Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42205345›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of sexual health : official journal of the World Association for Sexual Health2026

"I Should Not Be Doing This Thing": A Qualitative Exploration of Masturbation Experiences Among Young Indian Women.

Sanchita Singh, Shreeya Menon, Tanvi Reddy Pachika, Uttara Kaura, Namratha Guna Kaleru

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of sexual health : official journal of the World Association for Sexual Health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sanchita SinghJindal School of Psychology and Counselling, O. P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0529-9753
Shreeya MenonDepartment of Liberal Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3076-0185
Tanvi Reddy PachikaOsmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Uttara KauraJindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences, O P Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India.
Namratha Guna KaleruSchool of Psychology and Sport Science, Bangor University, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Masturbation in India is a sexual behavior enveloped in taboo, a manifestation of cultural norms that have been deeply ingrained through generations. Objective: This study aims to address the paucity of contemporary research on women's experiences of masturbation, particularly in the Indian context, using phenomenology. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with twelve heterosexual women aged 18-30, and the technique of reflexive thematic analysis was employed to interpret the data. Result: The three themes that we identified: Theme 1: Influence on Young Women's Masturbation Experiences (Societal Norms and Cultural Biases, Impact of Media), Theme 2: Barriers to Masturbation Practices (Inadequate Sexual Literacy and Resource Scarcity), Theme 3: Impacts of Masturbation (Positive Experiences and Emotional Vulnerabilities). Conclusion: This study addresses a significant gap in the literature on women's experiences with masturbation in India, providing a foundation for future research. The themes identified can serve as a basis for developing culturally relevant programs to enhance sexual well-being among Indian women.

Indexed as

experiencesIndiaMasturbationqualitativestudywomen

Identifiers

PMID42205345
PMCPMC13203068

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.