Traumatic Masturbatory Syndrome (TMS) is the habit some males have of masturbating in a face-down (prone) position. Some TMS practitioners rub their penises against the mattress, pillow, or other bedding, while others thrust into their hand. Some rub against the floor.

What's wrong with masturbating in this fashion?

Masturbating face-down puts excessive pressure on the penis, and especially on the base of the penis. These sensations are not easily replicated in conventional masturbation or in sexual intercourse. This can make TMS practitioners unable to have normal sexual relations. A survey conducted for this web site revealed that males who masturbate conventionally have sex 6.6 times more often than TMS practitioners.

The most common problems TMS practioners have are anorgasmia (also called inorgasmia; it's the inability to have an orgasm during intercourse); or delayed orgasm. Many TMS practitioners also have trouble getting erections. It's a common experience among males who are used to masturbating face-down to engage in sexual intercourse for over half an hour, fail to have an orgasm, and then try to reach orgasm in an atypical (and usually unenjoyable) way, such as thrusting the penis against his partner's legs, palm, or bed. Needless to say, the female partners of these men find their behavior unusual and disturbing. These women often wonder if they are to blame for the man's inability to reach orgasm through intercourse.