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Celebrate International Masturbation Month this May, give yourself a hand

TL;DR: International Masturbation Month is your yearly reminder that solo sex is normal, healthy, playful, and worth celebrating. Whether you are a quick-release type, a slow edging enthusiast, a toy collector, a lube lover, a gooner, a popperbator, or simply curious about your own body, May is the perfect excuse to give masturbation the attention it deserves.

What? A whole month dedicated to masturbation?

International Masturbation Month is celebrated every May. A whole month dedicated to masturbation, self-pleasure, body curiosity, sexual confidence, and the very simple fact that touching yourself can be, and is, good for you.

Do we really need International Masturbation Month? Yes. Because even though almost everyone knows what masturbation is, many still treat it like something secretive, embarrassing, childish, perverted, or less valid than “real sex.” And yet, for many people, masturbation is the first form of sex they ever experience, one of the safest forms of sex they can have, and often the most honest way to find out what actually turns them on.

The celebration began in the United States in 1995, when San Francisco sex-positive retailer Good Vibrations created National Masturbation Month after U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders was fired for suggesting that masturbation could be discussed as part of sex education programs. In hindsight, that sounds less scandalous and more like common sense to us.

So yes, the origin story is political, sex-positive, and very San Francisco. What started as a protest became a wider celebration of self-pleasure, self-love, sexual education, and shame-free conversation.

And honestly, that is still the point today. Masturbation Month is not only about masturbating more, although please feel free. It is about talking more openly about something that has always been part of human sexuality.

Why masturbation is good for you, the benefits of masturbation

Masturbation is not just “something you do when nobody is around.” It can be a healthy and useful way to understand your body, explore arousal, reduce stress, and enjoy sexual pleasure without the risks of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections. Planned Parenthood describes masturbation as normal, healthy, and one of the safest ways to experience sexual activity.

It can also help you learn what kind of touch, pressure, rhythm, fantasy, toy, position, or pace works for you. That is not a small thing. Knowing your own body makes partnered sex better too, because you are not arriving empty-handed and hoping someone else can solve the mystery.

The stigma and taboo around masturbation

For something so common, masturbation has had terrible PR.

It has been called sinful, shameful, immature, selfish, weak, addictive, dangerous, and about a thousand other things invented by people who were probably very tense and might have benefited from masturbation to relieve stress.

But masturbation is not a sin. It is one of the most personal, accessible, and flexible forms of pleasure we have, and it is basically available 24/7.

You can do it alone. You can do it with a partner watching. You can do it for your partner. You can broadcast it live, record yourself, watch it back, or turn it into a ritual. You can keep it private, social, kinky, soft, filthy, slow, fast, or completely your own.

Masturbation is also one of the safest ways to explore kinks. Want to test a fantasy? Try a new toy? See whether a certain video, texture, smell, word, outfit, or scenario does something to you? Masturbation is made for trial and error. Nobody needs to know. Nobody needs to approve. Your body gives the feedback.

Good news: gooning is the trend of 2026

Masturbation is not only the quick hand-under-the-sheets version people joke about. It has levels. It has styles. It has subcultures, like gooning.

Gooning is an immersive, trance-like state of masturbation where sensation takes over and time starts to lose meaning. Instead of rushing toward orgasm, the gooner stays in the build-up, repeating stimulation, edging, focusing, drifting, and letting pleasure become the whole experience rather than just the road to climax.

And this is exactly why gooning fits so well into Masturbation Month. It proves that masturbation does not have to be a means to cum. It can be the whole event, a celebration of self-love.

Different ways to celebrate masturbation month

Masturbation deserves a better reputation. It is intimate, practical, erotic, emotionally useful, often safer than many other forms of sex, and incredibly creative.

You can make it romantic: light a candle, take a shower, and moisturize. You can make it nasty: open the laptop, choose the toy, and cancel your next hour. You can make it devotional: look at yourself, praise your body, enjoy your genitals, and stop treating them like equipment that only exists to perform for other people.

