12 Masturbation Techniques To Make Your Alone Time Even More Fun

If you've never tried using one before, then vibrators can totally change your masturbation game. "Whether you want to stimulate those often neglected erogenous zones, or just want to take your masturbation to the next level, I highly recommend adding a toy into the mix," Emily Morse, Doctor of Human Sexuality and host of the Sex With Emily podcast, tells Bustle. But if you have a favorite toy, it's easy to go back to it again and again and again. Sure, it does the job, but you're also used to it. Try something new — like one of these sex toys with 5-star reviews — and enjoy the new sensations.

If you've ever teased your partner during sex by getting them close to orgasm and backing off, edging is basically doing the same thing — but for yourself. "Edging is when you achieve a longer, more intense orgasm by getting close to orgasm, then preventing it before it happens," Stacy Rybchin, founder and CEO of My Secret Soiree, a pleasure-based sexual health and wellness education company, tells Bustle. "You could pause, go to zero and then rebuild or you could distract yourself away from the orgasm, shifting the focus... before you start again."

If you don't know how to find your G-spot, here's the deal. “The G-spot is located two inches inside the vagina, on the topside of the vaginal wall, and has a spongy texture,” Sex therapist and sexologist, Stefani Threadgill, tells Bustle. “To find the G-spot, insert two fingers, palm-up, with a ‘come-here’ motion, and press up against the front wall of the vagina. The G-spot responds to direct pressure.” Try stimulating your G-spot and your clit at the same time for some blended pleasure.

Don't underestimate the power of some pressure and some old-fashioned grinding when you’re alone. "Women use fingers, pillows, blankets, vibrators, or a favorite object," Dr. Sharon Thompson, MD, MPH, FACOG, tells Bustle. Instead of going right for clitoris, try grinding in with some pressure first, then move onto direct stimulation. If you like penetration, use the heel of your hand to put pressure around your clit while your fingers get busy.

Masturbation isn't all about your body — try engaging your mind next time. "Get your brain on board with masturbation and your body will thank you," Morse says. "Remember that arousal starts in your head and works its way down. If your mind is good and turned on, it won’t be long until the rest of your body follows suit.” Read erotica, fantasize, and just try anything that gets your mind involved.

If grinding pressure is too much for you, try hinting when you’re alone instead. "Hinting is building anticipation and intensifying pleasure by moving over a sensitive spot and only occasionally touching it," Rybchin says. "You could hint over the entire vulva, the clitoris or just the opening." Eventually, let yourself go in for more.

It's so easy to default to the same masturbation position. But if you change things up, you may have a whole different experience. "Don’t be afraid to move around or switch up your go-to position," Morse says. "If you’re usually flat on your back when masturbating, try doing it standing up, turning onto your stomach, or spreading your legs farther apart then closer together. Every new position allows you to reach orgasm in a different way, and may provide you with new sensations to choose from."

If you have the luxury of alone time and thick walls, don’t stifle your moans and sighs. Letting out whatever sounds come over you while masturbating can make the entire experience much more intense. "Most of us muffle or alter our sexual sounds to reflect what we hear in porn and this can impact orgasmic tension," Astroglide's resident sexologist Dr. Jess O'Reilly previously told Bustle. "As we soften our groans and grunts into moans and sighs, the rhythm of our breath becomes unnatural. This breath holding impacts blood flow and oxygenation of muscles which can impede orgasmic response... If you feel like grunting, go ahead. If you want to moan at a high pitch, let it out! Your sounds are an essential part of sexual response and you’ll likely find that when you stop censoring them, your pleasure and orgasm intensify."

So basically making tons of noise while you’re getting freaky with yourself in bed is a surefire way to amplify your orgasm.

Masturbating doesn’t have to be a single destination journey. To really intensify your orgasm, make some pit stops along the way. Whether it’s your nipples, your anus, or an erogenous zone that is more specific to you, incorporating more than just your clitoris or vagina will help masturbating feel like more of a whole-body experience.

“What’s your non-dominant hand doing [during masturbation]? Try stimulating your perineum or nipples or other parts of your body with that hand,” sex educator Lola Jean previously told Bustle.

It may be instinct to hold our breath while we’re masturbating, or to take short, rapid ones. But according to Lola Jean, there may be a better way to do it. "Deepen your breath taking long, shallow inhales and exhales," Lola Jean said, "The vagus nerve extends from the bottom of the brainstem to the cervix. We can activate it by using deep breathing to stimulate the nerve which can make for a more intense orgasmic experience."

So, next time you take yourself to bed, focus on deep breathing to really elevate the experience.

If you have some time to spare, why not go for broke? Some people are able to cum multiple times, but you’ll never know if you’re one of those people unless you try. And trying can be very, very fun.

“The Big O can come to visit any day of any week and, sometimes, come banging on the door on multiple occasions. Women are not born with a finite set of orgasms,” Dr. Angela DeRosa, author, speaker and founder of DeRosa Medical, previously told Bustle. Doctors orders. Go for the Big O, O, O.

Everything’s better when it’s wetter — especially masturbation. And don’t believe the stigma. There’s nothing wrong with your body if you want to or need to use lube. Lube is the perfect accessory to take your solo sessions to the next level.

"Lube makes sex hotter by expanding the number of positions, toys, and techniques you can play with whether solo or partnered," Dr. Jess previously told Bustle. "Add a few drops to the tip of your favorite toy, slather your palm until it’s soaking wet or simply apply it sensually to your fingertips according to your personal preference."