HELPING HANDS

Everybody does it; nobody really admits to it. But, the fact remains, we should be proud of our skills between the sheets, even if we’re the only ones under them, says Charlene Flanagan

- Charlene Flanagan

“It was some of the best sex I’ve had in a while,” she said, as she giggled over a call with her girlfriend. “Who was he? Did you finally decide to swipe right?” comes the eager reply. “Well, I did pick him up off an app, and he definitely knows how to make a girl happy. He has some rather helpful friends, too. I can introduce you to them if you like. And in case you’re wondering who this mystery man is, it’s my vibrator.”

It’s no secret that women don’t discuss their masturbation habits often, or with too many people, but it’s definitely no secret that we all, at some point or another, have masturbated to relieve that pent-up energy. “I tend to suffer from migraines due to work pressure and endless deadlines,” says Kavya Deshmukh*, a Mumbai-based media professional. “I’ve found that masturbation has helped alleviate those headaches, and I even sleep like a baby after getting off.”

BE HANDS-ON

Aside from the immediate relief from stress and sleeplessness, masturbation has some health benefits, too. For starters, it is a great way to boost your mood, relax, relieve cramps, release sexual tension, improve your sex life, feel pleasure, and help you understand your desires better. Gaurav Gupta, co-founder of Misters.in, says, “By masturbating, you discover your erogenous zones, and different gestures and rhythm to understand various sensations that help you reach orgasm. Most women would agree that masturbating is often more fulfilling with respect to orgasm, as compared to

reaching climax when having sex with a partner.” Masturbation, in addition to relaxing and reducing stress, helps in reaching orgasm faster. “It also allows you to explore your body, while in turn, helps you to guide your partner during foreplay,” adds Gupta.