The scientific study of masturbation: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Given the contradictory positions regarding masturbation—from its promotion as a healthy practice to its association with negative experiences, which highlight the complexity of this behavior—a bibliometric approach is necessary to help structure this debate. This study aims to map scientific articles indexed in Scopus to identify research production on masturbation, including trends in production growth, sources, authors, countries, affiliations, relevant terms, and collaboration networks. The findings highlight the sustained growth and increasing multidisciplinary nature of masturbation research, while emphasizing the need for broader geographical representation and continued development of this field.