May I ask you a question? Is masturbatory method by friction a penis against a pillow considered a normal, healthy masturbatory technique for boys and men? How common is the pillow method of masturbation? And which masturbatory method is better for sexual health and sexualwell-being: by hands or rubbing a penis against a pillow? I would owe you a debt of gratitude for your time and clarifying this question. Thank you so much for your time, Bob

First, let me say that there are MANY methods that people use for masturbation and though I suspect that most men think that all other men (and boys) must use their hands for masturbation, you need to know that MANY do not. In fact, using a pillow or some other soft object like laying face down on a bed are just as common methods of masturbation as using the hand. Children,especially those who have been given some message that "touching themselves" is bad frequently use a pillow or laying face down on a bed as a way to "hide" the fact that they are masturbating. As they grow older they find that way continues to be successful and thus pleasureable.

As far as being healthy, either method is just as healthy. Both supply the touch and pressure that creates the arousal that you need. Each method can be valuable in using masturbation as a way to learn how to control ejaculation when/if you are involved with a parter.

Laying on your back (where some people then use the hand) is a good relaxing method where the muscles of the buttocks and legs are not tense and a person can practice maintaining longer arousal periods before orgasm. The tense muscles of the buttocks and back of legs often trigger faster orgasms.

Using a pillow, where a person is likely to lay on the front of the body to increase the pressure of rubbing the penis, is also healthy especially for preparation for being on "top" in an intercourse situation. You can learn from this position to slow down and control how fast you ejaculate when with a partner, and you can then practice simulating what it might be like with a partner.

I hope this is helpful and answers the question that you were asking. Please feel free to write again if you have other questions and thanks again for writing this one.

Reviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team