Is masturbation safe and normal for women? Medical doctors answer

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Masturbation is the act of touching, stroking, or rubbing one's genitals.

According to Dr. Elva Marita Sarte-Uygongco, an obstetrician-gynecologist of Hara Clinic, a holistic sexual health clinic in Pasig City, it is a way of pleasuring oneself sexually, a form of self-exploration.

In a predominantly Catholic country like the Philippines, however, sex and intimacy can still prove to be thorny taboo topics.

“This also has something to do with how we were raised when we were children. We've been told masturbation is a sin, sex is a sin. So, this really influences how parents and children are scared into doing those kinds of sexual acts and sexual explorations especially with expectation in women,” she explained in an interview with GMA News Online.

How do we hold space for such conversation matters to thrive, then? For Dr. Sarte-Uygongco, it can start in the home.

"Sometimes you have these awkward situations when parents stumble into their children and then the first thing some of these parents immediately say is, 'Hey, that's bad, that's wrong, that's a sin.' But I think eventually when we become parents or if you're currently a parent, you should handle that differently with your children. You should explain to them that this is a form of self-exploration," she said.

"I think it's the mindset that we should change when we stumble into these awkward situations with our children."

PSA: Masturbation is safe and normal

“It's completely safe and normal for women to masturbate. It actually has some health benefits aside from providing you pleasure," said Dr. Sarte-Uygongco.

She added that masturbation is one of the “safest forms of sexual pleasure” because it doesn’t pose the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or getting pregnant.

Dr. Deano Reyes, a sexual health doctor and the medical director of Hara Clinic, also assured that it is okay for people to explore themselves sexually.

“Male or female, there are no rules. It is just a twisted evolution of society that paints largely through ‘yung mga religious lenses, no? Na sex is bad. Sex is dirty. ‘Yun ‘yung mga nagiging attachments to sex and women are very much victims [of] this because men are expected or parang accepted to explore their sexuality,” he said.

Dr. Lisa T. Prodigalidad-Jabson, a urogynecologist and sexual dysfunction specialist of the Sexual Health Division of the Philippine General Hospital, shared that masturbation is safe but noted that there’s a distinction between what is acceptable and what is pathologic.

“The occasional engaging in these self-gratifying acts is acceptable, but if you do it more frequently than the other person, if it is slowly replacing a normal, healthy relationship, then it is not normal anymore,” she said.

“So, just like anything, there is something that is normal in value and quantity and one that is already going beyond what is accepted as normal behavior.”

Benefits of masturbation

Masturbation is one of the best ways to destress because it releases various hormones such as dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins which improve the body’s overall wellbeing.

“There are various hormones that are released when you are masturbating. This includes dopamine, which is the happy hormone; oxytocin, which is the love hormone; and endorphins, which is ‘yung mood booster and destressing hormones,” Dr. Sarte-Uygongco explained.

“So, all of these things combined actually decrease stress, decrease anxiety, improve sleep and better mood.”

Dr. Reyes also shared that orgasms from masturbation can help relieve menstrual cramps.

“Orgasms help relax the uterine muscles and it also releases endorphins which are good for reducing pain,” he said.

He noted that an orgasm may contribute to better immune function as it helps alleviate stress and anxiety by lowering the levels of our cortisol, which is the body’s stress hormone. He added that regular arousal can also help with women’s vaginal health and its natural lubrication.

How to masturbate safely

While masturbating is generally safe for women, one should always take precautions in doing so to avoid any infection.

Before doing the deed, one’s genitals must be lubricated properly as some may experience vaginal dryness.

“Treatment for that would be increasing your lubrication also. You don't have to rely on your natural lubrication. There's no harm in adding ‘yung mga water-based lubricants natin to your masturbation,” she explained.

She advised applying water-based lubricants, notably those that contain hyaluronic acid.

