It would be interesting to find out the exact physiological cause of the "unhorniness" that often follows ejaculation. Guilt is, I believe, a fairly common manifestation of this condition, especially in younger males.]
When I was younger, the guilt actually came when I would get my 4th or 5th erection of the day. I'd think, "God, I can't do it AGAIN, can I?" I really felt like a pervert. But then, sure enough, I'd masturbate again. I don't get that pre-masturbation rush of guilt anymore — but I still get a "dirty" feeling after orgasm that is, I think, subtly different. It's more of a momentary rush of sleaziness. Whenever I masturbate to pornography, afterwards I don't even want to look at the magazine. In fact, for a few minutes I feel like throwing it in the garbage. Maybe it is ingrained guilt — but I think it is more of a mental reflex.
- age 24, North Dakota
Sometimes I feel guilty afterwards because when I masturbate, I think about guys. I say to myself, "I can't believe I was thinking about a guy."
- age 15, Illinois
Only sometimes do I feel guilty after masturbating. At those times, I worry I masturbate too much and don't savor the moment for when I have more time or am more in the mood. (Well, I guess I 'm always in the mood.) At other times, I have no guilt whatsoever.
- age 16, Pennsylvania
No — but I usually get *really* depressed afterwards, because I realize I will never get what I fantasize about.
- age 17, Pennsylvania
I don't feel as guilty as I used to — but sometimes, right after I ejaculate, I think, "Oh my God!" My next thought is usually "D'oh!" This is because I am Catholic, and "it" is supposed to be bad, so I think that saying "God" right after masturbating is kind of awkward. Oh well ... it's never stopped me before.
- age 15, Virginia
Why should I feel guilty? If my husband doesn't want to give it to me, I have to get satisfied somehow. And that is the way I prefer, rather than finding sex somewhere else. His excuse is always that he is too tired — but when he wants it, that is a different story. Little does he know he isn't going to get it then either. If I can't have it, neither can he.
- age 23, Pennsylvania
Yes, I feel tremendously guilty after masturbating — even though I know my friends do it (we discuss it often), and that every male on Earth does it. I always tell myself when I start that there's nothing wrong with this, it's normal. Then when I'm done, I tell myself, "That's it — no more." I think the guilt I feel stems from the thoughts I'm having while I'm masturbating. Sometimes I think of friends masturbating, or being in sexual situations with them. Once in a while I think about being in some kind of forced situation and pretending that someone is making me masturbate or taking pictures of me while I do it. I feel guilty about that, because those are situations that do occur and are traumatic to their victims. I found one way to do it guilt-free is to masturbate trying different techniques from JackinWorld. That way, it seems more like an experiment rather than a perverse fantasy re-enactment.
- age 27, Ohio
I sometimes feel guilty because I think of all the water I'm wasting in the shower while I strive for an orgasm.
- age 20, Ohio
When I first started to masturbate (around age 12), I would feel very guilty after doing it. Back then, I was confused about it, though. I didn't believe any of the infamous tales, such as hair on your palms; I was concerned more for religious reasons. Now I feel fine after I do it. A little education — and an open talk with some friends — is a good way to relieve any guilt.
- age 18, Connecticut
I'm a devout Catholic, and my religion and its teachings are very special to me. So, yes, I *do* feel pangs of guilt after I masturbate (which is about 3 to 5 times a week). I know it's easy to dismiss my guilt as unhealthy, but it's not — it keeps me in focus, and it allows me to think about my actions and respond accordingly. I happen to think that although masturbation is not evil, it is not the best thing for me to do, either. I just figure I am weak and tend to cave in when it comes to my desires. While masturbation feels wonderful, that guilt prevents it from becoming an obsession, and it keeps me from moving on to other things until I feel truly ready. That's what a priest, who happens to be a friend, once called "healthy guilt." The guilt I have in me never came from my parents — they haven't said a word about my masturbating, even if they know about it. It's something I have thought a lot about, and I think I've come to terms with it.
- age 18, Utah
I feel guilty sometimes because although I'm straight, I often have thoughts about my male friends when I'm masturbating. I'll bet I think about guys more than half the time. I know for a fact that if I think about things for a long time, I usually end up doing them. I just don't want to lose a friend over masturbating.
- age 25, Pennsylvania
Yes, and no. If I do it the "regular old way," I don't feel guilty. If I do it in a new or weird way or place, I do feel somewhat guilty. Usually the guilt is about whether I should be doing it "there," or using "that" for such a purpose, or if "that" would do something bad to me. After a few minutes it goes away and I'm back to doing it again.
- age 18, New York
Yeah, I really do, because at times I'll try to stop for good. (I know it's really foolish.) But then when I'm in front of my computer and I get an erection, I can't keep from going to some "dirty" pages. Then I end up masturbating and I feel pretty bad for an hour or so, and I think, "I'll never do this again." But I do. Another thing that happens is that sometimes my friend and I masturbate together. Afterwards, I feel guilty about maybe being gay — but then I see a supermodel, or a girl I am attracted to, and I dismiss the idea and feel fine.
- age 14, Wisconsin
I feel like, "Why did I do this? I know I can have sex with my girlfriend anytime, so why masturbate?" But I do anyway.
