When it comes to statistics on women and masturbation, numbers are iffy, at best. A 2010 study by the Kinsey Institute found that just over half of women between the ages of 18 and 49 have masturbated in the last 90 days, with 51.7 percent of women ages 25 to 29 doing it in the last month, while a study by Indiana University from 2009 put those stats at only 21.5 percent of women in the same age group having masturbated in the past month. But while the numbers vary for women when it comes to who, how, and when they’re masturbating, what never changes is the fact that men are masturbating more than women. Obviously, that needs to change.
Masturbation is one of the best things you can do for your body. If you want to treat your body well, then you want to add masturbation to your list of ways to do just that. If you're active, eat well, and avoid toxins like smoking and excessive drinking, then why aren’t you masturbating, too? And if you are, why aren’t you masturbating more? It’s not like you can overdo it, well, except for those few times I was late to work, because I couldn’t stop, but I’ve never been one to adhere to the advice of moderation so that's on me.
The mental and physical health aspects of masturbation aside, it also makes you better at sex. No joke. It’s a woman who masturbates and masturbates often who’s killing in the sack. Here are five reasons why.
1. It Helps You Become More Comfortable In Your Skin
Studies have found that a negative perception of your body can really mess up your libido. Not only can it make it so you don’t enjoy sex as much as you should, but that you don’t even want it all. But in masturbating regularly you become more comfortable with your body. It gives you a deeper appreciation of how your body works and just how amazing it is, no matter your size or shape.
2. It Teaches You What You Like And Don’t Like
When you know how to get yourself off, then you can share that knowledge with your partner. Great sex means pleasing each other and enjoying all the pleasure that’s being had. If you go into sex with full confidence and understanding of your body, then both you and your partner will benefit. You'll be able to show them the tricks you've learned during your alone time, and use it as starting point for even more exploration.
3. It Keeps Your Body Feeling Sexual
I don’t know about you, but I know that when I’m in a relationship having lots of sex, I masturbate even more. In doing so, I am literally walking sex, because my body is constantly being stimulated. The same goes for when you’re not having sex all the time, too.
As Dr. Lauren Streicher explained to Huffington Post, “We know that sex and arousal starts in the brain… The more sex you have, the more sex you want because you think about sex more. If you have someone who hasn’t been sexual for a very long period of time, in most cases, they’re not even thinking about it." Takeaway? Masturbation is going to keep you sexually aware and radiating while you wait for your next sexual experience to roll around and be that much better.
4. It Strengthens You Pelvic Floor Muscles
The best way to strengthen any muscle is to exercise it. When you masturbate, that’s exactly what you’re doing to your pelvic floor muscles. Stronger pelvic floor muscles lead to better sex and more orgasms. Better sex how, you ask? If you’ve ever clenched your partner’s penis with your vaginal muscles during sex, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s like giving a hand job during penetration and feels amazing for both of you.
5. It Decrease Your Chances Of Infections
Regular masturbation can help prevent urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and even cervical infections. What this means is that without these things standing in the way of your sex life, you get to have more sex, which is essentially practice that makes you even better at it. Practice makes perfect, people.
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