Facts, Risks and Benefits of Female Masturbation.

What is masturbation? Is masturbation bad for health?

Masturbation is self-stimulating your genitals in a s*xual way to the point of reaching an orgasm. It is a very common behaviour among men and women and is a very normal part of growing up for children of both s*xes. This article will focus on female masturbation. For men, click HERE and HERE.

Most children play with their genitals between the ages of two and six. To a grown-up person, the sight of children fondling their own genitals can feel disturbing because he/she looks at the act through adult filters. However, this act is a very normal part of growing up for every child, as it is a process of self-exploring their own bodies and discovering how each part of their body responds to touch, and how some parts are more pleasurable than others. To a child rubbing his/her genitals simply feels innocently pleasurable and is not “wrong” or “bad”. These “adult filters” are introduced to the children by the adults, and often the child ends up feeling confused and worried.

The adults react to the child in the same way that they saw their own parents or grown-ups around them react, while they were exploring their own bodies as children. Therefore, they continue to carry those feelings of shame and guilt and never got a chance to get comfortable with their own s*xuality. The act in itself is not “good” or “bad”, though in some cases religious beliefs may induce people to label it as “bad”. The crucial factor in such a scenario would be, how an adult approaches a child and without shaming the child makes the child feel comfortable with his/her own body, and gently explains the propriety side of it, if child indulges in the act in front of people.

s*xual development is a very much an essential part of normal growth and development for a child, just as physical development, emotional development, learning and developing language and communication skills are normal. Having said that, what also needs to be stated is, even though there is nothing wrong with masturbation, it is also okay not to masturbate. Some people have naturally lower levels of s*xual desire or may decide that they want to abstain from masturbation for religious or personal reasons. You can follow whatever option you feel is best for you.

Is it a ‘bad thing’ if women masturbate?

Women, culturally, are always expected to either never recognize their inherent s*xual longings, or to easily overcome their s*xual desire. Here, the feeling of experiencing pleasure for a woman comes with the burden of shame and guilt. Even now it’s easy for a woman who is comfortable with her s*xuality to get labeled as a “slut”.  To compound the problem further, even to this day, not many women in this country are comfortable with their s*xuality and their bodies. They do not know their own likes and dislikes when it comes to an intimate relationship with their partners. Many women are not even aware of a particular part of their body, called the cl!toris. In fact, the cl!toris is also not mentioned in the s*x education cl@sses or conversations, as s*xual pleasure for women is largely identified only with penetration.

The cl!toris is a small, sensitive organ made of erectile tissue in the vulva of the female reproductive system. It contains thousands of nerve endings that make it an extremely sensitive organ. Masturbating stimulates the cl!toris and produces sensations of s*xual pleasure. Masturbation can actually help women to understand their own bodies better, and they can do so without any shame or guilt. In fact, if anything, masturbation can help enhance a woman’s s*xual experience with her partner. The fact is there is enormous potential for healing, fulfillment, and wellbeing through exploring your s*xuality as a woman and expressing it and experiencing it with joy.

Is masturbation a common behaviour?

s*xologists, as well as researchers, are of the opinion that masturbation is a completely normal process for human beings and is a healthy s*xual behaviour. It probably has a bad reputation because it is an intensely private s*xual behaviour, which no one discusses, even with the closest of friends.

Is masturbation harmful to women?

No. From a health science perspective, masturbation is not at all harmful to you. Some people think masturbation is bad for moral reasons, however, that is a personal choice.

Is it healthy for a woman to masturbate daily?

Masturbating daily can be normal for some women, depending on their age and s*xual drive, whereas for others it can be excessive. As long masturbating does not affect your overall energy levels, and does not encroach into your daily life and activities you should be fine. A few s*x experts though, consider masturbating daily to be excessive. Masturbating daily can lead to weakness, fatigue, early ejaculation and may inhibit s*xual activities with your partner. Excessive masturbation can also inhibit s*xual intimacy with your partner. On the other hand, missing out on regular orgasms during s*x with your partner, can increase your stress levels and can add to mental health issues, frustration, and unhappiness in general.  Masturbating aids stress release and helps to stabilize your mood, making you happier and healthier.

