I was almost 14 when I started "successfully" masturbating. I learned about it from my brother who told me about it after he had "sex education" classes at school. I was a little slow getting into puberty so even though I was doing the same actions as masturbating, I wasn't getting erections or having orgasms. Honestly, I've always enjoyed it, always looked forward to some self-pleasuring activities. I've never considered it a substitute for sex with my spouse. Even to this day, over thirty years later I still masturbate regularly, though now it is more about regulating my homosexual desires and fantasies.