KITTEN TALK 9: Benefits of Masturbation
Hey Kittens, I'm back.
For some reason lately, the word " pleasure" has been coming ( lol) up in my head. I want to get more in depth about pleasure in future blog series and on IG Live, but for now, sit back and think about " what is pleasure?"
What came up for you? Probably sexual. But pleasure can also be having your first sip of coffee in the morning, taking a walk in the nice Spring weather, making plans with your friends to go to your favorite restaurant, watching cartoons for nostalgia reasons.
But for today, I wanted to talk about self-pleasure, or well masturbation, most specifically the benefits of masturbation, so lets jump right in.
Learn and Love Your Body
I think masturbation gives you the time to learn love and understand your body. It's just you, so you can take the time to feel and see what your body likes. You can look in the mirror and look over your body, your chest, your stomach, your legs etc. Look at what you love and may not love about your body and take this time for acceptance. People can tell us they admire or love our bodies, but do you love your own? If you have a partner(s) , knowing what you like or dislike can help them understand your pleasure more. People aren't mind readers, so knowing what you like can help you help your partner(s) understand your pleasure. Masturbation helps build your confidence.
Ease Stress
Masturbation releases endorphins,dopamine and oxytocin which are chemicals in the brain that get released and give you a feeling of euphoria. Think of that feel good feeling you get after a good laugh- amazing right? Masturbation after a long day of work, child care, dealing with people all day- really helps ease you.
No Risk of Pregnancy/ STI's & STD's
I mean, you can't give yourself anything am I correct? Solo masturbation that is- poses no risk of spreading STI/STDs or unexpected pregnancy. Of course make sure to clean your toys thoroughly ( with a toy cleaner) and make sure your hands are washed.
If you are doing it with a partner ( Mutual Masturbation) - make sure both your hands are clean, toys are cleaned before (and put condoms on toys to prevent infections when switching) and after the session.
Immune/ Health Benefits
Orgasms help release cortisol, which helps boost immune function( of course doesn't replace exercise, healthy eating, healthy sleep regimen etc) Masturbation can help increase sexual desire and sensitivity. According to some studies, " Vibrator use among women and men has been linked to an increase in desire, arousal, and overall sexual function, women also reported an increase in lubrication, while men reported better erectile function"
According to a Harvard Health Professionals study, men who ejaculated 21 times or more a month experienced a 33% lower risk of prostate cancer" compared to men who ejaculated significantly less.
Are there risks to Masturbation?
If we're talking about pregnancy/ STDs or STIs, no ( if it's solo) But people can develop an addiction to masturbation. I would say masturbation is a " problem" if it gets in the way of your work, school, family, friends and relationship duties. I would recommend you talk to a professional- specifically a sex therapist to understand why this is happening.
Shame and Society
We all come from different cultures ,backgrounds, customs and may have differing views on masturbation. Some of us may have been told its bad, dirty, or sinful to touch ourselves. I remember growing up and learning about sex and hearing jokes all the time about men masturbating, but when it came to a woman, it's seen as " weird, she's loose, only boys/ men do that" It has always struck me as odd how that is, but that's for another blog post. But if you find yourself having conflicting emotions, you feel shame about masturbation or feel lost, I recommend talking to a professional.
Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this. This is one of many important topics I wanted to discuss here and hope I gave you some insight! Resources are linked down below for your own research.
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