- age 15, Connecticut
I always tell myself I won't do it again, but I always do. I'm a girl, and everyone makes it seem kind of all right for guys to masturbate because they "have to do it." But sometimes I, too, feel like I have to. It releases tension and has kept me from making a bad choice with a guy. However, I still always feel very ashamed and guilty after the pleasure goes away.
- age 17, Alabama
The only time I felt guilty about masturbating was when I was around 13. I think much of my guilt came from what I thought about when I was masturbating — for instance, my friend, or guys from P.E. class. But as I began to realize I was gay, I lost those guilty feelings.
- age 26, Georgia
Sometimes when I feel guilty after I masturbate, I'll start to think about sad things that have happened to me. For example, I'll think about a relative who passed away, or I'll just feel I did something wrong. My feelings must not be too strong, though, because I always end up coming back to do it again! (Masturbating, that is.)
- age 18, New York
I only feel guilty because I wish I could ejaculate again, without having to strain while trying for a second shot. Other than that, I don't feel guilty. I know everyone else masturbates — so why resist? You'll wind up doing it sooner or later; otherwise, you'll be staining your sheets. There's no need to feel guilty since 9 out of 10 males masturbate regularly.
- age 15, Illinois
Yes, I feel guilty. I feel that God is looking down at me from above. I feel he will punish me if I don't confess.
- age 15, Florida
I feel very guilty after I masturbate. I am Catholic, and at my confirmation just recently, I found out that masturbation is a sin. I have been trying to stop doing it ever since. I feel that God becomes really disappointed in me, and I get angry at myself. I promise to quit, but it never works. I don't see why masturbation is a sin in the first place. It isn't unhealthy, and it feels really good — so why shouldn't it be allowed?
- age 14, Virginia
I used to feel guilty, but now I don't. I used to think about how it was a sin and how I am wronging my future wife. Still, I felt that it was wrong, although I enjoyed it. I never stopped, though, and now I look on it as a natural thing — especially after reading JackinWorld and talking to others through the chat channel. If I were to feel guilty now, it would be because I spend so much time reading stuff on the Net to build my lust that I hardly have time for anything else!
- age 18, Malaysia
The only time I felt guilty about masturbating was when my friend taught me how to do it. As he was masturbating me, I was thinking, "Is it all right for me to be doing this? What will my parents say if they find out what I've done? If someone were to see me masturbating, I don't think I could live with myself." A couple of times I wanted him to stop, but he kept on masturbating me until I started shooting out semen. Afterwards, it didn't seem so bad. I knew that from that day on, I could masturbate without feeling guilty.
- age 23, Canada
When I was younger I always felt dirty after masturbating — like it was unclean, perverse, and nasty. Now I know that it is something all guys do. It's healthy, fun, and feels GREAT!
- age 17, Alabama
In my early teens, I often felt very guilty after masturbating; I'd feel I had done something wrong. Then my parents bought me a book by Dr. James Dobson called "Preparing for Adolescence," where he explains his opinion that masturbation is a gift from God, but it's up to each person to decide if it's okay according to his own beliefs. I knew my parents respected his opinion — so of course my decision was that it was fine! Since that day, my conscience has never given me trouble. Occasionally I still experience an emotional low after masturbation — but I think that might be just a physical thing.
- age 29, Minnesota
I'm married but still like to masturbate, and I feel guilty only if I have masturbated in the middle of the day and my wife wants to make love shortly after I pleasured myself.
- age 45, New Jersey
Yes — however, the guilt has steadily decreased since I began masturbating. It's hard to summarize my thoughts, but they are sort of like, "Why did you do this?" or "You are too superficial, focusing on physical pleasure instead of more important stuff." Obviously I'm good at rationalization, because I haven't yet given up masturbating (and don't plan to). But I guess I do feel somewhat bad after giving myself a really good time.
- age 16, Florida
I feel as though I have wasted my sperm, and Mormons aren't supposed to.
- age 29, Utah
When I first began to masturbate, I would become very creative and think of things I wouldn't dare think of doing in "unhorny" everyday life. When I finished, I would have a sick and terrible guilt in pit of my stomach, and then I'd get up and wash my hands compulsively or take a long shower (which usually started the cycle over again). Much of this guilt was due to my thinking of men, and boys of my age. Of course, the truth was that I was gay, and indeed I did not want to find this out and accept it. Now that I have accepted the fact that I was born that way, the guilty feelings are replaced by a mild "unhorniness," which is a lot better than feeling like a sick little troll afterwards. I'm very thankful, like many readers out there, that I found this great site, which has taught me how much people masturbate.
- age 16, Arizona
The only guilt that passes through my head after I masturbate is that I wish it could have lasted longer!
- age 14, Washington
I feel like I've done something wrong to my body. Also, I've been trying to keep from doing it, but to no avail — so I kind of feel guilty every time I masturbate. It's like I don't have enough self-control. Plus, I want to be a good Christian.
