Masturbation is not often discussed, but it’s actually a health thing to do (in moderation). It’s a natural and normal part of healthy sexual development.
According to a nationally representative US sample, 85% of women admit to masturbating. But societal perspectives of masturbation still vary greatly, and there’s even some stigma around engaging in the act.
Related to this stigma are the many myths about masturbation, myths so ridiculous it’s a wonder anyone believes them.
They include: masturbation causes blindness and insanity; masturbation can make sexual organs fall off; and masturbation causes infertility.
In actual fact, masturbation has many health benefits.
For women, masturbation can help prevent cervical infections and urinary tract infections through the process of “tenting,” or the opening of the cervix that occurs as part of the arousal process.
Tenting stretches the cervix, and thus the cervical mucous. This enables fluid circulation, allowing cervical fluids full of bacteria to be flushed out.
Masturbation can lower risk of type-2 diabetes (though this association may also be explained by greater overall health), reduce insomnia through hormonal and tension release, and increase pelvic floor strength through the contractions that happen during orgasm.
Masturbation also improves immune functioning by increasing cortisol levels, which can regulate immune functioning in small doses. It can also reduce depression by increasing the amount of endorphins in the bloodstream.
There is one final benefit to masturbation: it’s the most convenient method for maximising orgasms.
In a recent video from Refinery29, seven women talk about the reasons they masturbate and why it’s simply awesome. Some of the women talk about why they menage a moi, while others share some reasons why it’s so important to discuss the topic of women and masturbation.
As one woman in the video points out, “It puts girls at a disadvantage to not talk about masturbation.” We couldn’t agree more. So here are seven reasons every woman should masturbate, according to women who keep the habit:
