Backgroud: Masturbation has been stigmatized over the years. Research work in many countries indicates that men significantly more likely than women to report having ever masturbated and associations between masturbation and various sociodemographic factors were identified.
Objective: This study was carried out intending to provide information about the frequency of masturbation in a sample of Egyptian women and the views of women about it.
Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 286 women who filled a self-report questionnaire covering four domains: epidemiology, sexual activity, assessment of masturbation practice, and probing of the religious attitudes of the participants towards masturbation.
Results: Among our participants, 53.5% admitted practicing masturbation. The most common frequency of masturbation was once per week (44.2%). Masturbation was considered a substitute for absence of husband or his unwillingness to have sex by 44.2% of participants. Masturbation was considered ‘haram' (prohibited) by 39.2% of participants and 77.5% said it caused them to feel guilty. The commonest age group practicing masturbation was 20–29 years and the most common educational level for masturbators was women with a university degree (24.5%). Married women admitted to having masturbated more than virgins (32.9 vs. 10.1%).
Conclusion: Masturbation is a relatively common practice among this sample of Egyptian women. Most women considered masturbation ‘haram' and felt guilty about it. The most common age for practicing masturbation was between 20 and 29 years and the most common educational level for masturbators was a university degree and married women were the most common group to admit masturbation.