- age 25, Georgia
The only time I felt guilty was the first time I did it. That was also the first time I was caught, by my mom. She told me all of the bad things that would happen if I masturbated, which made me feel horrible. Then one day I found this site, and it got me confused. As I read, I learned that what my mom told me was wrong and that tons of people do it all over the world. At times I still feel guilty, but I have learned that it is just part of nature and better than having "wet dreams."
- age 15, Pennsylvania
Yes. I am trying to be a better Christian, and masturbation and sexual desires are the only things that keep me from being sin-free. I know you don't care that I am a Christian — but I feel really guilty because I know it is wrong to do it. It's just temptation, and those "guilty" feelings are from God.
- age 16, Kansas
Sometimes I feel guilty when I have a fantasy about another man, usually a fictional male, because I'm married. I love my wife and we have great — really great — sex. I used to have a buddy in high school and college I'd masturbate with; sometimes I think about him, but usually it's a made-up dude. I also have fantasies about fictional women, not as much about women at work or other women I know. And sometimes I have fantasies about my wife, usually in different settings. The only time I feel guilty, though, is when I have fantasies about other guys. I wonder how many other men deal with this.
- age 34, Georgia
No. Guilt is not one of the emotions I feel when I masturbate. Disappointment is, though — that I wasted my good semen on myself, not one of the many girls who would have extracted it for me.
- age 15, Alberta, Canada
I feel guilty because I masturbate too much. The reason for that is not enough sex. Other than that, I love every minute of it.
- age 23, Texas
I used to feel guilty when I was younger, but not anymore. When I was a teenager and still living at home, masturbation was one of those things most kids heard about from other kids, but society tended to make it a NO-NO. Even though my parents never really said much on the subject, I was always fearful they would somehow find out I was masturbating. As an adult living on my own, I am now more aware of what masturbation is, and I do it free of guilt. I don't blow my own horn about it, but the few times the topic has come up, I do admit to masturbating. The one good thing about this site is that it destroys all those myths and teaches one that masturbation is a normal act.
- age 33, Canada
I often think about all the children I could have produced. Or I think, "Is it really normal to trick your body into thinking you are having sex?" Or, "Will I ever have sex or be stuck with this version of it?" Even though it is okay and not harmful to masturbate, is it harmful to my "soul"? I don't know why I do it; it has gotten to be such a habit.
- age 17, Germany
I always feel great during masturbation, but the second after I ejaculate I do feel a tremendous amount of guilt. I think that none of my friends do this, so why should I? I am a pretty attractive guy, and I think I shouldn't be wasting time masturbating but instead should get a girlfriend.
- age 18, Canada
Usually, I don't feel guilty — but if I do, I think, "I'm going to get caught and really be embarrassed someday," or, "I must be the only one doing this and it's bad" (even though I know that's false). And sometimes I think, "Did I miss cleaning a spot that someone will see and realize what I've been doing?"
- age 17, Ohio
I feel most guilty after I masturbate looking at pictures of nude males with erections, and males masturbating. I consider myself straight, but I prefer to masturbate looking at an erect penis and fantasizing about performing oral sex on it. Once I have an orgasm, the guilty feelings set in. I feel bad that I used gay pictures to masturbate, and that if I keep it up, I will end up in a gay situation I will regret. Often before masturbating I will get gay pictures off the Net; then, after I am done, I feel guilty about having them, so I delete them. But the next time I am in the mood, I go right back to them and then delete them again.
- age 30, California
I always feel guilty about masturbating. I can reach orgasm only with a vibrator, and I'm always scared someone will hear the noise and come down to check on me. Mostly all of my thoughts go away during masturbation, but I also fantasize. Even then, I have to stop imagining, because I think I hear footsteps on the stairs, or my mother shaking her head at me. Sometimes I even think I hear her voice shrieking, "Oh God — my daughter masturbates!" I hate having to feel like I'm trapped and can't relieve my tension. But I do, when my parents are in the house. I also feel guilty about other girls finding out what I do. I know that my male friends who are obsessed with sex think it's cool that I masturbate, since I'm the only girl who admits it to them. But I know that girls think it's a bad thing to do, and that only guys do it. I think that's wrong, and I hate feeling guilty about being different — but I do.
- age 13, Colorado
Yes, I do. I feel like my parents know for some reason and would be disappointed. I feel embarrassed when I think about maturbating during the day, and I tend to find it silly.
- age 16, Pennsylvania
When I was a teen, I used to masturbate with a cousin. It was great at the time — yet after we'd ejaculate, we'd clean up really fast and "talk about football." That's too bad, because what we were doing was nothing "gay" — it was just checking each other out ... you know, puberty was harsh! And checking out how other guys got off was a cool way to deal with it. I still have thoughts of those sessions I had with my cousin as a teen, because it was the hottest masturbation sessions I had.
- age 27, Washington
I think it's pure science, so no — I've never really felt guilty. This is the way I see it: You're about 13, you're a boy, and you're starting puberty. You either (1) have a wet dream, or (2) masturbate. I think most boys go with #2. Why don't boys feel guilty if they have a "wet dream"? The only difference is your body involuntarily makes you ejaculate (in a "wet dream"), or your hand makes you ejaculate, which feels better. I don't feel guilty either way, because everyone ejaculates one way or another!
- age 14, New Jersey