Masturbation: physical and psychological benefits and ideas to mix things up

Far from being just a way to let off steam after a marathon day, masturbation can be a soothing balm for body and mind. As pleasure builds, a remarkably effective hormonal cocktail gets to work behind the scenes. 

As you explore and right up to orgasm, your brain orchestrates a release of feel-good chemicals that instantly affect your mood:

• Endorphins: these natural morphine-like substances produced by the brain immediately ease nervous tension, chase away anxiety and bring a wonderfully comforting, floaty feeling.

• Dopamine: the ultimate reward and pleasure chemical. It boosts motivation and mood, leaving you with a lovely sense of contentment once you’ve reached the peak.

• Oxytocin: known as the bonding and comfort hormone, it lowers cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and relaxes your muscles from head to toe.

The result? After a moment of solo pleasure, your heart rate slows, distracting thoughts fade away, and you’re perfectly placed to drift peacefully off to sleep.

Beyond the sheer pleasure, enjoying yourself solo offers real physical and physiological benefits for your body:

• Natural relief from cramps: increased blood flow to the pelvic area, combined with the release of endorphins, can work wonders to ease muscle spasms and lower abdominal pain. To learn more, take a look at our article on how to enjoy the benefits of masturbation during your period.

• A gentle workout for your pelvic floor: during orgasm, the pelvic floor undergoes a series of involuntary, rhythmic contractions. These reflex movements encourage healthy blood flow to intimate tissues and help naturally tone the pelvic floor muscles, which are essential for support and sexual sensation.

• Valuable care for the prostate: for people with a prostate, regular ejaculation helps drain prostatic fluids, reducing the risk of fluid build-up and helping maintain a healthy urinary tract.

Masturbating means taking charge of your own body and making your sexuality a space where you have complete autonomy. By exploring your desires solo, without expectations or pressure, you learn to look at your body with kindness and curiosity. You discover exactly what turns you on, the pressure that feels right and the rhythms that sweep you away.

And guess what? The better you know your own pleasure map, the better you’ll be at guiding your partners when you’re together!

Let’s say it straight away: there is no one-size-fits-all instruction manual. The only rule that matters is to listen to your body and embrace what feels good.

To set yourself up for the best experience:

🫧 Create your own little bubble 

Turn off notifications, dim the lights and put on a cosy playlist... In short, make yourself a little haven. And if finding the right moment or having housemates around makes you anxious, discover our tips for masturbating discreetly when you’re not home alone.

⏱️ Forget the clock and try edging (building pleasure gradually)

Solo pleasure isn’t a sprint to orgasm! To heighten the sensations, there’s a brilliant technique called edging (or controlling the point of no return). The idea? Build your arousal until you’re on the brink of orgasm, then stop completely or slow down for a few seconds to let the wave subside a little. Repeat this little game two or three times before finally letting go: you’ll find the resulting orgasm far more powerful, profound and liberating!

🧼 Clean hands, carefree mind

Keeping your hands gently cleaned (and your nails neatly filed) helps prevent minor irritation in sensitive areas.

What if you treated yourself to a new way of feeling good? When the same moves start to feel a little too automatic, exploring different approaches can multiply the pleasure. Here are a few tips for changing the pace, awakening your senses and breaking out of your routine: 

Instead of heading straight for the clitoris or the head of the penis, take the scenic route. Gently brush your thighs, lower abdomen, lower back or chest. Play with contrasts: a feather-light touch, then firmer pressure. You can also try gently stimulating the vaginal opening: discover our guide to the shallowing technique for a whole new dimension of pleasure.

We can’t say it enough: lube is absolutely not just for days when you’re experiencing intimate dryness! When you’re solo, it changes everything. By reducing friction, it creates a silky glide, heightens sensitivity and makes every touch feel wonderfully smooth. Find your perfect match in our selection of intimate lubes. .

Sex toys aren’t here to replace your hands, but to amplify sensations with vibrations or pressure that are hard to recreate by hand. 

For those who love trying something new:

• The Hector masturbation egg: a flexible little gem with a choice of 3 internal textures to envelop the penis or discreetly stimulate the clitoris. (Psst, we explain how a masturbation egg works right here)
• The Tokyo palm vibrator, a must-have for caressing every erogenous zone. Its wonderfully smooth shape is ideal for sending gentle vibrations across the clitoris or the whole body

For waves of intense orgasms: 

• The Womanizer Next clitoral stimulator or the Womanizer Premium 2: original Pleasure Air technology stimulates the clitoris with pulses of air, without direct contact with the skin, making it a perfect ally for an intense orgasm in record time.

• The Arcwave Zing vibrating masturbator: a high-tech toy for people with a penis, featuring an adjustable band and two powerful motors so you can tailor the pressure to your liking.

Masturbation is a private little world that belongs to you alone. Whether you give it a quick five minutes or two hours of exploration, what matters is allowing yourself that precious time with kindness, curiosity and no guilt whatsoever.

Explore our full collection of sex toys and find the perfect companions for your next adventures.

Take care of yourself, listen to what you want, and never forget: one of the most beautiful kinds of love is the love you give yourself! 💜