Nearly everybody masturbates. 

It's one of the best ways to explore your body, and it can relieve stress, boost self-esteem, and give you a better night’s sleep. But exactly how often do women masturbate?

The average is at least once a week. If you're wondering what percentage of women masturbate, the answer is high. 

When it comes to how frequently you should masturbate, the reality is there’s no wrong or right answer. But if you’re looking to increase your count or cool off on the amount you masturbate, this guidance can help you navigate those choices.  

How often should you masturbate? 

Everyone's sexual journey is different, and how often you choose to indulge in a little self-love depends on your own personal preferences and sexual needs. There are no “shoulds” when it comes to how to masturbate or how often to do it.

There are many factors that influence the frequency of nonbinary, male, and female masturbation alike. This can include age, libido (or lack of it), and societal or cultural norms. There's also a significant gap between men and people with penises and women and people with vaginas and how often they masturbate — with the former averaging 15 times a month and the latter averaging 8 times a month. 

Masturbation is about more than numbers, though. It’s about discovering what you like. Touching yourself helps you learn what turns you on and brings you to climax, which you can then teach your partner. 

Approximately 64% of people with vaginas need a combination of clitoral and vaginal stimulation to orgasm, meaning masturbating can make partnered sex better. If there's an orgasm gap in your relationship, masturbating during sex or in front of your partner is a sexy way to close it. 

Ultimately, data on masturbating varies, and self-pleasure is deeply personal. Whether you masturbate multiple times a week or less frequently, what's important is that it’s a positive experience.  

Signs of excessive masturbation 

Masturbation is a normal, pleasurable, and healthy part of human sexuality, but like many behaviors, it has the potential to become problematic. To maintain a healthy balance, learn to recognize the signs of compulsive masturbation:  

Using masturbation as a distraction 

If you often use masturbation as an escape mechanism from life's daily stressors, that might be a sign of compulsion. When you find yourself doing this regularly, it may indicate an unhealthy reliance on self-pleasure for emotional regulation.   

Overwhelming fantasies about masturbation 

Do you think about self-pleasure constantly? This is concerning, particularly if your fantasies interfere with day-to-day responsibilities, like relationships, work, and your social life. If you're constantly distracted thinking about masturbating, this is a sign your priorities need rebalancing.   

Excessive time spent masturbating 

Masturbating for several hours daily, especially if it disrupts normal activities and responsibilities, indicates sexually compulsive behavior. If you're masturbating at the expense of things like eating, drinking water, and having sex with your partner, you may be showing signs of addiction.  

Masturbating in inappropriate settings 

While masturbation is natural, feeling the urge to masturbate in a public setting or during socially unacceptable situations is another sign of compulsion. If you're losing control over the impulse to masturbate, consider seeking help from a therapist or medical professional.   

Loss of sensitivity or experiencing pain 

Overindulging in masturbation can cause pain or reduced sensitivity. This physical toll on your body means your self-love habit might be excessive.   

How to adjust your frequency of masturbation  

Navigating how often you masturbate can be challenging, and there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Whether you aim to increase or decrease how often you get it on with yourself, thoughtful strategies are available to help align your frequency with your comfort level. 

If you want to masturbate more frequently: 

• Create time for self-care: Dedicate time to self-pleasure. Pencil in a relaxing session before bed to explore your favorite erogenous zone. It might surprise you how much of a difference it makes when masturbating is an intentional part of your routine. (And FYI: masturbating on your period is more than okay — it can even quash pesky cramps.)

• Explore new sex toys: Research and buy new sex toys to rejuvenate your interest in masturbation. Experiment with a vibrator, dildo, or vibrating panties while you fantasize to enhance your experience and make it something to look forward to.

• Prioritize your pleasure: Embrace your sexual needs without guilt or shame. Create an inviting atmosphere to get yourself in the mood by indulging in ethical porn like erotic literature or audio erotica, and don't be afraid to use your new vibrator. Experiment with different types of stimulation, including clitoral, G-spot, and A-spot.  

If you want to masturbate less: 

• Try exercise: When you feel the urge to masturbate, try substituting it with physical activities like running, yoga, or gym workouts. Exercise is a great distraction and releases endorphins, naturally reducing stress and boosting your mood. 

• Identify triggers: Think about what makes you want to masturbate. Identifying and recognizing these triggers can help you manage compulsive masturbation and develop alternative coping strategies. 

• Let go of the stigma: If compulsively masturbating makes you feel guilty or shameful, work on letting those feelings go. A critical step in overcoming masturbation addiction is treating yourself with kindness and considering where your compulsions come from in order to heal from them.

• Seek professional help: Consult a healthcare professional to get you on track to masturbating less. They offer tailored services, including talk therapy for addiction, medication, and support groups for managing compulsive sexual behaviors. 

Benefits of masturbating  

Masturbation can be healthy for you and enhance your physical and mental wellness. Not to mention, it's pretty fun, too. Here's how it contributes to your overall well-being and sexual health: 

• Stress reduction: Masturbation tells your brain to send out relaxing endorphins like oxytocin. The physical release of orgasm eases stress and tension, helping you chill out and feel good. 

• Improved sleep: Masturbation is positively correlated with improved sleep. Those same relaxing hormones that help you chill out also help you fall asleep and feel great when you wake up. To drift off to dreamland easier, add masturbation to your nighttime routine. 

• Better immunity: Sexual arousal and orgasms increase your body's white blood cells, making it easier to fight infection, and hormones like oxytocin help your immune system function. 

• Pelvic floor health: Did you know that having an orgasm uses your pelvic floor muscles — the same ones you strengthen with Kegel exercises? These muscles control urination and support your pelvic organs. Giving them a chance to flex can help you strengthen your pelvic floor and have better sex.  

• Pain relief: Reaching orgasm releases endorphins, which are natural painkillers. Hormones like oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine can alleviate the pain associated with menstrual cramps, headaches, and muscle soreness, so reach for your vibe next time you're sore. 

• Mood enhancement: One of the reasons why masturbation is so enjoyable is it boosts your mood. Getting off floods your brain with oxytocin and serotonin, which naturally makes you feel better. 

• Better partnered sex: Taking things into your own hands can help you have a healthy sex life. Masturbation allows you to explore what kind of vaginal, clitoral, or penile stimulation you need, which you can then communicate while getting down to it. This leads to a more fulfilling sex life and better intimacy with others. 

• Brain health: Achieving orgasm stimulates the areas of the brain responsible for motor functions, reward, and sensation. This stimulation increases blood flow, gives the brain a healthy workout, and enhances brain connectivity.  

Have better solo sex with Quinn 

No matter how often you do it, masturbating is a wellness tool with surprising benefits for your mind and body. 

To learn more about your sexual likes and dislikes and discover how you personally can achieve arousal and orgasm, masturbate with Quinn. Quinn is an audio erotica app made by women for the world, offering a diverse range of erotic audio content from talented, sexy Creators. The Quinn platform is a safe space for empowering women, men, and nonbinary people to explore their sexuality ethically. 

To access thousands of narrated sex stories and guided masturbation sessions, download the Quinn app for iOS or Android.