Why Some People Wait Until Their 30s to Masturbate for the First Time

[View this email in your browser]( | [Manage newsletter subscriptions](newsletter=all2) [Allure logo image]( February 18, 2023 [a high-contrast illustration of a woman with her hand in her underwear]( Welcome to Doing It, a new monthly column by sex educator and writer Varuna Srinivasan. Polly* first [attempted to masturbate]( at the age of 30. It was a long time coming, as the 30-year-old sound engineer spent many years feeling out of place (a "weirdo," in her own words) for not having the same level of interest in it as the folks around her. "I think the primary reason is that I've never really felt compelled to [masturbate], or have sex," recalls Polly. "It took me many years to realize I might be some brand of asexual." Another reason, Polly says, was more physical: "I definitely lacked anatomical understanding, which was embarrassing to admit, so I was too sheepish to ask anyone about it." Polly is not alone: For some adults, learning to masturbate can be a daunting and unfamiliar experience, as most people start in adolescence. We spoke with psychologists and sex therapists to learn why some folks start much later than others — and why that is totally OK. Hit the link below to [read the full story](, including the rest of Polly's journey. [READ MORE]( [Sign up for Allure's Beauty Box]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( This e-mail was sent to you by [allure.com](. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, allure@newsletters.allure.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( or [Manage your newsletter subscriptions](newsletter=all2) Copyright © Condé Nast 2023. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.