Welcome to The Weekend Sexperiment! Each Friday, I alternate between The Weekend Sexperiment and Reader’s Request Fridays. In TWS posts, I offer a simple sex therapy homework assignment to try out over the weekend. Some experiments are geared towards couples, but others are suitable for single folks. As always, please feel free to contact me if you have a certain topic you’d like to see covered. If you’re interested in more Sexperiments, call (415) 658-5738 or visit my Appointments page to schedule a Sexploration Session.

In honor of national masturbation month, I’m going to be writing about masturbation for the next couple of weeks.

Today I want to dive into your personal reasons for masturbating.

Masturbation is still considered relatively taboo in our society, and a lot of people feel embarrassed by the notion of self-pleasure.

One of my favorite ways to start getting more comfortable with masturbation is to explore your motivations.

Take a look at the list below and see which reasons for masturbating resonate with you. Which ones do you relate to? Which ones surprise you? Which ones make you feel even the teeniest tiniest bit more accepting of masturbation?

Did I leave any of your favorite reasons off the list?

Because you’re curious.

Because masturbation helps you get to sleep faster.

Because you’ve never had an orgasm before.

Because masturbation helps you develop greater control of your orgasmic timing.

Because you want to explore your body and get to know what you like and don’t like.

Because you’re bored.

Because masturbation releases endorphins.

Because it helps clear your mind.

Because you want to try out a new sex toy.

Because you’re tired of feeling embarrassed or ashamed about masturbation.

Because you’re horny.

Because you want to show your body some love.

Because masturbation can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.

Because you have a few minutes of privacy.

Because it improves your mood.

Because it relaxes and destresses you.

Because you want to learn how to have multiple orgasms.

Because you don’t want to have blue balls.

Because it’s one of the safest forms of sex.

Because it’s a way to prioritize your pleasure.

Because masturbation relieves menstrual cramps and headaches.

Because it can help increase your levels of sexual desire.

Because it feels good.