Self-stimulation isn't just for pleasure -- it also has proven health benefits for women. Compared with male masturbation, female masturbation is considerably less common. According to the National Health and Social Life Survey, 39 percent of American women ages 18 to 60 reported masturbating during the previous year, compared with 61 percent of American men. There are many benefits linked to female masturbation, however, and practicing masturbation techniques appears to be particularly helpful for older women. As you age, your body undergoes normal physical changes that may affect your sex life. Other women, however, experience emotional or physical changes that can make sex less enjoyable. One common problem that older women experience is physical changes in the vagina.

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Sure, exercise is a great way to relieve stress and improve your sleep. But so is enjoying a little one-on-one time with you and your body. Masturbation is a safe and natural way to feel good, discover what gets you hot, and release built-up sexual tension.
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Right here. Right now. Orgasms help prevent cervical infections and can relieve existing vaginal discomforts such as UTIs. Your cervix is your friend. Let the lady breathe. It beats counting sheep. Leading up to orgasm, the happy hormone dopamine is released, followed quickly by a post-climactic shot of oxytocin, which is basically an organic, naturally-occurring sleeping pill.
One Cosmo writer once described masturbation as "the key to world peace" and "dealing with dick bosses everywhere. Not only does masturbating help boost your confidence and body image with all those feel good endorphins released after orgasm , but your solo sessions can actually help reduce stress too. Whether you opt for your rubdowns in the morning or at night, it's oh-so-good for the soul Sure, you don't need these things your fingers and body work juuuust fine , but if you ever want to like, really, really spice things up, check out the list below for the items you didn't know you needed while masturbating:. A blanket. For one of two reasons: One, it can get a lil chilly with your pants laying low around your ankles don't pretend like you take them all the way off. Two, what if your roommate barges in about a cockroach she found? Noise-cancelling headphones. You know, to drown out your roomie's fight with her parentals. Masturbation playlist.