Female+Masturbation


 * Female Masturbation **

**So what is female masturbation?** According to WebMD (2010), masturbation is defined as being “the self-stimulation of the genitals to achieve sexual arousal and pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm”. Thus, female masturbation refers specifically to the practice of self-stimulation of the clitoris in order to (typically) achieve orgasm. Most commonly, women will touch, rub, or stroke their clitoris using one or two fingers, but using a vibrator, pressurized water, or other objects is just as effective (Solot & Miller, 2007).

**How common is female masturbation?** According to the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (2010), 44% of women aged 20-24 reported having masturbated in the past month, and 64% reported doing so in the past year. The numbers tend to be similar across age groups. This number can vary substantially however, due to the somewhat taboo nature of female masturbation.

**Why is female masturbation taboo?** While masturbation is a very common practice, female masturbation has routinely been a taboo subject amongst people. Some women will very openly talk about it while others prefer to be more discreet about it. Typically, young women believe that they should not masturbate, and some never learn that they even canmasturbate. Oftentimes, parents tend to teach children that touching themselves ‘down there’ and discussing such matters is inappropriate. Cultural trends that tend to shy away from sexual communication greatly intensify the taboo against female masturbation. According to Kathryn Hoyle, owner of the Sh! Women’s Erotic Emporium in London, female masturbation is still taboo because of things such as media and available knowledge. For example, she cites the lack of articles about self-pleasure in women targeted magazines such as Cosmopolitan. A quick flip through the sex-section of Cosmo reveals articles about increasing male pleasure…but very rarely female pleasure. Because women tend to focus the aim of sex as being for male pleasure, the idea of female pleasure falls to the wayside, even to the women themselves (Pelling, 2000).

**Why is female masturbation important?** While the dominant frame of mind tends to shy away from the importance of female masturbation, in actuality it is a practice that is greatly rewarding on many levels. One of the main reasons for it being so important is that learning to masturbate greatly enhances a woman’s chance of being able to achieve orgasm. By learning how to self-induce orgasm, it is far more likely that during sexual intercourse a woman will be able to repeat the experience. This may be because a woman who is comfortable touching herself is more likely to know what feels good to her sexually, and she is less likely to be surprised by pre-orgasm sensations. Also, she is better able to tell her partner what she likes and what he or she should do in order to increase pleasure (Solot & Miller, 2007). Along with achieving orgasm, masturbation also has many health benefits, both physical and psychological.

**What are some health benefits of female masturbation?** Female masturbation has shown to carry a variety of health benefits for those who participate in such acts, including the prevention of cervical infections. This is due to the opening and stretching of the cervix, allowing for cervical fluid to flow out of the cervix into the vagina, thus flushing out bacteria that can cause infections. Another benefit is higher resistance to coronary heart disease well as a lower risk factor for type-2 diabetes. Because after orgasm oxytocin is released, masturbation can actually help fight insomnia. And finally, orgasms increase the strength of the pelvic floor in women, which is extremely beneficial in may different aspects of female health. Along with physical benefits, there are also many emotional and psychological benefits. Mood improvement, stress relief, and the strengthening of relationships with both her partner and herself are just a few of the internal benefits a woman can achieve (Levine, 2008).

**What are some myths that surround female masturbation?** According to Solot & Miller (2007), there are plenty of misconceptions about female masturbation, including:

+If a woman masturbates, she will not be able to achieve orgasm with a partner – studies have shown the opposite is true! A woman who can achieve orgasm during masturbation is more likely to have more frequent and multiple orgasms.

+A woman can potentially damage her body by masturbating – there are no ‘side effects’ of masturbation (aside from an improved sex life, better understanding of one’s body, and an overall healthier disposition), so worrying about going blind, getting acne, or growing hair in strange places is completely unfounded. However, due to the amount of friction experienced, some women find it to be more comfortable to use a lubricant when masturbating.

+My religion says that masturbation is a sin – there is some amount of disagreement on this topic, but for the most part, most scholars agree that female masturbation specifically is rarely mentioned in any texts of the faiths of Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Also, many leaders within these religions state that masturbation is perfectly acceptable.

+A woman who masturbates will no longer be considered a virgin – the loss of virginity requires a partner, and because masturbation does not require a partner, it is physically impossible for a woman to lose her virginity via touching herself. Some women who choose not to have sex even find that masturbation satisfies their sexual urges!

**Can masturbation make orgasms stronger?** Yes! By playing what is called the ‘Game of 10’, women can actually increase the strength of their orgasm. How does the game work? First, a woman will bring herself to the brink of orgasm in her most dependable way, but she will not allow herself to reach the actual point of orgasm. Then, she will change positions. This could include kneeling instead of lying on her back, sitting up, lying on her side, or even standing. Then, she will once again bring herself to the verge of orgasm, stopping just short. While it will be more difficult to bring herself to this point, it is not only bringing her closer to producing a stronger orgasm, but also increasing the versatility in which she can achieve orgasm. By repeating this process 10 times, the orgasm experienced at the end will be particularly satisfying due to the number of times she came so close to allowing herself to orgasm, but held it back. This game can also be modified for more advanced masturbators: by changing the type of stimulation (such as one finger rather than two, increased or decreased speed, different rhythm, etc.) rather than the physical position, a woman can discover even more ways in which she is capable of attaining orgasm (Solot & Miller 2007).

**Sources:**

Cantrell, W. (2010). Top 10 Iconic Bathtub Scenes. //Scene Stealers.// Retrieved from http://www.scene-stealers.com/top-10s/top-10-iconic-bathtub-scenes/

Levine, C. (2008). //Health Benefits of Self Cultivation.// Retrieved from http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/healthbenefitsofmasturbation.aspx

National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior. (2010). Sexual Behaviors graph. Retrieved from http://www.nationalsexstudy.indiana.edu/

Pelling, R. (2000, November 21). Good Vibrations. //The Guardian//. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000/nov/21/gender.uk

Solot, D., & Miller, M. (2007). Petting the Bunny: Masturbation & Female Orgasm. //I Love// //Female Orgasm.// 41-63.

“Your Guide to Masturbation” (2010). On //WebMD//. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide