DOCTORS should be prescribing masturbation to women in menopause, scientists say.
More than a third of women (36 per cent) reported having improved symptoms through solo sex, their research found.
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The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University surveyed 1,500 American women aged 40 to 65 years old.
These are the typical years a woman will go through perimenopause before reaching menopause (a year with no period).
Dr Cynthia Graham, Senior Scientist at the Kinsey Institute, says: “This survey shows self-pleasure offers an effective, accessible tool for menopausal symptom relief, which is important to integrate with existing care strategies.”
The research was conducted in partnership with sexual wellbeing company the Lovehoney Group, which recently launched an online AI tool which gives personalised advice to sex and wellbeing questions.
“There’s no reason masturbation should remain a secret in menopause care,” says Verena Singmann, Lovehoney Group’s Head of Pleasure Advocacy.
“Women have the right to know all of their options when it comes to managing the challenges of menopause, and we’re here to break the silence around masturbation as an empowering and effective choice.”
Only one in 10 women said they currently use self-pleasure as a primary symptom management tool.
But nearly half (46 per cent) of women surveyed indicated they would be open to trying masturbation for symptom relief if recommended by their doctor.
The benefits of masturbation are not something GPs are likely to discuss with their patients.
Some 44 per cent of respondents reported ever discussing menopause with their doctor in the US.
Among these women, five per cent said their provider suggested masturbation as a ‘possible symptom management strategy’.
White women had a better understanding of menopause than other ethnic groups, the survey found.
When asked six questions, 55 per cent of white women had correct answers followed by Asian women (42 per cent), Hispanic women (37 per cent) and Black women (35 per cent).
Dr Shamyra Howard, a sex therapist, commented: “This is an opportunity to destigmatise menopause and masturbation for all women, particularly women of color who are disproportionately affected by the Gender Health Gap and the lack of menopause education.
“The more women learn about this tool, the more empowered they’ll be to take control of their sexual health and overall well-being.”
Common symptoms that occur during menopausal years include hot flushes, mood changes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and discomfort and brain fog.
Other symptoms – from a long list of more than 50 – include weight gain, sleep problems, anxiety and low libido.
Another survey by the same team – of 1,500 American adults aged 18-88 – found some gaps in symptom awareness.
Only 13 per cent identified concentration or memory difficulties as a menopause symptom, 14.1 per cent bladder issues or incontinence and 27.9 per cent sleep changes.
Even for the most recognised symptom, hot flushes, fewer than two-thirds (59.4 per cent) of respondents identified this as a symptom.
How is masturbation beneficial for health?
Masturbation is nothing to be embarrassed about – after all, it’s physically and mentally good for you!
Just like sex, masturbation – and likely an ending of orgasm – is healthy.
Masturbation releases endorphins which boost mood and can alleviate depressive symptoms and cortisol, the stress hormone.
It can help you relax, reduce stress and help you sleep better – which has a number of health benefits in itself.
In one study, published in the Frontiers in Public Health, almost half of men and women who masturbated before bed said they either got better sleep quality, or fell asleep quicker.
Spring Cooper is a social researcher with academic qualifications in public health, health promotion, and sexuality, said: “For women, masturbation can help prevent cervical infections and urinary tract infections through the process of ‘tenting’, or the opening of the cervix that occurs as part of the arousal process.
“Tenting stretches the cervix, and thus the cervical mucous.
“This enables fluid circulation, allowing cervical fluids full of bacteria to be flushed out.
“Masturbation can lower risk of type-2 diabetes (though this association may also be explained by greater overall health), reduce insomnia through hormonal and tension release, and increase pelvic floor strength through the contractions that happen during orgasm.”
For men, there is evidence that climaxing may help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer – “probably by giving the prostate a chance to flush out potential cancer-causing agents,” says Spring.
Though the benefits of masturbation are not the most scientifically studied, there’s certainly no harm in doing it.
