Masturbation—or sexually pleasuring yourself—can bring a lot of good into your life. I like to refer to it [as being on the same level of importance] as eating, sleeping, and brushing our teeth. Think of this as a primer or reminder of why you should touch yourself, bust out a toy, or otherwise go after it in the way that delights you most. As Dr. Getting to orgasm often requires putting any stressful thoughts out of your mind, and then the wave of pleasure compounds that effect. Trubow tells SELF.

Here's the lowdown on how to subscribe to Allure's print edition for more beauty routines, recommendations, and features. Masturbation can sometimes feel daunting. I also get frustrated by how easily I can get thrown off course, or about how particular I am with my environment. Ultimately, though, I feel happy to have one reliable way to get myself off. I know from my experience as an educator that there are many, many others who have yet to find a way they like to do it. When we take the time to explore on our own, though, both our solo and partnered sex lives benefit. Exhibit A: I need intense pressure or vibration to get off, but my sexual partners for the first five years of my sex life only executed light, fluttery rubs and tickles or suction-y cunnilingus — which I hated.

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:. Remember though: This will vary from person to person.

Can't get the hang of it, or hitting a masturbation rut? These masturbation tips will blow open your world of self-pleasure and change everything you thought you knew about how to masturbate. Okay, it's pretty likely that you've touched yourself before, even if just tentatively in the shower during that period of teenage exploration. That being said, plenty of women don't really know how to masturbate, let alone actually reach a full O on their own.