Masturbating While on Your Period Tips
Yes, You Can Masturbate on Your Period — It’s Actually Good for You
There's nothing wrong, weird, or gross about living life while on your period. And if part of "living life" to you involves masturbating, even while menstruating, more power to you. Though there's a lot of stigma out there around menstrual blood as being "dirty" or "gross," these misconceptions should not influence your journey to self-pleasure. Why? Because masturbating on your period isn't just completely normal — it's also good for you.
"People masturbate for several reasons: to relieve their horniness, to relieve anxiety or stress, to feel good, to alleviate menstrual cramps, to manifest their dreams and desires, to make it a habit during their day, and to turn other people on, etc. There are so many different reasons why people masturbate. Personally, for me, it is all these things," says sexologist Marla Renee Stewart, MA.
Though you may be hesitant about masturbating while on your period, it's a great opportunity to show your body some love and care during a time when you may be experiencing some not-so-great PMS symptoms. If you're curious about how to masturbate on your period, though, we got you.
The Benefits of Masturbating on Your Period
There are so many benefits of masturbating. When you orgasm, your body is flooded with feel-good endorphins that help you relax, de-stress, and block out annoying PMS symptoms. In a 2020 global clinical study launched by sex-toy brand Womanizer and Lunette, a menstrual-cup brand, regular masturbation was found to reduce the severity of cramps, breast pain, mental restlessness, and pain in the abdomen, back, and thighs. But even more interesting: 70 percent of the 341 participants reported that masturbation during their periods reduced the intensity of their symptoms, and 13 percent said it reduced the intensity by a lot.
When it comes to PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PDD), a more severe form of PMS, masturbation can help with the physical symptoms, but also the emotional ones — like low mood or irritability. One study also found that orgasming through masturbation was associated with better sleep quality, which can sometimes be a symptom of PMS or PDD also.
It's also worth noting that masturbating on your period can help alleviate any major horniness you feel, since, for a lot of people, they experience a high libido while menstruating. This is because hormones in the body can directly affect your sex drive. Though it's unclear exactly how menstruation affects libido, the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone do play a role in sexual desire — and all three come into play during menstruation.
How to Masturbate on Your Period
The best way to masturbate during your period is wherever you feel most comfortable — whether in the shower, your bed, on the couch, or wherever else. FWIW, many people enjoy the relaxing sensations of a warm shower or bath when it's that time of the month, but it's totally up to you and your preferences. Just note that if you choose to stay out of water, it would be helpful to put a towel underneath you to prevent yourself from leaking through onto a bed sheet or couch.
Once you've nailed down where you will be masturbating, the masturbating itself will look the same as if you were masturbating not on your period. Per Stewart, you can use your hands, toys, or grind up on other objects to get yourself to an orgasm. But don't forget about stimulating your other erogenous zones, too, she adds. "Nipples are sensitive and the catalyst for having an orgasm."
For external stimulation, like clitoris-focussed sensations, you can keep your menstrual disc or tampon in and simply use your hands or a toy to stimulate yourself. Focus on the clitoris, vulva, and any other erogenous zone that feels good.
For internal stimulation, Planned Parenthood recommends removing your tampon or disc before masturbation: "otherwise, the tampon and its string could get pushed up too deep in your vagina for you to be able to get it out yourself." Once that is removed, masturbate how you normally would. If that means vaginally penetrating yourself with your fingers or a sex toy, don't feel like you have to hold back just because you're on your period. Remember that blood is perfectly normal, and though things might get messy, it's nothing to be embarrassed about.
Another option is to masturbate while wearing menstrual underwear like Thinx, Knix, or Aisle. With them on, grind or use your favourite toy over your underwear. (Some people like to masturbate like this regardless of their cycle because direct stimulation may feel too intense.)
When you're done, simply wash your toys and hands with fragrance-free soap and warm water, and you're all set.
If you want to try masturbating to relieve your symptoms, but are struggling to let go of shame or embarrassment, Stewart says it may be time to seek extra support. "If you're feeling shame around your sexuality, I would advise going to a sex counselor or sex therapist to help you overcome that shame and give you the tools you need to enjoy shame-free healthy masturbation."
