And yes, these are gross generalizations. So if you are a teenage girl who gets most excited by guys' erect penises, don't worry. You have plenty of company. Or, if you are a guy who gets most turned on by a romantic, candlelight dinner followed by sex and cuddling, you likewise have nothing to worry about. (Although you're a huge wuss. Just kidding!)]
It normally only takes me a few minutes to get really aroused. If I'm looking at pictures or an erotic movie, the time can drop to just a minute. It also tends to drop when I just finished a strenuous workout. I've discovered that the feeling of a great orgasm enhances the overall good feeling from the workout. The only time it really takes longer is when I am under a lot of stress.
- age 28, Virginia
If I just start masturbating with the classic "fist" grip and a completely flaccid [soft] penis I can get it up in 8 seconds flat. I also like a "no-touch" method where I think only sexy thoughts and do not touch my penis. This one can take up to a minute for me to get completely erect. The really sick thing is, I timed it for this survey!
- age 16, South Carolina
I have to be aroused before I masturbate. I have a weakness for movies where there's lots of kissing. I get extremely aroused at the sight of those scenes. If my husband is working, I pull out the trusty vibrator and go to town. Otherwise, I don't get aroused enough even to begin the session.
- age 38, New Jersey (female)
I get erections easily. Just friction from my boxers sends me into masturbation frenzy! It is so hard not to do it at school. All I ever think about is masturbating, yet my grades are great. Could masturbation be tied to good grades? If so, I would have an excuse for when my mom catches me!
- age 16, Indiana
Usually I'm already aroused when I decide to masturbate. If I'm not and want to masturbate, rubbing my nipples a bit gives me an instant erection. It's more difficult to get aroused if I've got too much on my mind. And it's easier when I concentrate on a past experience or a woman I've seen and fantasized about. Also, sometimes just thinking about and admiring my erect penis arouses me even more.
- age 34, Minnesota
I usually don't have any problems getting an erection. The only exception to that is if I'm worried about a test (I'm a senior in high school), thinking my parents might catch me, or I have just masturbated. I was somewhat timid about masturbation and having an erection when I first entered puberty (as all guys probably are) – but after reading your tips and hearing that people actually did "it," I haven't had any real problems.
- age 17, Illinois
I can't get a full erection anymore, but I have all the chills and thrills that go with one. I am easily aroused. People, pictures, conversations, and especially daytime planning of a night session turn me on completely – with no bulge in the trousers to shock the natives! When the time comes, nipple stimulation before penile stimulation (stroking) is a huge turn-on.
- age 77, Maryland
Every day in school, no matter what, I always get an erection. Even if I'm lying down or sitting, when I think about other girls or boys, bam! It seems that I always have an erection.
- age 16, Illinois
If I'm already in the mood when I begin to masturbate, it takes practically no time at all. All I have to do is fantasize or caress one of my erogenous zones for a minute, and I'm off and running. If I'm not already aroused it can take up to 5 minutes, because I like to arouse myself slowly. The longer my masturbation sessions last, the more intense the orgasm. If I'm close to or having my period, I'm quite often in a constant state of arousal, so I can climax at the drop of a hat!
- age 36, California (female)
It usually takes about 2 minutes, but if I haven't masturbated for a few days the erection comes fairly quickly. I find that with some anal stimulation, my erection comes up immediately.
- age 16, Australia
It's fairly easy for me to get an erection before I masturbate. I just think of or look at something that gets me aroused, then I let my imagination (and right hand) take over. The only times this doesn't work are when I'm tired or too stressed out; in those cases I can't get (much less maintain) an erection. The same is true when it comes to sex with my fiancée. If my body says "no," it means it.
- age 40, California
A lot of the time, just thinking about something sexual isn't enough. I have to physically "bring it up." But when I'm looking at pornography, I usually get an erection before I decide to masturbate.
- age 15, New York
It's usually kind of hard for me to get aroused. I have to turn the lights down low and get a picture out. I have to know I'm alone and that no one will walk in on me. That's why I usually masturbate when my parents are at work or otherwise out of the house. If I know they're home, I just can't get in the mood.
