Frequency of nocturnal emissions and masturbation habits among virgin male religious teenagers

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: Although nocturnal emission (NE) is an integral part of normal sexual function of males, little information has been documented in the literature. We aimed to assess masturbation habits and frequency of NE among virgin male religious Muslim teenagers.

Materials and methods: A questionnaire was administered to students staying in a religious dormitory or attending a religion course. Data of 113 male-respondents including demographic characteristics, masturbation habits and frequency of NE were collected.

Results: The mean age of students was 15.88±1.47 (range: 13-20) years. Of the students, 46(41.4%) reported that they never masturbated and 19 (17.3%) never experienced NEs. NE frequency was not correlated with age (p=0.092). Having NEs was not related to the time since last masturbation either (p=0.479). Subjects watching TV more than 3h/day had more NEs than the ones watching less (p=0.006). Of the subjects 13.6%, 12.6% and 67% believed that masturbation is halal, permissible and forbidden by religion, respectively whereas these rates were 59.1%, 20.4% and 7.5% for NE.

Conclusions: Although masturbation and NE are frequent among virgin male religious Muslim teenagers, a significant proportion of young men believe that only masturbation, but not NE, is forbidden by religion. Watching TV seems to be associated with the frequency of NEs. Further studies are required to elicit the factors affecting frequency of NEs.

Keywords: Ejaculation; Emisiones nocturnas; Epidemiology; Epidemiología; Eyaculación; Masturbación; Masturbation; Nocturnal emissions; Sueños húmedos; Wet dreams.