Autoeroticism

Autoeroticism is the practice of stimulating oneself sexually. The term was popularised toward the end of the 19th century by British sexologist Havelock Ellis, who defined autoeroticism as "the phenomena of spontaneous sexual emotion generated in the absence of an external stimulus proceeding, directly or indirectly, from another person." The most common autoerotic practice is masturbation, and the two terms are often used as synonyms, although masturbation can also occur with a partner.

Many people use dildos, vibrators, anal beads, Sybian machines, and other sex toys while alone. Autofellatio, the act of orally stimulating one's own penis, occurs in less than 1% of the male population. It is rare because performing it requires great physical flexibility. Autoerotic behavior is considered to be a normal part of human development, beginning when children are able to stimulate themselves sexually.

Some people, for religious or personal reasons, believe autoeroticism to be wrong. For example, masturbation is considered wrong by the Roman Catholic Church because it does away with the procreative and unitive dimensions of the sexual act and only gives one pleasure, and is therefore an offence against chastity.

A few autoerotic practices are considered unsafe, sometimes even leading to death. These include autoerotic asphyxiation and self-bondage. The potential for injury or even death that exists while engaging in the partnered versions of these fetishes (the choking game and bondage, respectively) becomes drastically increased due to the isolation and lack of assistance in the event of a problem.

Autoeroticism in other animal species
Animal autoeroticism has been observed in many species, both in the wild and in captivity. Individuals of some species have been known to create tools for autoerotic purposes.

Variant meaning
The word autoeroticism is occasionally used to refer to sexual feeling occurring without external stimulation.