May Is Masturbation Month - Sexynews #23

Self pleasure has been at the forefront of our minds since the beginning of humankind. While it hasn’t always been looked upon in a positive light, the sexual revolution in the mid-1970’s paved the way for a change in attitude that has since evolved into what we know today.

Know Your Body:

Masturbation is a completely normal and healthy way to explore and learn about your body. Knowing what stimulates you makes you a better lover because you’ll be able to better communicate with your partner what you like and don’t like. Everybody is different, therefore, no two people are going to be sexually stimulated the exact same ways. That doesn’t mean your lover can’t discover new ways to turn you on that you haven’t discovered for yourself… but understanding your body goes a long way toward helping him or her find those sweet spots easier.

Masturbation is Good for You:

Masturbation offers many amazing benefits to your emotional, psychological and physical well being. Many professionals believe that masturbation should become a regular part of your self-maintenance routine because of the many ways it benefits each person. It’s a perfectly harmless way to pleasure yourself or your partner while giving your body the kind of self love it needs.

Feel Good Hormones:

Having an orgasm helps to shift the focus away from whatever is causing you stress that day. It gives you a temporary reprieve while allowing your body to release endorphins that encourage positive feelings. Masturbation boosts your body’s levels of serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin, often referred to as the ‘feel good hormones’. Boosting these hormones helps promote a more positive mood. Achieving an orgasm forces your mind and body to reach an escalated state of tension as it builds up to the big climax. By releasing that pent up energy and tensions, you’re allowing your body to reach a state of relaxation.

Boosts Immunity:

Masturbation has shown to increase the body’s lymphocytes which are white blood cells that help fight off infection while decreasing cortisol levels. Cortisol is a well-known stress-inducing hormone. High levels of stress can cause higher levels of inflammation which contribute to the development of diseases of the immune system.

Men v/s Women:

While men and women share many of the same benefits of masturbation, they also benefit differently. Men and women are very different physiologically, therefore, the benefits of masturbation will also vary.

Benefits Specific to Women: 

Unlike men, women share their bodies with their children. This can often weaken her pelvic floor, causing a range of unpleasant issues. Not only can a weakened pelvic floor diminish sexual enjoyment, it can cause a leaky bladder when she sneezes, coughs or laughs too hard. Masturbation helps to strengthen her pelvic floor muscles and tones the muscles that support the uterus. In turn, it helps her experience better, more intense orgasms while helping to resolve some of the other issues. We have a wide assortment of Kegel Balls specifically designed to help strengthen the pelvic floor that you might want to include in your self care.

Masturbation helps increase the blood flow to her vagina which is believed to help promote more vaginal lubrication. This is especially helpful to women who are going through menopause. Other benefits include that orgasms help to relieve menstrual cramps by releasing the feel-good endorphins. It also increase the likelihood of achieving multiple orgasms because you are in control of your pleasure and nobody knows what your body needs better than you to reach that pinnacle of ecstasy. If you do regularly masturbate but are still experiencing dryness and need some additional lubrication, we recommend trying a personal lubricant specifically formulated for a woman's needs such as our JO Premium Women or pjur Woman Bodyglide.

Benefits Specific to Men:

Studies have found that men who masturbate five or more times a week, are far less likely to develop prostate cancer. Ejaculation helps to flush out the toxins that build up in his urogenital tract which are known to lead to cancer.

Similar to women, masturbation helps to strengthen his pelvic floor muscles but the results are different. Strengthening a man’s pelvic floor muscles helps him to prevent erectile dysfunction and incontinence. As men age, he loses muscle tone which can weaken his erections. Masturbating regularly helps keep those muscles active and strong so that he can maintain a harder erection for longer.

Masturbation Tips:

Masturbation doesn’t have to be a dull experience. Plan some quality time just for you and make the most of it. Set the mood, relax, take your time and enjoy the moment.

1. Setting the Mood: Start by turning the lights down. Play some relaxing music or perhaps watch your favourite erotic video or kick back with an erotic novel. Make sure there are no distractions so that you can really get into the mood. Maybe hop into a hot tub with your favourite sex toy and some of our luxurious bath products. Choose a spot where you’re most comfortable and relax.
   
   
2. Getting Started: Slowly tease yourself. Take time to explore your body and discover what makes you feel good. Experiment with different strokes, techniques, speeds, etc… Using sex toys with vibrations or other stimulation features can be a huge plus when teasing your sweet spots. Massage wands are especially useful for relaxing sore muscles while stimulating those erogenous zones.
   
   
3. Explore Your Body: There’s more real estate to explore than just your genitals. The entire body is full of erogenous zones, waiting to be explored. Sometimes all it takes is the right touch in the right spot to send sparks shooting down your body. The nipples, lips, neck, mouth are all highly erogenous zones. If you're having difficulty finding those sensitive spots, sometimes it helps to include an arousal stimulating gel or some other type of enhancer. Sometimes a little extra boost goes a long way to making your playtime even more exciting.

The Male Orgasm:  

If you’re a man, you may want to include your prostate, also known as the male g-spot, in the fun. It’s commonly reported to be a sure way to achieve an intense, earth shattering orgasm. If you’ve never stimulated your prostate before, we recommend starting slowly with a beginner's prostate massager like the Aneros Eupho Trident. Massage the anal cavity gently, slowly easing inside until the plug reaches your prostate. Increase the speed and motion as you need to until you’ve reached your peak.

If anal stimulation isn’t your thing, there are other techniques you can try when masturbating that can dramatically increase your pleasure. Try playing with your testicles. Pulling down on them just before climax can significantly enhance the experience. Stroking your entire shaft during masturbation will go a long way to building up that climatic moment. We carry a wide variety of masturbators that can also improve your climax while making the experience more enjoyable. 

The Female Orgasm:  

Women may want to aim for her clitoris first. The clitoris is loaded with thousands of nerve endings, making it one of the most sensitive parts of her body. Massage slowly, working your way around the vulva, dipping into the vagina here and there to further tease your body. Try different patterns and speeds when stroking the clitoris. Slowly move inward until you’ve reached that sensitive sweet spot inside, also known as the woman’s g-spot. Using a toy with just the right vibrations will dramatically enhance the sensations. Bullet & egg vibrators are perfect for sensual self exploration. If you're looking for a mind-blowing orgasm, we recommend trying for something that is designed to stimulate her g-spot and clitoris simultaneously. Rabbit vibrators are the perfect companion for this type of stimulation.

Many women find anal penetration to be an intensely satisfying way to orgasm. Because of the close proximity to her g-spot, stimulation from the anus can also cause orgasmic sensations through the shared wall of the rectum and vagina. We carry a huge range of anal sex toys perfect for her pleasure. Anal beads are perfect for beginners or ladies who benefit from the pleasures of anal stimulation without the full penetration.

Women are gifted in that they can experience combination orgasms. A woman can have a clitoral orgasm, a vaginal orgasm and an anal orgasm. She can experience all at once or one at a time. Different positions can increase her chances of having different kinds of orgasms. Lying on her back is the best way to achieve a clitoral orgasm. Squatting tends to make it easier to achieve a vaginal orgasm while doggy style is best for an anal orgasm.

Have Fun:  

There is no right or wrong way to masturbate. Everyone is different and while one technique might work for one person, it’s not necessarily going to work for another. Have fun experimenting and exploring your own body. Make it a time you can pamper yourself and enjoy the experience. Don’t forget to add in some of our hottest new sex toys to experiment with. With so many different options to choose from, we’re sure there’s something perfect for your body.