By seeing something that turns me on, or I'll just get an overwhelming feeling of being horny and would like to feel an orgasm. When you are used to doing it daily, it's almost like brushing your teeth or eating. You don't feel complete for the day if you haven't done it.
- age 18, Indiana
Whenever I see a naked body — it doesn't matter if it's a guy or a girl — I get hard and decide to masturbate.
- age 15, Illinois
For me the desire for a masturbation session is triggered after the physical exertion of lifting weights or rowing for two hours. An erection is automatic, and I like the way my body feels as I masturbate to orgasm and my tension is relieved.
- age 24, California
If I notice that my hand and my penis are in the same room together.
- age 15, Wisconsin
The PURE pleasure of it. I am a married male who will never tire of self-pleasure. Who else can possibly know exactly what to do and when? Heterosexual sex is great, but there is a time for masturbation as well.
- age 42, South Carolina
I'll masturbate anytime, anyplace — however, the deciding factor usually ends up being whether there are adults around. No adults = MASTURBATION
- age 16, Massachusetts
I masturbate for many reasons: to get rid of stress at the end of a long day, to aid in a good night's sleep, or simply to experience the great feeling of a long and erotic session with my own body.
- age 33, Netherlands
Usually the feeling just comes over me while I am in bed. I will be lying there thinking of someone I like and I will get a erection. Sometimes, though, I'll read about a new technique on JackinWorld and want to try it, so I will!
- age 15, Pennsylvania
I usually decide to masturbate when I'm bored. It's as simple as that.
- age 20, New Jersey (female)
There are 3 main triggers that make me masturbate: (1) uncontrollable horniness; (2) when I have time on my hands, I always know what will end up *in* my hands; and (3) I often masturbate in bed at night to relax and fall asleep fast.
- age 29, Minnesota
I usually decide to masturbate when the house is empty. It feels really good to relax and release all the tension that's built up since the last time. It gives me a lot of energy after I reach orgasm, so I like to do it before I go out if I have the opportunity. It gives me a boost and keeps me warm all day!
- age 17, Michigan (female)
Something will remind me of sexy situation with my girlfriend, or I'll see something sexy on TV. If I spend an afternoon at the beach with tons of girls in bikinis, I have to go home and masturbate. If I get horny and no one is around and the time is right, I'll masturbate.
- age 39, Canada
An erection...and a closed door.
- age 14, Texas
Anything. It might be my female boss bending over or just some cigarette billboard on the way home from work. Anything the least bit naughty is good.
- age 28, Pennsylvania
I usually get an urge to masturbate every day when I come home from school. It's really hard for me not to, and I don't know why. I used to do it once a week but now I do it every day.
- age 21, Ontario, Canada
(1) Being all alone; (2) Time to go to bed; (3) Sudden urge — you just *have* to do it!
- age 15, Ohio
I often masturbate out of boredom, and after sexual dreams, but also during and after sexual phone calls from my boyfriend.
- age 16, Massachusetts (female)
Very often it's to stop me wasting so much time fantasizing! If I masturbate, I can get on with the rest of my day. The problem is simply that the desire and interest in sex and pleasure is so much stronger than anything else.
- age 41, United Kingdom
If I even think about masturbating...I have to do it right away!
- age 14, Texas
For me, the only deciding factor is really whether or not I have an erection. Other outside events such as not having enough time or privacy just postpone my session until I have the time or I get somewhere with more privacy. Other than that, I just simply go to it!
- age 17, Kentucky
I only ever masturbate if my penis gets hard on its own. When I get an erection, that's the sign that my body is ready to be masturbated. If I can't get and keep a good stiff erection without using my hands, then I'm not ready.
- age 14, Australia
Opportunity and need. First, I have to know I can be alone for a while — that my roommate is out and won't be coming back to interrupt me. Second, I have to feel not only the wetness down below but those butterflies that start fluttering in my stomach when I haven't had an orgasm for a few days. When those two things coincide, my hand goes into my panties and I'm on my way.
- age 20, Massachusetts (female)
I get in the mood to masturbate when I take off my shoes. So if I'm at home, I just take off my shoes and go to town. When I go over to my friends house, we have to take off our shoes, so it's hard to control myself.
- age 13, Arkansas
I don't have to be at work until 3 pm every day, so I have the whole place to myself each morning. Just having the freedom and privacy to do what I want — and to take my time — is enough in itself to make me want to masturbate. Sometimes I'll talk to my girlfriend, sometimes I'll be watching a movie, and sometimes nothing specific at all. Most of the time, it's just simply because I can!
- age 27, Pennsylvania
Ya know, I just get the "urge"!
- age 13, Wisconsin
I'm pretty much in the habit of masturbating every morning (except Sunday), so part of my decision is simply that it's time. Usually, however, I'm horny when the time comes — and by "horny" I mean a pressure in my testicles that's best relieved by orgasm. Occasionally I feel the desire to masturbate at other times, and it's that nagging feeling of horniness once again. Of course, if I've been concentrating on sexual things, I often get the desire to masturbate — but I don't have to think about sex to get horny.