How many times in a week is masturbation considered normal for a woman?

The frequency per week can vary from woman to woman, based on her general health conditions. There are women who masturbate two to three times a day, or five times a week, seven times a week, or even not at all. This does not in any way make them more or less s*xual. s*xual drive is natural, however, an excess of anything is harmful. Therefore, rather than increasing the frequency of masturbation you can consider diverting your energy to things such as sports, creative arts or any other hobbies. This ensures that you live a balanced, healthy, and happy life.

Can masturbation replace s*x with a partner for women?

Masturbation in itself is a pleasurable activity which stands apart from s*x. In fact, masturbation can enhance the experience with a s*xual partner, because it helps you understand your own body better as a woman. However, if you are only masturbating and are ignoring or missing out on physical intimacy with your partner, then it could be a sign of a problem. There are valid times though when masturbation can replace s*x, for example:

• if the partner’s s*x drive is lower than yours, then masturbation is an option
• if the partner is sick
• if the partner is not available

When is masturbation not safe for women?

Masturbation is generally safe. However, if it is done excessively and aggressively then it can be harmful.

• When you touch the genitals of an infected person and then touch yours, you may suffer from s*xually Transmitted Infections (STIs). STIs can also occur if you share your s*x toys with an infected person.
• If you rub yourself aggressively you may end up injuring your vagina.

What are the benefits of masturbating for women?

The benefits of masturbation for women are many, it is beneficial in following ways:

• Female masturbation helps prevent cervical infections and relieves urinary tract infections. In fact, the desire to masturbate can be strong for a woman with UTI and with good reason, because masturbating can help relieve the pain, lubricate the vagina, and flush harmful bacteria from the cervix.
• Relieves you of depressed feelings as when you become aroused, the hormone levels of mood-boosting dopamine and epinephrine soar in your body.
• Masturbation can help relieve emotional stress greatly.
• It helps you to strengthen your relationship with yourself because when you know and love yourself deeply on physical and emotional levels, you gain confidence and let yourself grow through self-awareness. It leads to proper self-expression in all areas of life and boosts your self-confidence.
• Masturbation can enhance the quality of your sleep and help you deal with insomnia.
• Women who experience more orgasms and greater frequency and satisfaction with masturbation or s*x are known to have greater resistance to heart disease and Diabetes Mellitus Type 2.
• When a woman orgasms it increases the pelvic floor strength. There is increased blood pressure in the cl!toris. The muscle tone, heart rate, and respiration increases and the uterus go up from the pelvic floor, thus increasing pelvic muscle tension and strengthening the entire region.
• It can enhance your relationship with your partner since you know yourself physically.
• For women, masturbation can help relieve stomach cramps.
• In post-menopausal women, a narrowing of the vagina can make s*xual intercourse and pelvic exams painful, but masturbation, particularly with a water-based lubricant, increases blood flow to the s*x organs. This can help relieve moisture problems and prevent the narrowing of the vagina.

Is excessive masturbation harmful to women? What are the side effects?

Even good things in excessive proportions can be harmful. If you masturbate excessively it can lead to:

• rawness and extreme genital irritation from too much friction
• living too much in your head and in your fantasies, rather than face reality
• disconnecting emotionally or sensually when it comes to your partner
• conditioning yourself to only become aroused or reach an orgasm in one specific way, if you are masturbating the same way every time

How do I know if I am masturbating excessively?

You know you’re masturbating excessively when:

• It causes you significant distress
• You are masturbating multiple times per day to escape from stress or realities of day to day life
• You prefer masturbating rather than an intimate relationship with your partner and therefore, have completely stopped s*xual relations with your partner
• You regularly injure yourself by rubbing yourself aggressively
• You hardly have time for your friends or family, as you are too busy pleasuring yourself
• You constantly feel lustful and fight the urge to pleasure yourself
• Pain, rawness, and irritation in your genital area