Yes, you read that right. It’s Masturbation Month! A great reason to celebrate with a loved one – or all on your own!
In these crazy pandemic times, self-pleasuring has become a simple, popular option for many people to relieve the stress and loneliness of lockdown at home. There has definitely been an upswing in self-stimulation since March 2020. According to one recent poll, roughly 48% of those surveyed are masturbating more frequently than ever before. That’s because they’re staying indoors more, and the average single person is masturbating up to three times per day. Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of #Lubelife Marketing, 34% of respondents indicated that they had experienced the best orgasm of their lives during the pandemic. Three out of ten attributed that mind-blowing experience to attempting new sexual positions or techniques – such as masturbating.
Masturbation Month grew out of a response by Good Vibrations sex shop in San Francisco to the firing of then Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders in 1994. The shop’s initiative to promote auto-eroticism started as “National Masturbation Month.” Elders had been dismissed because of comments she made at the UN World AIDS Day earlier that year. Asked whether promoting masturbation might discourage children from riskier sexual activity, Elders agreed and added that children should be taught masturbation since it is a natural part of human sexuality. Washington disagreed and fired her – perhaps because the then-current administration had an official preference for blue dresses and fellatio at the time. Although many of America’s persistently puritanical views about sexuality linger, we have seen some progress in making sex and masturbation less “forbidden” or “taboo.” For example, we love what the organization Sex Positive Families is doing to teach children that sex and sexuality are to be celebrated. One of their email blasts for May, for example, featured a graphic that reads: “Masturbation in Childhood is… totally normal, a healthy way to self-soothe, and how kids get to know their bodies. Don’t Shame Them.” Bravo!
Let us dispel a few more masturbation myths specifically for men so that you can get back to treating yourself to the fun-filled stress relief you deserve: No, masturbation does not lower testosterone levels or make you any less virile. No, you cannot damage your penis – unless you frequently flog your dolphin for excessive periods of time without lubrication. That can cause chafing and irritation to your skin that can – in the worst case – become infected. Remember: As with any vigorous exercise, moderation in masturbation is a good practice. Yes, your sperm count drops immediately after ejaculation, but your body replenishes it regularly. You won’t “run out”. While frequent masturbation can reduce your sperm count in the short term, cutting back your abundant self-pleasuring for a few days will return your count to normal.
Take advantage of Masturbation Month! Try a new toy. Your choices are virtually unlimited! Experiment with new techniques. Elevate your self-pleasuring artistry and elevate yourself to new heights of pleasure. The better you know your own levels of pleasure, the better you will be able to share them with a partner and better understand their passion practices and needs! The real purpose of Masturbation Month is to raise sexual awareness and highlight the importance of masturbation because it’s safe, healthy, free, and very pleasurable., It helps people get to know their bodies and their sexual responses. “Masturbation is a normal and common activity for both men and women, yet many people feel shame or guilt about masturbating,” said Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, Chief Medical Officer at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Negative feelings about masturbation can threaten your health and well-being. Remember, only you can decide what is healthy and right for you.”
As Masturbation Month, May brings spring showers and flowers that were meant to enhance your opportunities to make pleasant and pleasurable time for yourself, get to know your body better, and prioritize your sexual pleasure, according to Dr. McDonald-Mosley, masturbation provides a productive way to learn what you like and don’t like without putting yourself at risk for pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. We can confirm that self-pleasuring is one of the best ways to learn about your sexuality while relieving stress. Living in a once-a-century time of global pandemic, we all need stress relief more than ever, just as we all need more connection with others. We recommend that you think about a great and appropriate way to celebrate Masturbation Month. We have a couple of suggestions: If you’re on your own, turn the lights down low. Fire up some of your favorite scented candles. Pour a glass of wine. Slide into a nice, hot bubble bath. Descend into erotic fantasy world. Get down with your bad self! Or if you are in a happy relationship, remember, you don’t have to be alone to masturbate! Take advantage of this time to try masturbating for each other. Go through all the previous steps with candles, wine and bubble bath, and when you get out of the tub, position yourselves at opposite ends of the bed, and show off your masturbation prowess to your partner. Maybe you could check out some new toys that you’ve never tried before.
We’ve found that people have been using this extended period of isolation to experiment new ways of getting freaky whether together or flying solo. Trying new things by yourself is also a perfect way to figure out what you might like when you’re not alone. Once you’re comfortable with a new dildo or vibrator it’s much easier to integrate that new toy into intercourse love play with your honey. So go on. Whatever your fantasy or preferred setting, feel free to give yourself a Happy Ending – or two or three. You’ll be glad you did and healthier for it!