- age 41, Tennessee
I am always ready to masturbate. I just need the time and space to do it. Masturbation is in itself the most pleasurable activity one can do sexually without the risk of diseases and/or pregnancy.
- age 14, Nebraska (female)
Pleasure! It would have to be the fact that I have a stiff one that needs to be set free. It's decided when I go into my room with the door shut and locked behind me. Then, of course, my body gives me no other choice.
- age 15, Florida
This is really bad, but the main reason I'll masturbate is that I can. If my parents aren't home, or if everyone's asleep, I masturbate because I can without getting caught. I don't even have to be horny in the first place, because the thought of doing it turns me on, and I know that once I start I won't stop. So if you ask me what makes me masturbate, I would say, "I can, therefore, I do."
- age 18, Oklahoma
Three simple words: IT FEELS GOOD!
- age 16, Pennsylvania
It's rather embarrassing to admit it, but I truly believe I masturbate now more out of habit than any type of sexual urge. I'll be sitting around, and I'll think to myself, "Boy, I'd like to have an orgasm now." Next thing I know I've got lotion on my hand and I'm stroking myself. I also think the time of day has an important factor in it; if it's after 11 pm and I'm not either sleeping with my girlfriend or studying, I have a *very* strong "impossible to resist" urge to masturbate.
- age 19, Vermont
I think about sex all the time, in one way or another, so I'm actually always pretty horny. I have an active sex life, but sometimes I'd rather masturbate than actually go to the trouble of having to worry about a partner. This in itself makes me horny enough to do it...did that make any sense at all?
- age 33, Pennsylvania
Usually I have a "masturbation time" set aside each day — right before I go to bed, normally — and I do it then faithfully, provided, of course, that I haven't had sex that evening. The second most popular time is to do it between classes, when I have time to kill. Masturbating makes me nice and sleepy, so I like to take a nap afterwards.
- age 19, Pennsylvania
This is weird — sometimes when I swim. Maybe it's the water environment, or the fact that I am almost nude with others.
- age 15, Alabama
The idea to masturbate just sort of appears in my mind, with or without visual stimulation (meaning I don't need to be watching Baywatch to think of it). If I'm alone I'll go for it, or I'll try to find a bathroom to do it in. For me, there really isn't a whole lot of active decision-making going on.
- age 19, Massachusetts
I'll just be watching TV and I'll get horny at something, or for no reason at all, and I'll make a quick jog to the bathroom to masturbate
- age 13, Kansas
It's the sudden urge that comes from thinking about masturbation, not necessarily sex in general. Often I'll be lying in bed and think to myself that I want to masturbate, and after a few more minutes of thinking I'm off to the races. Another factor is the opportunity — if I'm alone in the house and know I will not have the opportunity again for a few days, I'll take it.
- age 16, Canada
I find that the need for me to masturbate is when I feel good about myself, so I usually take matters in hand when I'm in a good mood. I also find masturbation last thing at night is a wonderful sedative. All in all, I masturbate to feel good, and to feel good about myself.
- age 38, South Africa
I just get in the mood, and it gets so uncontrollable that I just have to do it. So, I usually look at a few pictures, go into the bathroom, and get it over with.
- age 16, Wisconsin
I'll be either extremely horny from not masturbating the whole week (I've been trying to quit, or to not masturbate as often), or I'll just be bored out of my mind because my friends are all at work and there is nothing to do. I used to be a chronic masturbator (twice a day), and I came to the conclusion that just because you are horny doesn't mean you should masturbate. So now I do it only when I am horny as hell and can't control myself.
- age 17, Arizona
Usually it's just the pure erotic sensation you get when you know you're home alone and have hours to yourself.
- age 14, Minnesota
Thinking or reading about masturbation easily gets me going. What makes me think about it in the first place? The simple truth is: Whenever I'm alone, provided I'm not hungry, tired, or upset over something, the very first thing I want to do is masturbate. Often that can't *be* the first thing I do, but it's the first thing I want to do. Frequently I have to wait for the right time, and enough of it, to enjoy myself thoroughly.
- age 48, Maryland
I usually decide to masturbate when I think of someone or see someone whom I find to be extremely attractive. My mind goes crazy, I get excited, and then have to drop my pants and let my imagination have a go at it.
- age 18, Michigan
Usually, it's because I am going to bed and are about to take a shower. It's kind of routine, so I get hard and do it then. Otherwise, I just do it when I have an erection and time to myself.
- age 14, Georgia
I don't do it because "I'm horny and I absolutely have to do it" — I do it for the pleasure. So for me, I'd say the impetus to masturbate is simply to have an orgasm, because orgasms are beautiful.
- age 24, Florida
Anxiety usually makes me decide to masturbate. I get all of this sexual tension built up during the day, and I need some way to release it. I feel more relieved when I am finished; it gives a real sense of satisfaction.
- age 16, Idaho (female)
Usually a stimulating visual experience, such as a woman with nice legs or a nice figure. Sometimes a flirtatious encounter at work will do the trick. More than five days between orgasms makes a session mandatory.
- age 51, New Jersey
For me it's kind of like the feeling you get when your hungry — it's just something you have to and want to do. While eating is a bit more socially accepted, I still find time most every day to satisfy myself.
- age 28, New York