Sexual self-pleasure can be explained as the act of touching and stimulating one’s own body for sexual pleasure. This can involve any number of activities, including (but not limited to) masturbation, use of sex toys, fantasy, and/or exploration of one’s own body. There is no shame in self-pleasure! It is something we should all be doing more of. We often think of self-pleasure as something that we do when we are feeling frisky and in the mood for a little fun. However, self-pleasure is so much more than that! Here we have listed 5 reasons why you should make self-pleasure a part of your routine:
1. It feels good!
Plain and simple, self-pleasure feels good and there is nothing wrong with that. When you stimulate your erogenous zones, the resulting sensation can be intense and incredibly pleasurable.
2. It is good for your health.
Self-pleasure can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and even boost your immune system. In addition, some sexologists have advocated for initiatives to actively promote masturbation as an essential factor of a holistic approach to improving sexual health (Coleman, 2002). Masturbation has been utilized by sexual therapists to help patients better understand their sexual responses. For instance, masturbation has been recommended for treating premature ejaculation as well as being used with some success in the treatment of a variety of sexual dysfunctions (Coleman, 2002; Tiefer, 1998).
3. Self-pleasure is a great way to learn about your body.
By exploring your body solo, you can figure out what feels good and what does not. This knowledge can be helpful in both your solo and partnered sex life. Explore your body solo and find out what turns you on. This knowledge can be incredibly helpful to have a fulfilling sexual life in general. It might take some time to figure out what you like and that is okay. Be patient with yourself and do not get discouraged. The more you explore, the more you will learn about your preferences.
4. It is a great way to relieve sexual tension.
Take some time for yourself and enjoy the pleasure that your body can provide. Remember that self-pleasure is for you and you alone. There is no right or wrong way to do it. As long as you’re enjoying yourself, you are doing it right.
5. It is empowering.
Pleasuring yourself is an act of self-love and self-care. It is a way to take control of your sexual pleasure and give yourself the gift of pleasure. You deserve it!
Let’s Talk Pleasure
The World Association for Sexual Health (WAS), a global organization that promotes sexual health and rights, has recently announced its theme of the year and it is dedicated to talking about pleasure (i.e., Let’s Talk Pleasure). The goal is to ensure that pleasure is seen as a positive and essential aspect of sexual well-being. Thus, this blog post aimed to talk about self-pleasure because we know that open communication about this subject can help people feel more comfortable with their bodies and sexuality. Additionally, it can help create a more open and positive dialogue about sex overall by also helping destigmatize sexual self-pleasure and making it more acceptable for people to enjoy their bodies. Ultimately, talking about sexual self-pleasure can help create a more sex-positive culture overall.
So go ahead and enjoy the act of self-pleasure. It is good for you in more ways than one.
If you’d like to learn more about this, you can book an appointment with a professional here.
Seray Soyman is working as a Trainee Psychosexologist within the Willingness team, providing psychosexual education and sexual support sessions, as well as delivering training and workshops. She has a master’s degree in Clinical Psychosexology from the Sapienza University of Rome. Seray’s research interests are sexual communication, sex-positive behaviour, LGBTQIA+ studies, and sexual health.
References
Coleman, E. (2002). Masturbation as a means of achieving sexual health. Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 14(2-3), 5–16.
Ford, J. V., Corona-Vargas, E., Cruz, M., Fortenberry, J. D., Kismodi, E., Philpott, A., … & Coleman, E. (2021). The World Association for Sexual Health’s Declaration on Sexual Pleasure: A Technical Guide. International Journal of Sexual Health, 33(4), 612-642.
Tiefer, L. (1998). Masturbation: Beyond caution, complacency and contradiction. Sexual and Marital Therapy, 13, 9–14.