- age 14 , Florida (female)
I can usually get an erection in one of two ways: by massaging my body (with or without oil), or by thinking about past mutual masturbation sessions. When I am tried it's harder to get an erection. I have to do other things, such as think about having sex with my friend or apply lots of oil or lotion to my genitals. If I do get one, it sometimes doesn't last long enough for me to masturbate to orgasm.
- age 22, Canada
If someone is home or if I know someone will be home soon, I get nervous. That could delay the erection. The best times to start are when the people I live with leave, when I am in the bathroom with the door locked, or in the shower. The worst times are when I am in a bad mood, or if I am nervous about something.
- age 15, Guam
Normally I don't start the masturbation session – my erection does. But, when I am tired at the end of a long day and I just need a quick orgasm, it can take anywhere from moments to minutes.
- age 19, Michigan
I always get turned on around 6:00 or 7:00 at night. I guess it's because before I had a girlfriend of my own, I used to masturbate before bedtime. Past that time of day, anything will do it – something brushing against my pants, sexy thoughts. I can climax sometimes with very little stimulation at all; just by thinking sexy thoughts. And, those orgasms are every bit as intense as when I use stimulation.
- age 18, Australia (female)
Under normal conditions, I'd have to stroke my penis to get fully erect. I find myself most horny and easily excited when I'm stressed or haven't had enough sleep and therefore am partially erect before I start masturbating. Watching pornographic videos causes an erection for me before I start masturbating. However, 95% of the time I'm not fully erect before my hand touches my penis.
- age 26, New York
It varies from session to session. I find it harder to get an erection when I have a lot on my mind or there are other people in the house. When I've been thinking about sex for a while, it takes no time at all. Thinking of having sex or someone performing sexual acts on me helps me get aroused. Sometimes I don't actually get completely erect until I am almost ready to ejaculate. Other times, it helps to stop for a minute while I'm masturbating to let my penis get fully erect.
- age 15, California
It's quite easy. If I have been stimulated by an outside source, such as phone sex or an adult movie, then it's easier because I am already in the right mindset.
- age 17, Michigan (female)
I usually masturbate *because* I have an erection – which I get quite frequently and very easily – so the answer to your Question is: No problem!
- age 55, New Jersey
As soon as I start having sexy thoughts I find that I can't help but get an erection! Usually I don't even have to try to get one. However, if I'm a bit depressed or not fully "in the mood," I either look at sexy pictures to help me get aroused, or I just don't bother masturbating, which is the last resort.
- age 15, Scotland
When I was younger my penis got hard on its own. If I was close to a sweet girl, I could almost always get it erect in no more than 10 to 15 seconds of fondling, at most. Now that I'm older, it takes longer before my erection is fully "set" (won't go away until I ejaculate). Often it takes 2 or 3 minutes of stroking while my penis is semi-hard, *but* the process of arousing is much more subtle, part of the whole stop-and-go experience. I also like to masturbate longer now – back then even if I tried to make it last, I wound up squirting semen before I knew it. It's always been better when I was mentally aroused first, and worse when I was trying to masturbate only because I had the time, but might not have had it later. I seem to go in 3-to-4-day cycles when I really want to masturbate, and then I need a few days off.
- age 51, Oregon
It varies hugely. Sometimes I don't have to *get* aroused – I just am. Partly this seems to vary with my monthly cycle, and partly it's emotional, I think. When I am like this, something as simple as the breeze blowing against me or the feel of my clothes against my body can get me going. Other times I have to work at it, both physically and through fantasy.
- age 14, Ireland (female)
For me it's no problem to get an erection whenever I want. I only have to play with my penis for some time, not even thinking about something explicitly sexual. Getting horny enough to approach orgasm, however, is easiest if I'm reading a sexy story; second best if I'm watching hot pictures; and hardest if I use only imagination. Therefore, I think only a relatively small amount of arousal is needed for achieving an erection.
- age 19, Germany
It all depends on the circumstances. If I'm in my room masturbating, it may take me a minute or two to become aroused. However, if I'm doing something rather "kinky," such as masturbating in my parents' room or some other unusual location, I'm most likely ready to go the second I start. Sometimes what I do also affects my arousal level. What I mean is, if I do what my body wants me to I become aroused much more quickly. But if I'm masturbating in the bathroom with my pants around my ankles when I really want to be in my bed completely naked, I can't seem to get quite as excited.
