How to Masturbate: Techniques for Pleasure

There’s no two ways around it: masturbation feels great. But what if it could feel even better? Read on to learn our best masturbation techniques and how to make self-pleasure feel even better.

What is Masturbation?

So, what exactly is masturbation? Masturbation is the act of giving yourself pleasure by touching your genitals and other erogenous zones, areas of your body that are not your genitals but still increase sexual pleasure. These include areas like the breasts, nipples, neck, inner thighs, butt, and more.

Though there tends to be a significant focus on climax and orgasm during masturbation, neither is necessary for it to be considered masturbation. Any act of creating one’s own sexual pleasure falls under the umbrella of masturbation.

Masturbation Benefits

It turns out that masturbation doesn't just feel good—it’s good for you, too. Many of the benefits derived from sex can be derived from masturbation, too. These include:¹

Better mental health: Masturbation can boost your mood and lower the prevalence of anxiety and depression. When you orgasm, your body releases the hormones oxytocin and dopamine, which are feel-good hormones that provide feelings of happiness and satisfaction.
Better sleep: Oxytocin also promotes feelings of relaxation and may improve your sleep.
Lower stress: Another benefit of oxytocin and dopamine is that the two work together to counteract cortisol, your body’s stress hormone.
Lower risk of prostate cancer: There is some evidence that frequent ejaculation can lower the risk of prostate cancer by preventing the accumulation of cancerous agents in the prostate.
Pain relief: Masturbation may be able to provide pain relief for menstrual cramps and other aches and pains for people with vaginas.

Can You Masturbate Too Much?

There are a few downsides that may come with frequent masturbation. For instance, you may experience soreness, chafed skin, or other minor physical injuries. Aggressive masturbation may also decrease your sensitivity. These side effects are minor and should go away on their own.

Common Myths About Masturbation

Despite its prevalence in society, masturbation carries a lot of social, moral, and religious taboos. Let’s dispel these common myths about masturbation.

Masturbation Causes Blindness or Other Health Problems

There is absolutely no evidence that masturbation causes blindness, hairy palms, infertility, erectile dysfunction, decreased sperm count, or any other extreme health problem.¹ These are simply myths created to discourage masturbation based on moral belief and are unfounded in any scientific evidence.

Masturbation is Only for Lonely or Depressed People

On the contrary, people who masturbate regularly tend to be happier and have lower instances of anxiety and depression. That’s because of all the benefits we mentioned before: release of oxytocin and dopamine, pain relief, better sleep, and better mental health.

Masturbation Will Ruin Your Sex Life

Again, the truth is precisely the opposite of this common myth. Masturbation has a significant propensity to improve your sex life. As you masturbate, you learn more about your body, what feels good, and what doesn’t. You can then take that information to your partner(s) and have even better sex.

For those who have never had sex, masturbation may be a great way to prepare for your first time. If you can’t orgasm, masturbation may be the solution. People with vaginas who masturbate are more likely to have an orgasm during sex.¹

Masturbation is a Sign of Addiction

Masturbation is a perfectly normal activity. In fact, about 84% of Americans report that they masturbate (91% of men and 78% of women).² As long as masturbation isn’t getting in the way of your life, obligations, and work, it’s completely normal behavior.

Masturbation Tips for People With Penises

Want to learn how to masturbate for even more pleasure? Read on to learn our best tips for people with penises to make masturbation feel better.

Set the Mood

Just because you’re by yourself doesn’t mean the setting isn’t important. Before masturbating, take a bit of time to set the mood. Dim the lights, put on some music you like, and get relaxed.

If you like a bit of extracurricular material, put on your favorite pornography or find a few photos to look at to get you in the mindset. Check out our self-dating tips to learn more ways to get yourself in the mood.

Switch Hands

You may be a righty, but why not try masturbating with your left? A different hand means totally new sensations, pressure that you may not have experienced before, and the opportunity to explore something new. You may find that, while your right hand is your dominant hand, touching yourself with your left hand is a far more pleasurable experience.

Try Different Strokes

Again, just because it’s your go-to technique doesn’t mean it’s the only one that’ll feel good. Change up the number of fingers, the way you hold your penis or even your stroke pattern. Rather than the classic up and down, try something totally new.

Go Beyond the Penis

Your penis isn’t the only part of your body from which you can derive sexual pleasure. In addition to the testicles, the anus, and the perineum, explore your erogenous zones. The hips, nipples, inner thighs, neck, and other sensitive parts of your body can greatly heighten your pleasure.

Change Positions

Just like different positions can change sensations during sex with a partner, they can change sensations during sex with yourself, too. Instead of masturbating while sitting or lying down, try standing or leaning against something. You may find that this changes the sensation significantly and makes masturbation feel even better.

Add Toys

Sex toys aren’t just for vaginas. There are lots of sex toys for people with penises that you may be able to use instead of your hands—or in addition to!

Explore adding an anal plug or anal beads to stimulate the prostate, trying a Fleshlight, or another toy to increase sensation. Try masturbating without your hands for something totally new.

Masturbation Tips for People With a Vulva and Clitoris

There are so many ways to increase pleasure for people with a vulva and clitoris, too. Explore these tips to find what works best for you.

Take Your Time

Allowing proper arousal time is so important for people with vaginas. During arousal, blood flow increases to the vagina, increasing sensation. The vagina also creates its own natural lubrication, reducing friction and making for more pleasurable penetration. These steps are all important whether having sex with a partner or solo sex, so try not to rush things whenever possible.

Change Positions

The vagina is a highly sensitive area; the clitoris alone has around 10,281 nerve fibers.³ That means every new angle is an opportunity for new sensations. There’s a world of different positions you can try while masturbating: sitting, standing, propping up your hips with a pillow, laying on your side. You never know what might feel good!

Explore Erogenous Zones

In addition to the different parts of your vagina, explore different erogenous zones like your breasts, nipples, inner thighs, neck, and any other sensitive part of your body. These can increase arousal before masturbation and pleasure during masturbation.

Let Your Imagination Run Free

Whether you have a vault of sexy memories from prior encounters or an active imagination to conjure up your wildest dreams, let your imagination run free. Try to free yourself of shame and remember that nothing is too taboo—it’s just your imagination!

Consider Pornography

Pornography isn’t just for people with penises. Try watching a porn video, looking at a few sexy images, or even reading an erotic story to heighten your sensation and make masturbation feel better.

Experiment with Toys

The world of sex toys for people with vaginas is vast. Explore toys for vaginal penetration, anal penetration, clitoral stimulation, and just about anything else you could think of. Find manual toys and electric toys, toys that buzz, suck, and more. Each toy may unlock a new and unbelievable sensation.

To make experimentation with toys feel even better, we recommend using plenty of lube. Stick to water-based and oil-based lubes, as silicone-based lubes can cause silicone toys to deteriorate.

What is Anal Masturbation?

Just like vaginal, clitoral, or penis masturbation, anal masturbation is another way of pleasuring oneself, though this time by stimulating the anus and rectum. You can anally masturbate with your fingers or with toys—it’s simply a matter of finding out what feels better for you.

Ready to explore the world of masturbation? Remember: there are no rules when it comes to masturbation. The only way to masturbate “correctly” is to do what feels good to you!