Solo Play Wellness: Mental & Physical Benefits of Regular Self-Pleasure

Masturbation has a LOT of feel-good benefits besides how good orgasms feel, and Masturbation May is the perfect time to celebrate them! Your brain, body, and love life will thank you 🥳🥳

Yes, getting intimate with a partner can be wonderful, but the health benefits of taking care of your own sexual needs shouldn’t be ignored, regardless of your gender or relationship status. Masturbating can improve your well-being in various ways, and everyone deserves to be able to explore their bodies and desires in a way that’s free of guilt or shame. Besides, you’ve got nothing to lose if you do decide to get down to business on your own — it’s easy and safe since you don’t need to worry about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or unplanned pregnancy when you’re the only person involved!

Can solo play improve physical health?

Absolutely! When practised in a safe and healthy manner, masturbation can have several physical health benefits such as:

• Sleep enhancement — ever wondered why you feel so tired after sex? It’s because orgasms release endorphins and other hormones like oxytocin, vasopressin, prolactin, and serotonin which can have a sedative-like effect, leading to sleep quality improvement by inducing feelings of contented relaxation and sleepiness so you drift off easier!
• For people who have periods, masturbation and orgasming can help relieve cramps — when you’re feeling down in the dumps about your period, it might feel like a Herculean effort to get yourself in the mood to get off, but some research suggests that an orgasm can actually relieve the pain of cramps by temporarily relaxing your pelvic muscles! Why not give yourself the pick-me-up you deserve when you need it most?
• Immune system support — some research suggests that sexual activity like masturbation can increase levels of certain antibodies in the body, which may strengthen the immune system and help fight off infections.
• Improved prostate health — masturbation and regular ejaculation can help reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer, so it’s well worth making consistent solo play into your wellness routine if you have a prostate.
• Better pelvic floor health — incorporating a self-pleasure routine into your self-care can help strengthen pelvic floor muscles, which can contribute to better bladder control and sexual function.

How does solo play benefit mental health?

Remember those endorphins we mentioned before? These chemicals are great for mental wellbeing by helping with:

• Stress relief and anxiety reduction — masturbation is one of the best relaxation techniques we have as it can trigger endorphin release, flooding the brain with feel-good hormones like dopamine and oxytocin which boost your mood and can also potentially lower stress by reducing cortisol levels!
• Emotional release — masturbation can provide a healthy outlet for sexual tension and pent-up feelings or desires. This reduces the likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behaviours and inducing a state of clear-headedness that’s commonly referred to these days as ‘post-nut clarity’.
• Better self-esteem — regular masturbation can help people become more familiar with their own bodies and responses to sexual stimuli, leading to increased comfort and self-confidence, especially during sexual activity with a partner!
• Sexual satisfaction — masturbation allows individuals to explore their sexual preferences, desires, and fantasies, leading to increased sexual self-awareness and satisfaction, which can contribute to an overall sense of erotic fulfilment.

Remember, while masturbation can grant you all these sexual health benefits, everybody is different, and it's important to only practise it at a frequency and in a way that feels comfortable and safe for you!

What toys are beneficial for solo play?

If you’re looking to make consistent solo play a part of your wellness routine, your self-pleasure tools are allowed to be all about you rather than needing to cater to multiple people. These adult toy picks for solo play from Sexyland don’t leave a whole lot for a partner to do so they may not be the best for breaking out when you have a lover under the sheets with you, but hey, Masturbation May is all about focusing on you, right? 😉

• Rabbit vibrators — these vibrators are some of the best toys for women and vulva-havers since simultaneous G-spot and clitoral stimulation deliver the dual delight of internal and external sensations at once! If you’re not sure how to pick a rabbit vibe that will fit your body, the Chic Lilac Perfect Fit Rabbit Vibrator will take all the guesswork out thanks to its ergonomically curved G-spot shaft and long clitoral stimulator, which follow alongside each other perfectly rather than curving outwards. The streamlined shapes offer a closer fit around your body that is better at maintaining constant contact with your G-spot and clitoris!
• Wand vibrators — most wands are on the bulky side compared to most other sex toys, which can make partnered play somewhat awkward if you want to use a wand around your intimate genital area. As a solo toy though, the benefits of maximum power and wider movement over a large pleasure zone are sure to have your toes curling in no time! Sexyland is a big fan of the Winyi Klaus, which has 20 vibration modes to enjoy in 5 intensities each for intense pleasure!
• Penis strokers & masturbation sleeves — most male masturbation toys fully encompass the penis, which doesn’t allow for much of a show or much involvement for a partner but does give the user the ultimate stroking satisfaction. The bestseller in this category is by far and away Fleshlight®, who are well known for their realistic designs that are moulded from the most popular porn stars!
• Butt plugs — this gender-neutral favourite might seem intimidating to backdoor play newcomers, but we promise they’re worth giving a shot. The anus is chock-full of sensitive nerve endings that feel fantastic when stimulated, and a plug is designed to put pressure on those nerves along the inner walls for a pleasantly full feeling. They’re also great for comboing with vaginal penetration to make it more intense in a process known as ‘double penetration’, perfect for playing with dildos and vibrators galore! An anal plug training kit like this Quilted Silicone Anal Probe Training Kit from Sexyland is a good place to start as you can build up your tolerance and progress through the sizes at a pace you’re comfortable with. The quilted texture adds more stimulation if you’re not ready for vibration but are keen for more pleasure than a smooth finish, and the easy-pull ring handles make these plugs a cinch to remove once you’ve had your fill!

Ready for a month of enhancing solo play? Visit Sexyland’s adult shops in-person and chat with our friendly Fun Specialists about the best self-pleasure tools for you, or shop our online range and get 2hr Delivery on bestselling sex toys so you can jump straight into the fun!