25 Hot and Healthy Benefits of Masturbation

There are few things sexier than experiencing self-love and solo pleasure. But that isn't the only reason a hands-on habit can be beneficial.

Don't believe us? We consulted some experts about the many benefits of masturbation.

Here's what they had to say:

1. Masturbation Can Alleviate Migraines

Many people with chronic health issues use masturbation for pain reduction.

“One study on people with migraines, for example, found that 60% of those who'd had sex while experiencing a migraine experienced pain relief,” says Suzannah Weiss, resident sex educator for FrolicMe. “While they asked about sex, not masturbation, the analgesic effects are likely due to the endorphins released, which you can also get from masturbation.”

2. It Can Alleviate Menstrual Cramps

“Some people who experience menstrual cramps also use masturbation for pain relief because after orgasm, your pelvic muscles relax,” says Weiss.

“There's also been research showing that [people] are less likely to notice pain when they're masturbating.”

READ: How to Have Period Sex - with No Mess.

3. You’ll Sleep Better

“In one survey, 32% of women who masturbated said it helped them fall asleep,” says Weiss.

Weiss says this could be, in part, due to the stress relief that sexual arousal and pleasure provide. “One study found that looking at erotic images alone caused women's levels of the stress hormone cortisol to drop,” Weiss adds. “That's a case for watching porn if I ever heard one—and if you want to watch porn that's free from exploitation and harmful stereotypes, that's where sites like FrolicMe come in.”

4. Masturbation Can Improve Your Brain Health

“One study on rats found that those who engaged in daily sexual activity generated more new neurons in a brain region associated with memory than those that didn't,” says Weiss.

“As far as humans go, more research needs to be done specifically on masturbation. But there was a study finding that women who had more frequent sex scored higher on a memory test. So, take that study or work break to pleasure yourself and it may actually help you perform better!"

5. It Reinforces Your Sexual Agency

“In a recent study by Kiiroo surrounding intimacy during the 2020 pandemic, the average American had gone 219 days since they last had sex,” says Ashton Egner, marketing operations and communications manager of Kiiroo. “Therefore, 45% of Americans said they practiced self-love more often than they did before the pandemic—highlighting the ability masturbation has to please yourself without the need of another partner.”

6. Masturbation Can be Done With Others

“Mutual masturbation, also known as long-distance sex, can be practiced by anyone—whether in the same room or across the world,” says Egner.

“Research from Kiiroo’s study on intimacy during the 2020 pandemic showed that 28% of Americans have engaged in long-distance sex with a partner, and of the 72% who have not, a third (33%) say they would consider doing so if they found themselves in a long-distance scenario.”

READ: 5 Ways to Add Heat to Long-Distance Love Affairs.

7. It Soothes the Nervous System

Antonia Hall, transpersonal psychologist, pleasure coach, and author of "The Happy Human Playbook: A Practical Guide to Healing Body, Mind and Emotions With Joy and Pleasure," says orgasms release feel-good hormones like endorphins, dopamine and oxytocin, which reduce pain and leave you feeling more relaxed.

“This, in turn, lowers stress hormone cortisol levels—soothing the nervous system.”

8. It Keeps Your Sexual Game on

“When sex organs are regularly getting blood flow, it keeps them healthy,” Hall says.

“The pleasure experienced also reminds your brain that sexuality is an important part of life, which is key to arousal health. Bonus: That flush and orgasmic release helps give skin an incredible glow.”

9. Masturbation Can Help You Explore Your Thoughts, Feelings and Fantasies

Jacob Brown, a San Francisco-based psychotherapist, says masturbation provides a way for people to have sexual experiences that may not be available to them with their partner.

“These experiences may be an important part of your sexual identity—they are very real for you,” says Brown. “By masturbating, you prevent yourself from being cut off from these parts of yourself.”

READ: The Joy of Finding Your Fetish.

10. It Increases Self-Esteem

“One study showed that men who masturbated felt better about themselves than those who did not do so,” says Reda Elmardi, registered dietician, certified nutritionist and owner of The Gym Goat.

11. Masturbation Helps With Depression

According to Elmardi, a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry showed that women who masturbated daily were less likely to suffer from depression than those who did not masturbate.

12. It Can Help You Live Longer

According to a Welsh study of 1000 men over the course of 20 years, men who had two or more orgasms per week died at half the rate of men who had less than that number of orgasm per month.

13. It Can Connect you to Your Body

“In today's society, so many of us feel like we should be 'more' or look 'differently' for us, or another, to find us attractive,” says Louise Rumball, sex and relationship expert and founder of the OPENHOUSE Podcast.

“We are constantly comparing ourselves against others and society has equally taught us that our vulvas should 'look' a certain way to be sexy, cute or desirable. The truth is that every body is different—and no two bodies or vulvas look the same and masturbation can help you to connect with your sexuality and physical body, and not reject it.”

Rumball believes building a strong foundation of self-esteem, self-respect and self-love for our bodies is a critical part of building a healthy relationship with ourselves and others.

READ: Diet Culture Equals Bad Sex.

14. Masturbation is a Great Teacher

“Until we connect with ourselves, we will never truly understand what we like, want, or need in the bedroom and how to communicate this to others,” says Rumball.