In case you needed another reason to get yourself off today, did you know that masturbating is, like, genuinely good for you? Yep, it’s true: masturbation is legitimately healthy.
If this news comes as a relief, you can go ahead and thank all of the negative press masturbation has gotten since—well, pretty much forever. From myths about vibrators desensitizing your clit to hair to growing on your palms, there’s never been any shortage of completely BS societal shaming around the beautiful act of self love.
“Some people are taught from a young age that masturbating is wrong or bad, which can lead to feelings of guilt,” says sex educator Evie Plumb, founder of the sex-positive educational platform and podcast, Cliterally the Best. “If you feel this way, remember that most people masturbate. It’s a normal activity, and there’s nothing wrong with it.”
So allow us to set the record straight and reaffirm that masturbation is not only normal, but good for you. “Masturbation is the best way to get to know your body and understand what gives you pleasure, which is something we all deserve,” says Pam Shaffer, MFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist. And in addition to all the pleasure potential, there are also tons of legit health benefits of masturbation, which has been shown to lower stress levels, boost mood, and even relieve period cramps.
Plus, Plumb points out that having one off the wrist is the only sexual activity that comes with zero risk of contracting an STI—making it the safest form of sex that exists on this, the planet Earth. You love to see it!
So here’s literally everything you need to know about the health benefits of masturbation—because we here at Cosmo take your health (and your orgasms) very seriously.
Is Masturbation Healthy?
The short answer is: Yes, masturbation is healthy and a perfectly normal part of human sexuality.
At its core, masturbation creates pleasure—which, despite what puritanical church leaders and #NoFap-ers on Reddit will tell you, is damn good for you. “Pleasure is closely linked to the reward system in the brain, which creates feelings of enjoyment and reinforces positive sexual connections within yourself,” explains board certified sex educator, Linnea Marie, a sexpert for Bedbible.com. “With masturbation, we get to show our body the pleasure it’s capable of.”
Masturbation is a (completely free) tool we have at our disposal to learn about ourselves as sexual beings—one you should absolutely feel empowered to take advantage of as often as you please. Whether you’re masturbating once a week, once a day, five times a day, or once a month, you’re perfectly okay.
The only time your masturbation habits may be cause for concern is “if it interferes with your job, responsibilities, or social life,” says Plumb. So, unless you’re shutting yourself away in your room, shirking commitments, and ignoring everyone you love just so you can constantly rub one out, you’re probably doing just fine.
In fact, you might even think of masturbation as part of your self-care routine. We make time to wash our faces, hydrate, moisturize, and exercise—there’s no reason masturbation shouldn’t be on that list of priorities, too.
Masturbation Acts as a Pain-Reliever
A natural Advil, you say? Indeed. Masturbation is actually quite an effective way to manage pain due to the release of endorphins at climax, Plumb says. Key in this pain relief is the neurochemical oxytocin, which the body releases during orgasm. This chemical is nature’s “love hormone” and a natural pain reducer.
Additionally, after orgasm, your muscles relax and release, which can help with muscle pain and tension. It really does it all. Masturbating has been shown to help relieve period cramps, headaches, and even helps the odd hangover.
Masturbation Lowers Stress Levels
Self-love is a really effective tool for stress reduction. Studies show that the oxytocin released after orgasm, especially, can reduce anxiety levels.
Masturbation works like anything else that helps reduce stress, such as going to the gym, dancing your butt off, or engaging with a favorite hobby. Your body releases dopamine, serotonin, and other brain-balancing hormones that support feelings of calm.
“Masturbation is the kind of spicy self care that helps you be a better balanced person overall,” Shaffer says.
Studies even show that masturbation can help improve your overall sleep quality. An orgasm and a good night’s sleep? Sign us up, please!
Masturbation Tones the Pelvic Floor
Tired of kegels? Try pulling out your trusty vibe instead.
According to The Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support, during the plateau stage of sexual response (when pleasure is building before orgasm) the pelvic floor begins to receive an increase of blood, which prepares it for the orgasmic contractions that come with climax. This increase in blood flow and tension gives the pelvic floor a really good workout— without any effort on your part.
Masturbation Can Actually Improve Partnered Sex
Despite what you may have heard, masturbation actually does have its place in partnered sex. Studies show that regular masturbation is linked to more sex and higher satisfaction in relationships. Why? Because masturbation and pleasure is part of our reward system, and the more orgasms we have, the more we want.
Not to mention, masturbation is key in helping you get to know your body. This is crucial to having good partnered sex because, as Shaffer points out, your partner is not a mind-reader.
“You are the only person living in your body, so ultimately you are the expert on what feels good (or bad!)” she says. Masturbation is a great way to figure out what you like and don’t like—key information you can bring into partnered sex for a more satisfying experience.
To summarize: The more we know about what brings us pleasure, the better equipped we are to share that knowledge with our partners, which equals better sex. And the better the sex we’re having, the more we want, which leads to more happiness overall. What’s not to love?
All of which is to say that, with all these health benefits, masturbation deserves a place in your sex life and your self-care routine. So take this as your invitation to go rub one out—it’s good for you!
