4 Benefits of Masturbation: How Masturbation Affects Wellness

Masturbation, or sexual self-pleasure, is the practice of stimulating your own genitals and erogenous zones by hand or with the assistance of sex toys, like a vibrator. Masturbation can be about more than just achieving a quick orgasm or ejaculation. Engaging in mindful masturbation at least once a week is a great way to relax, release some endorphins, and practice self-love and self-pleasure. You can masturbate alone or with a partner for mutual masturbation.

Masturbation is an integral part of mental health and wellness. Taking time for masturbation, even if you have a consistent sex partner, is generally understood to be a matter of self-care. Here are a few benefits of masturbation:

1. 1. Better moods: Just like when you exercise, the body releases endorphins during sexual activity. When you masturbate, the body generates pleasure hormones: Dopamine, that feel-good buzz you feel when satisfying a craving, and oxytocin, the “love” hormone that results from bonding activities like cuddling or having sex. These neuro-transmitters work together to reduce cortisol, the stress hormone.
   
2. 2. Deeper sense of self and self-love: “Mindful masturbation” uses masturbation as a method to explore the sexual response to varied stimulation, like erogenous zones and personal fantasies. Getting to know and love your own body this way boosts your self-esteem and teaches you how to advocate for yourself and your needs during sex with a partner.
3. 3. Improves sleep quality: The sexual pleasure derived from masturbation can also produce a pair of hormones intended to help deepen sleep: Serotonin, which stabilizes our moods and regulates sleep, and prolactin, the hormone that makes us feel sleepy after orgasming. Sexual pleasure has also been shown to increase estrogen levels in women, leading to deeper REM cycles.
4. 4. Releases sexual tension: Stress, low self-esteem, and conditions like erectile dysfunction can lead to negative feelings of sexual tension and anxiety. Masturbation can feel like a low-stakes avenue to sexual pleasure and help release some of this anxiety.

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