What is Masturbation?
Masturbation is the solo act of stimulating one’s genitals for sexual pleasure. Most often done with your own hand(s), there are lots of toys on the market that can help too! There is no right way to masturbate, as the act itself allows you to explore your own body and become aware of what you like, don’t like, etc.
Health & Benefits
Here are some of the many benefits of masturbation for anyone and everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation! In General:
- Masturbation brings self-awareness on a bunch of levels. Firstly, you get to explore your own body and get to know what you like and don’t like sexually, physically, etc.; which will definitely help when with a partner. Secondly, getting down with your bad self can help to improve your body image; learning about your body and exploring it regularly can help you to appreciate it more. Which means masturbation can even improve your self-esteem!
- Masturbation is one of the lowest-risk sexual activities you can engage in – be it alone or through mutual masturbation with a partner. There is NO risk of STI contraction or pregnancy.
- It helps you sleep. After masturbating, your blood pressure is low and your body and mind are relaxed, allowing you to fall into a deeper sleep.
- Masturbation can reduce stress. Just like working out, when you masturbate, your body releases endorphins throughout your body. It also allows you to focus on one specific thing (PLEASURE), which can ease your mind and relax you.
In Bodies With A Vulva
Masturbation can relieve menstrual cramps. When you masturbate, certain hormones are released that can help alleviate menstrual pain. Also, cramps are caused by the uterus contracting to expel its lining; and when orgasm occurs, it relaxes a lot of the muscle tension that has built up into cramps. The ultimate release!
Masturbation helps flush out bad bacteria in your pelvic area. While masturbating, the vaginal muscles will stretch, releasing a vaginal mucus. This allows for fluid circulation, which helps to push out any bacteria that decide to linger.
Masturbation strengthens muscle tone in the pelvic and anal area, reducing chances of involuntary urine leakage and uterine prolapse.
In Bodies With A Penis
“Practicing” can help with premature ejaculation. By training on your own to last longer and experimenting with some self-love, it will allow you to push yourself even further with a partner.
It can improve sperm quality and production. Sperm that sits for too long in the testicles can actually develop abnormalities. So it’s a good thing to refresh and replenish newer sperm with the help of regular ejaculation.
Things To Consider:
Toys & Accessories:
To take your self-love time to a new & exciting level, try it with some toys! Regardless of your gender or sexual orientation, there are SO many different kinds of toys on the market that are guaranteed to leave you satisfied.
For those with a vulva, try starting with a vibrator or dildo!
Dildos are toys that are used mainly for internal penetration. Not all realistic looking, some dildos vibrate, rotate, or have other special features such as a suction cup base. A new product, The Cowgirl provides the ultimate in solo session fun as this sex machine lets you choose how you want to ride it!
Vibrators come in many forms but the most popular are seen as clitoral, internal, or a bit of both! Clitoral vibrators are often smaller and can feature a pinpoint tip for more direct stimulation. A wand is another type of vibrator that is used externally and/or on the clitoris; they feature a bigger, more bulbous head that is usually flexible. Internal vibrators can be straight or curved at the tip, for optimal G-spot stimulation. Dual toys or “rabbits” combine both kinds of vibration as one end is meant to be internal while the other piece stimulates the clitoris.
For those with a penis, try using a masturbator or a cock ring - maybe even together!?
Masturbators are exactly that, something you can masturbate into! Often seen as a sleeve or tube, masturbators can mimic the feeling of the real thing. They come in a variety of orifices and body parts, but vagina, anus, and/or mouth ones are the most popular! The inside of a masturbator is often textured or ribbed, and offer some sort of suction effect that can emulate “tightness”.
For Everyone!
Regardless of which toy you’re using and for what, lube it up! Lubricants not only offer a smoother glide and ride but did you know they actually help you to feel more? Let’s try an experiment. With your lips dry, run your finger along them, noticing how it feels. Then, lick your lips and run your finger along them again. How did it feel this time? Did you feel more? Did your finger glide over your lips easier? That’s what lube does with sex, sex toys, foreplay, and anything that you want to feel more of!
Here are some fun facts you probably didn’t know about jacking off, flicking the bean, wanking, fapping, and polishing the pearl!
- On average, the male orgasm lasts for about 6 seconds, whereas the female orgasm lasts about 20 seconds. Girl Power!
- A clay figurine found in a temple in Malta is believed to be one of the first depictions of a female masturbating. It was from the 4th millennium BC.
- Ejaculation typically happens at a speed of 45 km/h or, 28mph for our American friends. Talk about the fast and the furious!!
- Women who have a higher level of testosterone have a greater interest in masturbating.
- Humans aren’t the only species that masturbate. Deer, monkeys, birds, horses, walruses, and squirrels have all been documented pleasuring themselves. Female apes have even been observed using sticks for added pleasure!
- More than 41% of people have been accidentally caught in the act! So your adolescent self is not alone.
- Men typically don’t tend to remember when they last masturbated – unless of course, it was just last night! When men ejaculate, they lose vital neurochemicals associated with concentration and memory.
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