Let me take you back a few years: I, being a curious and rebellious teen, flip through tv channels late one night and discover an adult movie for the first time: HBO’s after dark adult content (I believe it was called Real Sex; HBO no longer creates adult content FYI). I was appalled and also extremely embarrassed to feel the way I felt while watching. I had attended a Catholic school, where sex was only taught for reproductive purposes and NEVER about pleasure, and my parents never had any sort of talk with me about those things. I had to figure out everything on my own. My eyes were glued to the screen, I couldn’t look away. That is, until I heard foot steps heading up the stairs! This was my first time ever masturbating, and it was amazing.

You’re probably wondering why I am telling you this. It’s because May is National Masturbation Month! It is a time to really explore your body, to learn how to please yourself and to learn about your sexuality. It is also a time to celebrate, because there are those around the world who are shamed into thinking masturbation is wrong and unnatural. It could be for religious reasons, for the way they see their bodies, or maybe it’s because they are uneducated. Contrary to all of this, masturbation is healthy, normal, and is for anyone and everyone who wishes to do so. 

The “shame” that circles around sex and masturbation more than often prevents people from speaking honestly with the partners they may have, taking care of their sexual health and making it an important priority. How can you expect someone else to know how to please you if you don’t know yourself? What do you like? What do you not like? What feels good and what doesn’t? These are things that are important to know so when the time comes, you’re not regretting the things you and your partner may or may not experience in the bedroom (or anywhere else).

There are of course so many other reasons why masturbation is great. It is a stress reliever, a sleep aid, a wonderful way to relax, it can help with period cramps if you get a period,  can increase sperm count, can help with anxiety and it is the safest form of sex, but these are only a few to list of the many wonderful benefits of masturbation.

In conclusion: be you. Be proud of who you are and what you like and never let anyone make you feel your own pleasure is not important. Have fun, sell dirty panties and go touch yourself!