This book shows that masturbation is a critical component in the development of sexual health, explores the powerboth negative and positiveof the act, and outlines viable ideas for future research. It also presents a concise historical overview of societal attitudes toward masturbation and reports on changes in masturbatory behavior in the twentieth century. The book will also familiarize you with some surprising information about the relationship between masturbation and HIV risk among samples of women attending college and low-income African-American women. Finally, Masturbation as a Means of Achieving Sexual Health examines the connections between masturbation and other sexual activity, sexual fantasy, and desire.