Masturbation seems to be a hot topic on DearSugar lately, which has got me thinking a lot of about the benefits of masturbation for a healthy sexual relationship, specifically mutual masturbation. This is when two people masturbate in the company of one another or when each person stimulates their partner for them. It can be your sexual act all on its own or a very significant part of foreplay, either way, it can be an important learning experience.

They can't possibly be real, but they are. Last week GiggleSugar posted a Headline of the Day on the
masturbate-a-thon, and I almost couldn't believe my eyes. I did a little more research and found out that these strange
events first began in San Francisco in 1998 as a way of breaking social taboos around masturbation and self-pleasure.

Dear Sugar,
I seem to have problems orgasming during foreplay or sex, especially when my significant other and I are being romantic. I can have an orgasm usually every day from masturbating, but have to put so much effort into having one when I'm with a guy. When he gets all romantic, it's even harder for me.

Dear Sugar,
My question is this: Am I right to think it's so wrong for my boyfriend to masturbate in my room (which is in my parents' house) when I go off to work and let him sleep in? I have asked him numerous times not to do it but he still does.
—So Annoyed Annie
To see Dear Sugar's answer
Dear So Annoyed Annie,
I'm not even going to ask how you know that he's masturbating when you're not there.

Dear Sugar,
I have been dating my boyfriend for two years. Ten months of it was long distance - way long distance between the US and Europe. He has been back in the US for about four months, and I just started graduate school and he hates his job.

Dear Sugar--
I am a 44 year old male living alone, and I have been divorced for five years. Currently I am involved in a very open and loving relationship with a wonderful woman that I want to spend the rest of my life with. Our sex life goes beyond words in terms of it being complete and fulfilling for both of us; we are both very happy and take much joy in satisfying each other, often several times a day whenever we are together.

Dear Sugar--
I have been married for almost two years. In the beginning the sex was great but it always seemed it was only when he wanted it. At first I thought it was like that since I lived with my parents we didn't have as much alone time, but now we've been married for a year and I don't climax when we have sex.

Dear Sugar--
I'm a single 24 year old virgin. I haven't dated too many men and I'm not sexually active or even that experienced. I started to masturbate recently, but after I have an orgasm I feel guilty and a little dirty.