Masturbation
Masturbation means touching and stimulating yourself and your genitals for pleasure. It's natural and normal for people of all genders. And it can be a great way to discover what you enjoy sexually.
It’s ok to masturbate as much or as little as you want. Some people do not masturbate at all. Other people masturbate a couple of times a day. It’s a personal decision.
Benefits of masturbation
Masturbation is a really safe way to have sex and feel sexual pleasure - if you’re alone, there’s no risk of STIs or pregnancy. With a partner, you can use condoms over sex toys and make sure to clean toys if you’re sharing them.
Masturbation can help lower stress and promote relaxation by triggering the release of endorphins in the body. Endorphins are a type of hormone that’s produced when your body feels sexual pleasure or orgasm. These endorphins can relieve stress, reduce pain and improve your mood. Some people find that the endorphins from masturbating help them sleep.
It’s a great way to explore your own body and discover what you like and dislike. Knowing how to give yourself pleasure can improve your body image and self-esteem. Understanding what kinds of sexual touch you enjoy can help you communicate your preferences with partners.
Can you masturbate too much?
You might have heard that masturbating too much is bad for you. But this is not true. There are no health risks to masturbating. It’s a healthy part of sexual pleasure.
Masturbation is only a problem if it’s affecting your everyday life. For example, it gets in the way of doing things you need to do, like work or school, or stops you from doing things you want to do, like spending time with friends. If you’re worried about this, it’s a good idea to talk to someone you trust.
Masturbation and hygiene
Masturbating is a very safe way to have sex and feel pleasure. But it’s a good idea to follow some basic hygiene steps to avoid infection or irritation. This means washing your hands and cleaning sex toys before and after.
If you masturbate with a partner, use separate toys or use condoms to cover them. Change the condom or clean the toy before swapping it. Clean your hands if you move from touching your genitals to touching your partners.
Do not share any details, photos or videos of your masturbation with anyone without their consent.
Take extra care if you’re diagnosed with an STI like gonorrhoea or chlamydia. With these infections, touching your genitals then touching another part of your body, like your eyes, can transfer the infection and could cause serious complications.
If you have an STI and want to masturbate, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before you touch another part of your body or touch someone else’s body.
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