- age 17, Connecticut
It's very interesting to see how things change over the years – It used to be that all I would have to think about was masturbating and *boom* – I'd be fully erect. Now (and I blame blood-pressure medication) when I get the urge, I start by gently squeezing and pulsing the base of my penis until it starts to fill with blood, then it's business as usual. I find that I can't hold a full erection as long as I used to, but one learns to adapt – and even with a penis that's not fully erect I can still reach a mind-blowing climax.
- age 70, California
I've noticed it totally depends on where I am in my monthly cycle. For the first couple of weeks, I hardly ever think about sex, so I even kind of forget about masturbation. But toward the end of the cycle, I get very easily aroused and masturbate 2 or 3 times a day.
- age 24, Oklahoma (female)
I'm a teenager. I'm horny 24/7!
- age 15, California
It's really easy for me to get erections; it takes only a minute or two unless I've been taking sinus allergy pills. In that case, it takes 3 to 5 minutes to get an erection, and then sometimes I don't become fully hard.
- age 30, Washington
Very easy – I just think about an erotic situation that has recently occurred. Like, when I was giving this girl a back-rub, I just imagine I am slipping off her pants and then, well, you know. This is almost always the case, although sometimes I'm too tired.
- age 13, Delaware
If it's first thing in the morning, I can usually be finished within 30 seconds after I wake up, if I choose to. Other times, I am usually aroused by the time I get my clothes off and even before I touch myself. This was not the case when I was drinking. I have been sober for 11 months, and my sex life is all the better for it. I'm finally reaching my sexual peak!
- age 32, Colorado
I get aroused after a few seconds of thinking dirty and touching myself. If I am in a place where people are around or I am in a hurry, I get aroused even faster.
- age 14 , Washington (female)
When I haven't masturbated for a while, of course all I have to do is just think about my penis, and within seconds it's hard. I have noticed that even though I may wake up with an erection in the morning, my body is not awake enough and excited for the deed. I have often tried to masturbate after getting up; the feeling starts out okay, but then, nothing. The desire goes away, and I have to masturbate longer. I guess my body has to wake up completely before it can even think about ejaculating. So getting aroused is not a problem, but having that erection do anything within a certain time frame varies.
- age 29, California
I can easily get aroused if I'm watching a *movie.* But with no aids, it takes a little longer and the climax is not nearly as good.
- age 19, Texas
I can get a hard erection within seconds of starting to masturbate. I think it's best if you get a good erection, because all the nerve endings are prominent. You have a more satisfying orgasm and ejaculation this way.
- age 50, Washington
It really depends. If I am watching some porno and I get an erection, I stroke it right there on the spot with no problem. But for me, masturbation is an every-night thing. I do it even when I don't want to. So sometimes when my penis is limp, I play with it for about 5 minutes before I can get it hard. Once I am up, even with a semi-hard erection, I can complete the act in about 3 minutes. It's a trained science!
- age 19, California
Under racing-heartbeat conditions (like, say I just got flashed or saw something I wasn't supposed to), it could be all over in under 30 seconds. Sometimes when it's masturbation for boredom's sake (say the third time that day), it could take 4 hours.
- age 24, California
Forever. I can *never* get aroused. If someone talks dirty to me, I can sometimes, but masturbation really doesn't work for me. So I never do. That's why I'm on this site – hoping I can find an idea.
- age 19, Nevada (female)
I often find it very difficult to get an erection. If I haven't masturbated for a day or so, then it's a lot easier.
- age 15, United Kingdom
Under ideal conditions, such as when no one else is home and isn't expected back anytime soon, it's extremely easy. It is more difficult if the time is short or I'm in a hurry because I have other things to do. I find as I grow older that it just doesn't *pop* up there like it used to!
- age 45, Texas
When I masturbate with a friend it takes a few seconds. On my own, it takes longer.
- age 13, Canada
I almost never have a problem getting aroused when I start to masturbate. I watch videos a lot, and while the opening credits roll, I usually get erect. The only time it's a problem is if I am under a lot of stress or have other things on my mind I can't shake. However, that usually doesn't last too long, because the great feeling of touching myself takes over.
- age 35, Louisiana