To masturbate means to stimulate yourself in a sexual way. It involves touching one’s own body and sexual organs for sexual pleasure. Masturbation is common, and many women engage in this sexual activity – more women than you think! It’s a safe kind of sex play, and it can bring many health benefits as well as allowing you to learn about your body.
For many of us, masturbation is a taboo topic. There are many myths about masturbation that can cause us to feel guilty about it, and many women feel ashamed about doing it. However, masturbation is a natural and common activity for both women and men, as it’s a natural form of exploration of our own body.
Studies show that around 7 out of 10 men and 5 out of 10 women masturbate, as well as being common for teens to masturbate whilst they begin to learn about their bodies. People can begin to masturbate at different stages of their lives, many even from childhood as they begin to explore their changing bodies.
There are many reasons why people masturbate. Some reasons are:
- To relieve sexual tension;
- To achieve sexual pleasure;
- To reach orgasm when partners are unavailable;
- To explore the body to figure out what you like;
- To relax and relieve stress.
Masturbation can be good for both your mental and physical health. People who masturbate tend to feel more confident sexually and about themselves, and it’s also one of the best ways to learn about your sexuality. It helps you to explore the types of touch that you like the most, and helps you to learn how to get excited and how to reach orgasm. Learning about what feels good to you can also increase your chance of feeling sexual pleasure with your sex partner; you will feel more comfortable with your body and will begin to know your rhythm and how you feel when you’re aroused. When your confidence and comfort levels are high – which masturbation can help with – it’s easier to let your partner know what you like.
Masturbation can also improve your ability to have orgasms, as you get to understand your body and how it feels when you’re close to climaxing. It can also help you sleep and relax you, so there really are many benefits and it’s not something that you should be ashamed of. Many people feel shame or guilt about masturbating, however only you can decide if it’s right for you and if you’re comfortable with it; that’s the main thing.
Different people enjoy different things when they masturbate. Women may stimulate parts of their vagina, such as the clitoris, inner or outer labia, vaginal opening of the anus. Many women prefer to rub near to – but not on – the clitoris, because direct stimulation can be very intense. Some women also use sex toys such as vibrators and dildos during masturbation to increase their arousal, so if you do this make sure to read the directions and clean your toy properly.
Remember that masturbation is a natural part of the exploration of your body and can occur from any age, so don’t listen to the myths and don’t feel guilty about doing something that’s a perfectly normal part of your body’s development.