Illustration: Hanna Wallström
Masturbation - a pleasurable time
By: Hanna Wallström
30/04/2026
What’s so great about masturbation? It feels great and offers many benefits. Firstly, masturbation is a way of getting to know one’s body and learning what you like. Secondly, it plays an essential role in the development of sexual health. It can reduce stress and help you feel confident. Thirdly, you can, of course, go solo or do it with someone you trust. And most important of all, it’s fun!
When we start to get aroused, blood flows down to our genital area, which turns the glans of the clitoris and penis into an engorged state and makes the area more sensitive. That’s a normal bodily function that often activates when the impulses are transmitted from the brain. The most visible reaction of arousal is lubrication and erections. Touching ourselves is a way to relieve ourselves of sexual arousal and also a way to get to know our bodies better, and how we feel our own bodies is entirely up to every one of us. By using hands or toys to masturbate, our bodies create dopamine and serotonin, which help reduce stress and are natural pain relievers, which are very helpful for people with cramps. Also, during the action, the brain releases various substances that can make us feel better and happier, alleviating the experience and heightening pleasure. In the end, some aim to have an orgasmic release, although it isn’t always a requirement. Just focus on the pleasure at hand when masturbating.
To actually have an orgasm, it’s essential to be aware of the body’s signals and to be sensitive to how the body responds in various situations. Using hands and/or toys on erogenous zones can make the experience pleasurable, with or without an orgasm. Exploring can be fun while masturbating, and it doesn’t matter how long it takes. It’s all up to you, but it’s still important to know your body and understand how it works. It can be empowering, but make sure not to have too much pressure while exploring your body; anxiety has a way to kill the mood if there is too much internal pressure. After all, it’s not a race, and the vital part of masturbation is to simply savour the sensation. Enjoy the moment.
We can all talk about the benefits of masturbation forever, how it releases tension, enhances sleep quality, boosts concentration, elevates mood, alleviates pain, relieves menstrual cramps, prevents anxiety and depression, and improves sex. Still, we should also be aware of a few potential dangers of masturbation. With too much masturbation, it can easily result in an addiction, which mostly interferes with everyday life. So, how does one know if they are addicted to masturbation? One symptom is that touching ourselves gets in the way of work or school and negatively affects relationships. It can consume us in ways we can’t really control. If it has become an issue, try to replace masturbation with other activities. When the urge comes, one can try to go for a run, write in a journal or spend time with friends. If that doesn’t help, it’s time to consider seeing a doctor or counsellor to find other ways to cut down on sessions.
Another “side effect” is death grip syndrome, usually happening to people with a too-strong grip on their penis. Too much stimulation of the penis can decrease the sensitivity and result in difficulty finishing during sexual intercourse. Similarly, by using a too-high frequency on toys, the clitoris can become too desensitised as well. A way to mitigate that is to try changing the technique and loosening the grip and pressure when masturbating. Guilt is also another effect that can come from masturbation for religious or cultural reasons, but it shouldn’t since it isn’t anything immoral och wrong to have an orgasmic release. But speaking with someone you trust or talking with a therapist can help alleviate the shame and help you move past that feeling.
What different kinds of techniques are there? A session can be done in many ways, so start using your hands, toys or miscellaneous and safe objects around the house. The only limit is your own creativity. For example, you can massage, knead, rub, press, slap, or squeeze different parts of your genitalia. The approach can vary depending on how aroused you are and what you are in the mood for. If you want to do the same thing you always do when you masturbate, there’s nothing wrong with that. Of course, alternating between a few favourites or trying many different techniques are also viable options. Adding extra lubrication can, for many, be helpful while masturbating, and then you can use water- and silicone-based lubricants or your own saliva, whichever suits your needs. Also, there is nothing wrong with enjoying a softer touch one time and wanting it a bit harder the next. Sometimes the body needs different things, so listening to what the body wants is essential.
Using toys is also a great option since they can vibrate, suck and reach parts of your body that are hard to reach with only your hands. For the clitoris, which has over 15 000 nerve endings, using a vibrating or sucking toy can expedite sexual release. Strokers and vibrators can help penises accomplish the same goal. Dildos and plugs are great for vaginal and anal penetration to reach the G- and P-spots. The G-spot is a few centimetres inside the vagina, can feel rough to the touch, and can harden when stimulated. Usually, you need to use a pressing motion, like a massage, with a finger to stimulate the G-spot or use different kinds of dildos to achieve orgasm. Sometimes when the G-spot is being prodded, the need to pee can arise, which is a normal sensation that usually turns into a pleasurable one. The prostate gland, also named G-spot or P-spot, is located five centimetres inside the anus of people with penises. It can also be felt through the perineum, where it produces part of the seminal fluid. Finger, dildos or butt plugs are often used to reach the P-spot for sexual pleasure. Prostate and G-spot stimulation, as well as clitoral and glans stimulation, can give different sensations to different people. No orgasm or experience is the same.
So, give it a go, whether you are a beginner or an experienced masturbator; you might find something new you like. By your lonesome, with someone. Maybe with a vibrator or two. Enjoy the ride and have a pleasurable time.
Recommended sex toys:
- The Best Vibrator: Magic Wand Rechargeable
- The Best G-Spot Vibrator: Lelo Mona 2
- The Best Couples’ Vibrator: We-Vibe Sync
- Best Prostate Massager: Lelo HUGO
- Best Affordable Masturbation Toy: Tenga Egg
- The Best Discreet Vibrator: Lovense Exomoon
Sources:
- MedicalNewsToday: Masturbation side effects: Myths and facts
- PlannedParenthood. Masturbation | Facts About Male & Female Masturbation
- Women’s Health: Masturbation | Facts About Male & Female Masturbation
- Healthline: Masturbation: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Myths, FAQs
- RFSU: Masturbation
- GQ: https://www.gq.com/story/the-best-sex-toys-for-women
- GQ: https://www.gq.com/story/the-best-sex-toys-for-men