“Hyaluronic acid actually promotes collagen formation and regeneration ng ating vaginal tissues. So, using those kinds of lubrication na water-based with hyaluronic acid is better for your vaginal health,” she said.

A safe environment is also important, so do it in a space where you feel comfortable to explore your body.

Masturbation primarily uses fingers, so make sure your nails are trimmed.

“Kasi siyempre sobrang sensitive ng ating vaginal wall, and it easily tears if your nails are not taken care of, if they're too sharp,” Dr. Sarte-Uygongco cautioned.

Masturbation can also involve the use of sex toys such as dildos. If you are using toys, make sure they are made of medical-grade materials, which are safe for sexual use and able to withstand sterilization techniques.

“You have to use safe toys. One, it has to be graded for sexual use kasi mayroon tayong mga sexual toys na fake, the silicone isn't body safe,” she added, adding that cheap materials are often prone to bacterial growth.

It is likewise crucial to always clean and sterilize sex toys after using them to keep oneself safe.

“Our toys, so when you use them afterwards, they should be cleansed with soap. Then after soap, we can also sterilize these things. So some of my patients, I also tell them once in a while aside from just regularly cleaning your sexual toys, sterilize them. Just use a different sterilizer for your sexual toys,” she said.

Dr. Reyes echoed the same sentiments, advising to choose sex toys made of materials that are safe and non-reactive to the skin, as well as water-based lubricants as these won’t react with one’s vaginal pH.

“The vagina is this perfectly balanced ecosystem, ideally, no? So things that derail its pH levels and it's either too high or too low will make your commensal bacteria,  or the friendly bacteria in the vagina, panic,” he said.

But just as how there is nothing wrong with masturbation, there is also nothing wrong or bad if one does not masturbate.

Per Dr. Sarte-Uygongco, there are no health risks if a person chooses not to masturbate.

“There's no health risk if [people] don't masturbate kasi eventually, when they do decide to have sexual encounters, if they want to save themselves for marriage, their body will respond in the same way. So, there's really no harm in waiting or not doing it at all.”

What should I do if I bleed while using toys?

If you lack sexual experience and bleed while fingering or using a toy, don’t panic. It happens. Per Dr. Sarte-Uygongco, the bleeding is likely due to a punctured hymenal ring, which can happen when one uses a dildo or has sex for the first time.

What should one do in this situation? Dr. Prodigalidad-Jabson advised, “It depends on how strong the bleeding is because it's essentially trauma to the vaginal canal. So if it's just minor bleeding, minor spotting, then you can observe.”

If the bleeding is painful or strong, however, it is best to go to the emergency room.

She also emphasized the use of lubricants to lessen friction against the vaginal canal and lessen the chances of trauma to the lining of the vagina.

Aftercare

Like in sex, aftercare is important in masturbation.

According to Dr. Prodigalidad-Jabson, masturbation can also cause women to develop urinary tract infections (UTI) when there is trauma to the genitals, such as when one uses a sex toy.

“Although there is no exchange of bodily fluids that can increase the risk of infection, there is still that mechanical trauma to the vagina and the other genital urinary tract area. So after using [the sex toy], it's always best to clean the area, pee if you must, to wash out, and then just regular hygiene with soap and water.”

No to shame

Despite masturbation being considered taboo by some, Dr. Sarte-Uygongco said that women shouldn’t feel guilty about doing it as it is a part of exploring themselves.

At the same time, women who choose to be more conservative with their bodies, shouldn’t be shamed for their choices as well, as it is also completely normal for one to choose not to masturbate.

“Women who choose not to masturbate shouldn't shame women who choose to masturbate. In the same way na if you're liberal thinking, open-minded, don't shame the people who are more conservative with their views,” she said.

“As long as they have safe sexual practices and they're caring for themselves in a proper way, doing things in a safe way, then masturbation and sex is something that shouldn't be shunned. It shouldn't be [a shame] and it shouldn't be taboo.”

— CDC, GMA Integrated News