Benefits of Masturbation & The Sex Toy Challenge

It’s Masturbation May and we’re here to celebrate solo sex with the Pass The Sex Toy Challenge featuring the We-Vibe Melt, the We-Vibe Wand and some of my favourite sexperts!

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We love solo sex for its many benefits:

• Masturbation helps you to learn about your unique responses to sexual pleasure — from what turns you on in your mind to what gets you going in your body. Because solo sex allows you to shed any partner-based performance pressure, you’re more likely to discover new pathways to pleasure that really work for your own body — regardless of whether or not they align with social expectations. For example, you might find that lying on your stomach and squeezing a toy between your legs creates more intense orgasms — a technique you’re unlikely to discover with a partner or by watching porn.
• Most of us learn to orgasm through self-pleasure and accepting the fact that orgasm is an experience as opposed to something a lover can “give you” can work wonders for your sexual response.
• Masturbation is elemental to increasing desire in many cases, as it helps us to learn about our own bodies and reactions. Self-pleasure also increases the likelihood of orgasm and is connected with higher self-esteem. Moreover, as your body relishes in the dopamine and endorphin release, you are more likely to crave more resulting in an increase in desire for sex.
• Masturbation is also associated with a host of health benefits including lower stress levels, improved circulation to the pelvic region, restful sleep, relaxation and and an increase likelihood of orgasm (alone and with a partner).

Masturbating is the best way to get to know your body, so it’s no surprise that most of us learn to orgasm during a solo sex session. Those who masturbate may report higher levels of orgasmic response during intercourse and greater sexual satisfaction for several reasons:

• They know more about their bodies and their unique sexual responses, so they can better direct their lover during partnered sex.
• They’re more comfortable with their bodies. Masturbation not only fosters a positive connection with your body, but it can boost self-esteem. When your body performs (through a sport, a dance or a session of pleasure), you experience an increase in confidence and tend to focus on its strong points as opposed to its “problems”.
• Masturbating can help you to better recognize the response of your pelvic floor muscles which can increase the intensity and ease of orgasmic contractions. Woohoo! Your pelvic floor is activated (and works pretty hard) during the plateau stage of orgasm, so keeping it in shape should increase your change of reaching climax during intercourse.
• Masturbation can also have health benefits that facilitate orgasm: It increases circulation in the area which promotes clitoral erections (part of the sexual response cycle that leads to orgasm) and is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases which can hinder orgasm.
• Masturbation helps you to relax, de-stress and enjoy a good night’s sleep — all of which will only serve to benefit your intimate relationship with a partner (e.g. fewer fights) and your sex life (more energy and confidence for sex).

For a personal discussion of solo sex, check out our conversation with sexologist Megan Stubbs.

And if you’re shopping for toys (for solo, partnered or group play), check out We-Vibe and Womanizer. Use code DRJESS to save a few dollars.