Throughout history, masturbation has carried a negative stigma. It has been described at different times as a moral sin, a diagnostic device for insanity, and a shameful practice performed only by the desperate. This perception is slowly changing in our society, as more and more mainstream media outlets acknowledge, discuss or at least ridicule the practice. (Consider the movie American Pie, for example.) However, despite research indicating many of the benefits of solo sex, masturbation – especially for women – remains somewhat of a taboo subject. This list is meant to help take the “shun” out of masturbation. Enjoy!
1. When your body experiences an orgasm, it is flooded with chemicals and hormones that make it feel good and can even improve health. Many people (myself included) have written about the benefits of sexual interaction for your body’s physical and emotional well-being, but an orgasm releases the same chemicals and stimulates the same neurotransmitters whether it is experienced in the company of others or by your own hand.
That means that masturbation will help to:
2. Relieve Stress: Essentially, sexual arousal and stimulation builds muscle tension, and orgasm is a tremendous release of all this tension. Thus, like a massage, yoga, relaxation exercises or even substances like alcohol, masturbation can help to relax your body after a stressful event.
3. Boost Immunity: Oxytocin, a hormone released during orgasm, helps white blood cells to fight infection more quickly and effectively. Studies have shown that women with regular amounts of oxytocin in their blood streams report feelings of sickness less often. This could also be related to the pain-relieving properties of oxytocin, a phenomenon which can help to alleviate menstrual cramps as well as other aches.
4. Burn Calories: Like sex, the movements and physiological effort put into achieving orgasm during masturbation burns calories and can act as exercise. While solo-pleasure may not require as much full-body movement as sexual activity with a partner can, the full body muscle tension, heavy breathing and raised heart-rate can still give you a decent cardiovascular workout.
However, masturbation has these additional benefits to sexual activity:
5. You will never achieve true sexual satisfaction until you are familiar with your own body. Masturbation provides an opportunity for you to explore your erogenous zones and experiment with what feels best. This will allow you to best guide a partner if you are interested in sharing the experience. In fact,
6. The only way to have absolutely, completely safe sex is to abstain. If you are not yet ready to handle the responsibilities and consequences that are associated with sexual activity (pregnancy, disease, sexual/emotional/mental/physical health of you and your partner, etc.) masturbation is a perfectly safe substitute for the contact you might be craving.
7. Many women who are chronically and physically unable to achieve orgasm with a partner, whether due to past trauma, a certain health condition or orgasmic dysfunction, can learn to achieve sexual satisfaction through regular masturbation. Just like you must train your muscles as an athlete, masturbation can be a useful exercise for women who have trouble performing when it is “game-time”. (Please excuse the sports metaphors here – I got carried away.) Personal stimulation rehearsal can allow the body to be more receptive to sexual touches from others.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again: orgasm is a crucial component of the healthy woman’s life. But, contrary to beliefs that still linger in our culture, this doesn’t mean that a single lady cannot be completely and holistically healthy through self-sustaining methods. Help break down some barriers, women, and whether you are part of a sexual relationship or captain of your own pleasure cruise, enjoy exploring yourself tonight. To quote Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri in a popular SNL skit: “Safe sex is in your hands – sex can wait, masturbate!”
Please stay tuned for a discussion of vibrator use!
Sources
1. Kick, Russ. “Everything You Know About Sex is Wrong.” The Disinformation Company Ltd. 2006. Page 301.
2. Levin, R. J. (2002). The physiology of sexual arousal in the human female: A recreational and procreational synthesis. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 31, 405–411.
3. Hoppe, Diana. “Healthy Sex Drive, Healthy You.” Health Reflections Press. 2010.