Female masturbation: did you know that?

In this article, we explore the world of auto-eroticism in women at 360°: benefits, advice, techniques and much more!

Masturbation or auto-eroticism consists of stimulating oneself to experience sexual pleasure .

While often still considered taboo, touching and pleasuring is a perfectly natural act and not a forbidden practice to be ashamed of . In fact, masturbation allows you to get to know your body better, to explore your sexuality and to make couple sex more fulfilling. As such, therefore, it represents a very important stage for the healthy development of female and male sexuality .

In this article, we will focus on female masturbation and we will try to answer all the most frequently asked questions and doubts about this practice, including the most “embarrassing” questions .

Female masturbation: all the benefits

Is masturbating good or bad for women? The answer comes from numerous studies, according to which masturbation has many benefits on women’s health and well-being :

• relieves premenstrual symptoms and reduces pain and menstrual cramps , thanks to the release of endorphins;
• strengthens the pelvic floor;
• increases lubrication , reducing vaginal dryness;
• relieves headaches ;
• improves blood pressure ;
• it has positive effects on circulation .

More generally:

• relieves sexual tension ;
• improves mood ;
• reduces stress and muscle tension ;
• induces sleep ;
• improves self – esteem .

But that is not all. Exploring one’s own pleasure helps to better understand what one’s sexual preferences are, the areas most sensitive to stimulation, the pressure and the rhythm of the movements that lead to orgasm. In turn, this greater awareness improves sex and complicity as a couple , and facilitates the achievement of orgasm with the partner as well . This is why masturbation is also used to treat some sexual problems .

Finally, masturbation can also be practiced in pairs, before, during or after penetration , to reach orgasm more easily or simply to increase mutual excitement.

Some important tips

Masturbation is a 100% safe practice when practiced with common sense. In fact, it allows you to avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

However, there are some hygiene habits that it is important to respect in order not to have problems:

• wash your hands with soap and water before touching your private parts and those of your partner;
• after practicing anal stimulation , always wash your hands and any sex toys with running water and soap before putting them in contact with the vulva or vagina; alternatively, it is good to use a condom and then replace it before moving on to the genital area;
• take care of the hygiene of sex toys , before and after use, following the instructions included in the package.
• in case of couple masturbation, do not share sex toys with your partner without having cleaned them first or use a condom to be replaced at each exchange , to avoid any sexually transmitted diseases.

Female masturbation: how to start?

First of all it would be important to get to know how we are made. The advice is to take a mirror and lie down or squat down. In this way it will be possible to observe the external part of the female genitalia: the vulva .

It will thus be possible to see where the clitoris is , the labia minora and labia majora , the vaginal orifice and the area around the urethra : all areas sensitive to stimulation, with differences between women and women.

At that point, with or without a hand mirror, you can experiment by touching the vulva with your fingers , exploring the most receptive areas and the most pleasant movements.

Female masturbation techniques

Let’s start by saying that there is no “normal” way to masturbate . Auto-eroticism is an absolutely personal act and every woman has her own preferences.

Having said that, we present to you all the main techniques used in female masturbation . Naturally, once you have become familiar with your body, you will be able to discover many others by letting yourself be guided by your sensations and your fantasies.

External and clitoral masturbation

This masturbation technique mostly consists of stimulating the clitoris , the female sexual pleasure organ. In fact, this area is extremely sensitive since it contains as many as 8,000 nerve endings (the male penis has about half of them!).

According to an American study, 37% to 73% of women need clitoral stimulation to reach orgasm: not surprisingly, this is the most used form of female masturbation.

Arousal can be provided by finger stroking , back and forth, up and down, or in a circular motion. By changing the pace of movement, you can find out which one causes greater excitement.

Even a simple pressure , more or less intense, can be very pleasant.

Some women also find it pleasant to uncover the tip of the clitoris , others stimulate the area between the mouth of the vagina and the urethra .

Vaginal masturbation

It consists of finger stimulation of the vaginal opening and canal . It can be practiced together with clitoral masturbation, to increase the sensation of enjoyment.

The use of a lubricant can make this practice even more pleasant, especially in the case of vaginal dryness , due for example to the use of oral contraceptives or menopause.

Masturbation with everyday objects

Many women use the shower to give themselves pleasure by directing the jet of water on the clitoris . Others choose to use a pillow, blanket or rolled up towel , position themselves on their stomachs and simulate intercourse, stimulating the clitoris by rubbing .

Masturbation with sex toys

Sex toys are objects specially designed for sexual pleasure, alone or in pairs. Today there are so many models available on the market, but not all of them are good for every woman. This is why it would be useful to try them before buying them , to understand which types, shapes and sizes are most suitable.

Among the various models of sex toys we find:

• vibrators , vibrating objects that recall the shape of a penis, but which in some models have extensions to simultaneously stimulate the clitoris and G-sting;
• dildos , which unlike the previous ones have no vibration;
• Kettle balls , also called Chinese balls, Ben Wa Balls or Geisha balls. They are balls made of various materials, connected to each other by a filament, which can be inserted into the vagina or anus;
• plugs , objects that once inserted remain in position and do not need to be gripped by hand. They are generally meant for anal use;
• pumps for the clitoris and nipples , which exert a suction action on these erogenous zones;
• oral sex simulators , which combine sucking and swinging, precisely simulating cunnilingus.

To avoid annoying infections, it is important to clean sex toys before and after use , following   the manufacturer’s instructions. There are special detergents on the market , but if they are waterproof products (therefore they can also be used in the shower), it is possible to proceed with a thorough washing with soap and running water .

Masturbating during periods: is it possible?

The answer is yes : menstruation does not represent a contraindication to autoeroticism and any belief in this regard is not supported by scientific evidence.

Conversely, many women experience an increase in sex drive during flow days. In addition, masturbation may help reduce period cramps and pain .

To avoid stains , you can place a towel or washcloth under your basin or, alternatively, masturbate in the shower . Another solution is to use a menstrual sponge  or menstrual ring .

Is masturbating too much bad for women?

The frequency with which a woman masturbates varies greatly : some masturbate several times a day, others mainly around ovulation, still others occasionally or never at all. As a result, it is not easy to set a limit on what normal is .

However, when masturbation becomes an addiction or replaces and is preferred to sex as a couple or becomes an irresistible need to be satisfied obsessively, it must be considered a wake-up call.

In these cases, psychologists speak of compulsive masturbation , a condition that can have negative effects on self-esteem, relationships, social life and work.

Since this is a pathological situation, it is very important to put shame and embarrassment aside , and to confidently seek the help of a specialist .

What if you don’t orgasm?

As in sexual intercourse with a partner, orgasm is not mandatory in masturbation . The aim is to experience sensations that make you feel good about yourself.

Before thinking about orgasm, take some time to get to know your body well. Get comfortable, explore your erogenous zones, experiment with movements and positions and focus on your fantasies.

In any case, if you have any doubts, ask your trusted gynecologist for advice.