Wellness

Male Masturbation Guide: How to Masturbate With a Penis

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Feb 15, 2022 • 3 min read

Sex educators, sex therapists, and health professionals agree that masturbation is both great for your health and a safe way to experience sexual pleasure. However, masturbating with a penis can be more than a solo activity; if you or your partner are struggling with sex drive, masturbating is one way to alleviate sexual tension and enhance your sex life.

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Why Masturbate?

Among the many health benefits of masturbation is the ability to experience sexual pleasure without spreading sexually transmitted infections or causing pregnancy. Masturbation also releases feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine and serotonin, improves sleep, and relieves stress. Studies even show that people with penises who ejaculate at least twenty-one times per month have a decreased risk of prostate cancer. There are many steps you can take to enjoy your self-pleasure as much as possible.

6 Masturbation Tips for Penis Owners

People with penises can follow these masturbation tips to help maximize their pleasure and open their minds to new techniques.

  1. 1. Control your orgasm. Edging is the process of controlling ejaculation to achieve more powerful climaxes. (It can also help people overcome conditions like premature ejaculation.) This process of edging involves reaching the precipice of orgasm, then stopping until you’re less aroused, and repeating the process several more times before you actually climax.
  2. 2. Experiment with your nondominant hand. An easy way to spice up the self-pleasure experience is to use your nondominant hand. Stimulating yourself from a different angle will awaken you to all new sensations.
  3. 3. Explore different erogenous zones. Increase your sexual pleasure during masturbation by using your free hand to caress and massage other parts of your genitals, like the testicles and perineum (the space between your anus and scrotum). Rubbing and squeezing your erogenous zones like the nipples, thighs, lips, and neck can lead to an even more satisfying masturbation experience.
  4. 4. Stimulate your prostate. Massaging the prostate gland (located just inside the anus, informally called “the male G-spot”) can add pleasure to your masturbation experience. Begin by applying lube to your free hand’s index finger, and using it to gently caress the rim of your anus. Once your anus has relaxed, slowly insert your finger inside and move it back and forth to massage your prostate. Vary the speed and pressure of your finger movement to your liking up until you climax. If you enjoy the experience and want to keep experimenting, try the same technique but with a sex toy for penis owners, like a vibrator.
  5. 5. Try some different strokes. There are endless masturbation techniques out there, and you owe it to yourself to find the most pleasurable one. Instead of a full-hand shaft grip, try out three-finger grip, longer twisting strokes, stroking with both hands at once, or playing with the penis head. Move your foreskin up and down the penis if you’re uncircumcised. For a stroke that mimics sexual intercourse, keep your hand completely stationary and thrust your hips up and down through your grip.
  6. 6. Use your imagination. Fantasizing about something you conjured with your mind can awaken you to new turn-ons. All you have to do is close your eyes and start thinking about something that arouses you, and you’ll be surprised at the places your imagination goes. Afterwards, mention your fantasy to your partner and see if they’re willing to turn it into reality.

How to Masturbate With a Penis

While there are a few steps to safely and comfortably masturbating, you can incorporate any of the aforementioned tips to enhance your experience.

  1. 1. Wash your hands. Always wash your hands before and after masturbating to prevent the transfer of pathogens to a sensitive area of your body and kill any lingering bacteria you may have come into contact with while touching yourself.
  2. 2. Lube up. Use lubricant while masturbating to reduce painful friction between your hand and your penis as you stroke. Instead of using unscented lotion (which requires constant reapplication), opt for a water-based sexual lube or petroleum jelly. Only use petroleum jelly for masturbation and not sexual intercourse, as petroleum can cause latex condoms to deteriorate.
  3. 3. Take it slow. Some masturbators grow accustomed to ejaculating quickly to avoid getting caught in the midst of the sexual activity. However, too many hasty masturbation sessions trains the penis to climax quickly, which can contribute to premature ejaculation. Slow down your masturbation experience so that you can relax and enjoy yourself. Taking the time to build up anticipation before ejaculating leads to stronger and more pleasurable orgasms.

Let’s Talk About Sex

Craving a little more intimacy? Grab a MasterClass Annual Membership and learn more about open communication with your partners, experimenting in the bedroom, and being your own best sexual advocate with a little help from Emily Morse (host of the wildly popular podcast Sex With Emily).