There is a whole world of sex toys out there, so why not celebrate by treating yourself to something new?

Masturbation sleeves now come in all shapes, textures, tightness levels, materials, and designs. Some are realistic, some are abstract, some are compact, some are intense, and some look innocent but are not. If you want to explore, check out our page dedicated to masturbators.

5 great reasons to use lube for masturbation

Lube is not only for penetration. Lube is one of the easiest ways to upgrade masturbation from “ok” to “why was I not doing this properly before?”

1. A new sensation
Lube changes everything. It adds glide, shine, softness, visual appeal, and even scent. Also, have you seen how good genitals look when they are moist? Lube them up, admire them, praise them, and let the whole thing feel more intentional.

2. Erotic anticipation
Choosing lube can be foreplay. Browsing different formulas, reading textures, imagining the session, visiting a sex shop, or scrolling through lubes online can build excitement before you even touch yourself.

3. You can last longer
Lube creates a cushion between your hand, toy, or sleeve and your genitals. That can change the intensity, reduce friction, help avoid irritation, and make longer sessions more comfortable.

4. Different lubes create different moods
Water-based, silicone-based, hybrid, bating lube, fisting lube; they all feel different. Some are slick and light. Some are thick and cushiony. Some are made for long sessions. Get creative, but stay body-safe: a proper lube made for sex is usually the better choice than looking for something in the kitchen.

5. It becomes a reminder to masturbate
Once you find your favourite lube, leave it somewhere visible: by the bed, near the computer. Sometimes the bottle alone is enough to trigger the thought. And when the thought hits, why not follow it?

Check out our full lube offer.

Add poppers to your bate

For extra stimulation and for letting go of some of those mental boundaries, you might also explore poppers. Used by many as part of masturbation, bating, edging, and gooning sessions, poppers can help shift the experience from mental control into body sensation.

For masturbation-focused sessions, try:

Pop Me Up Poppers: strength 3 out of 6
Popper Bate Ultra Strong Poppers: strength 5 out of 6
Bator Poppers by Twisted Beast: strength 5 out of 6

As always: use poppers responsibly, never drink them, never mix them with erection medication or other substances, keep them away from flames, and listen to your body.

Final thought: make it your experience

This May, do not treat masturbation as a quick release squeezed between emails, laundry, and bedtime. Make it the experience.

Take your time. Try a new lube. Test a sleeve. Huff. Edge. Goon. Watch yourself. Bate to porn. Touch differently. Join others. Stay solo. Turn off your brain. Turn on your body. Let masturbation be more than the thing you do before you fall asleep.

Just do it, and talk about masturbation without shame and stigma.

FAQ

Which date is International Masturbation Day?

International Masturbation Day is most commonly observed on May 28, although some sources also mention earlier May dates connected to the first 1995 celebration. The wider celebration now takes place throughout the whole month of May.

How much masturbation is too much masturbation?

There is no universal number. Masturbation becomes “too much” when it starts interfering with daily life, work, relationships, responsibilities, sleep, or physical comfort. If you are enjoying it and it is not causing distress, injury, or avoidance of things you value, the frequency itself is usually not the issue.

Does masturbation substitute penetrative sex?

It can, but it does not have to. Masturbation is its own form of sex, not a lesser version of penetration. Some people use it between partnered encounters. Some prefer it entirely. Some combine it with partners through mutual masturbation, webcam play, group bate sessions, or watching each other.

What is the point of having a month dedicated to masturbation?

The point is visibility, education, and shame reduction. Masturbation is common, but still surrounded by myths and taboos. A dedicated month permits people to have an honest conversation about pleasure, bodies, toys, lube, safety, fantasy, and self-knowledge without treating any of it as embarrassing.

Is masturbation healthy?

For most people, yes. Masturbation is considered a normal and healthy part of sexuality because it just feels good. It can reduce stress, support relaxation, help people learn about their bodies, and provide sexual pleasure without pregnancy risk or STI transmission when done alone.