Masturbation for women

Kavita, an Indian woman, writes, "I am unmarried,and I masturbate once or twice a week. Will this affect my health? Will it create any problem in my married life? Is it true that this habit the reason behind irregular menstrual periods, as my periods are not regular?"

There are a lot of myths out there and this is one of them that somehow pleasuring yourself is bad for health. On the contrary, it is a very healthy practice for both men and women.

So in response to your question, pleasing yourself does not affect your health in any negative way. And the effect it does have is mostly good because it is a great way to release sexual tension, and if you orgasm, you will generally see a release of healthy hormones inside your body, helping you sleep better and feeling good later.

Masturbation also helps when you actually have sex because you are much more aware of your body and what pleases you, particularly what parts of your body are sensitive. That way you can not only tell your partner what to do but also move your body in a way that you can get maximum pleasure.

There is no relationship between masturbation and irregular periods. The best thing to do for irregular periods is to consult with your gynecologist. Irregular periods can be due to many other health and hormonal factors.

Tips to do it right

The final piece of advice I have is about personal hygiene during and after you pleasure yourself. If you are going to insert your fingers inside your private parts, please wash thoroughly with soap before and after.

Also as soon as convenient, wash your private area thoroughly after you are done. If you insert anything other than your fingers, please make sure that it is thoroughly clean as well. If in doubt, it is best to cover it with a clean, unused condom each time you use it.