Masturbation, that cheeky topic! Did you know that May is dedicated to it? Rightfully so: in 1995, a renowned surgeon in the United States was dismissed after publicly declaring that masturbation is an integral part of sexual health and well-being. Since then, National Masturbation Month is celebrated in May, which is quite fitting. With the blooming of life and the gentle return of warmth, spring invites us, much like masturbation, to connect with our sensuality and life’s small pleasures. In its honor, Seduction offers you a reflection on contemporary myths surrounding masturbation and the wonderful benefits of this practice.
A Few Distinctions…
Concretely, masturbation involves giving oneself sexual and erotic pleasure, generally by directly stimulating one’s genitals. Whether we use our hands or our favorite toys, the goals are diverse. While masturbation provides tangible pleasure, it can also be used for emotional and psychological benefits. What’s essential to understand is that masturbation is quite distinct from shared sexual activity. It is precious and special, as it is an intimate moment we offer to ourselves. It is an experience of authenticity, a chance to healthily center our pleasure and free ourselves from the pressures that may accompany shared sexuality, such as physical performance, communication, and body image anxieties. Since we are the primary holders of our pleasure, masturbation becomes a beautiful tool for discovery and fulfillment. You’ve likely noticed that this topic sometimes comes with a certain embarrassment, followed by persistent myths. Truthfully, masturbation has been a source of controversy since antiquity and the Middle Ages: long blamed for all sorts of madness and afflictions. It wasn’t until the modernization of medicine and sexual liberation movements in the 21st century that it began to be gradually normalized. Though science now confirms its importance and many benefits, its history steeped in taboo still poses challenges.
Myths and Benefits
To this day, masturbation is often treated as a secondary form of sexuality. This idea, likely rooted in cultural myths about the importance of couples and chaste values, generates harmful thoughts about sexual pleasure liberation. Often compared to partnered sexuality, masturbation is sometimes unconsciously perceived as less satisfying and socially valid—a sort of consolation prize while waiting for “real” sex. What a strange notion! While much can be accomplished through partnered sexuality, why deny the same potential to solo sex? Let’s explore this: from a physical health perspective, masturbation helps reduce and positively channel stress. Amid life’s hustle and bustle, a quick solo session can be one of the best remedies for relaxation. Need to release tension, relieve a headache, or fall asleep? Endorphins, oxytocin, and dopamine produced during masturbation will do the trick.
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What About Couples?
This all sounds great, but a concern often persists. At Seduction, we frequently hear the question: can frequent masturbation harm a couple's intimacy and sex life? Studies show quite the opposite: masturbation can fuel couple intimacy for several notable reasons. Firstly, it teaches us about our bodies and pleasures better than anyone else: the more we practice, the more we master the zones, touches, pressures, and rhythms that work best for us. This makes it easier to guide our present and future partners, ultimately improving connection and understanding between partners. Similarly, since many people feel discomfort regarding sexuality and revealing themselves to another, masturbation provides a safe space to explore these feelings and build self-confidence. Through this exploration, we can gradually shed shame and build a healthy relationship with our bodies and pleasure, which we can then share with others, enjoying renewed sexual satisfaction together.
Always Beneficial...
These points provide undeniable evidence: sexuality and masturbation are far more vast and complex than just physical sensations. Masturbation fulfills several psycho-emotional needs, touching on emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of sexuality. While its biological advantages are often highlighted, masturbation offers equally important abstract benefits for individuals. It deepens our relationship with ourselves, attuning to our desires and cultivating intimacy with our bodies and minds. As we hear more frequently, masturbation is self-care, and that’s absolutely true: offering ourselves tenderness and vulnerability is transformative. Whether it’s improving self-esteem, body image, or fostering better autonomy and integrity in sexual pleasure, we’re actively taking care of ourselves, fulfilling, loving, and actualizing who we are. Moreover, masturbation is a moment of freedom and honesty: by practicing it, we can create an entire erotic imagination. What excites you deep down? What are your fantasies? The brain is said to be the most significant sexual organ, as the power of imagination and immersion ignites desire and sexual arousal just as strongly as touch. Having a rich and accessible fantasy world enhances our connection to pleasure and is a useful skill even in shared sexuality. Fantasies can sometimes provide clues about our motivations, values, and sexual needs. Something to ponder.
During this National Masturbation Month, Seduction invites you to give free rein to your desires. Sexuality is a space for creativity and exploration, so let’s remember that masturbation has many facets! Whether you enjoy playing with your shower stream, collecting erotic toys, lying on your back or stomach, delighting in your hands, rubbing against a pillow, watching porn, or losing yourself in fantasies, every method is valid! Your pleasure is yours, and there’s nothing more beautiful than its free and authentic expression. Developing this relationship with yourself, body and mind, is revolutionary. In a society that often tries to dictate what constitutes “proper” sexuality, self-love and the emancipation of pleasure are acts of bravery. Like an artist, create your sexual story. Finally, this lovely month of May, snuggle under the covers and enjoy a pure moment of intimacy by exploring solo masturbation—or with two, three, or four partners...
Stay tuned for our next blog in a few weeks, where we’ll discuss masturbation and desire in the era of technology. On the menu: pornography and much more!