Autoeroticism

The term was popularized toward the end of the 19th century by British sexologist Havelock Ellis, who defined autoeroticism as "the phenomenon of spontaneous sexual emotion generated in the absence of an external stimulus proceeding, directly or indirectly, from another person".

It can be directed at oneself, but can also be used to sleep, relieve stress, or release sexual tension when a partner is either unavailable or does not consent to sex.

As previously stated, the term autoeroticism is a physical or emotional act done to satisfy one's own sexual desires ("self-gratification").

For some people, sex toys such as dildos, vibrators, masturbators, anal beads and Sybian machines can be helpful for this form of autoeroticism.

Stimulation with the mouth is significantly harder to achieve; proof of autocunnilingus is incredibly slim[10] but autofellatio is thought to occur in less than 1% of the male population,[11] possibly because of the physical flexibility required to perform it.

For example, in the USA in 1994, President Bill Clinton fired Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders in part because she advocated teaching about masturbation in schools as a way of preventing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

The potential for injury or even death that exists while engaging in these practices rather than the partnered versions (erotic asphyxiation and bondage, respectively) becomes drastically increased due to the isolation and lack of assistance in the event of a problem.

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent worldwide lockdown starting in March 2020, there was an increase in autoerotic sexual practices of 40% according to a study done by the International Journal of Impotence Research.