We are almost half way through National Masturbation Month.  Have you been celebrating?

I sure hope so.  In case you’re feeling like something is missing from your solo sessions, or if you wonder how you can make them better, I’m here with your Masturbation Month survival kit.  Sure, everyone has there own method to their masturbation madness, but I’ve put together some basic necessities that would enhance just about any woman’s self love experience.

Lube: You always need lube and lots of it.  We say this all of the time and we always will.  On the short list of things that are certain in life, the necessity of lube is one of them.  More often than not, I recommend using a water based formula because it is compatible with all types of sex toy materials as well as condoms.  If you have sensitive skin and/or sensitive vag, definitely look for lubricants that are glycerin and paraben free.  One of my favorites is Sliquid H2O.

If you plan to go toy free on your solo mission, I definitely recommend giving a silicone based lubricant a try.  It really is quite divine.  It lasts a really long time and feels beyond silky smooth.  There are many out there, but Pink (Empowered Products) makes one that I love.

Wand Vibrator: Vibrators come in all shapes and sizes and I realize tastes vary, but I’m the one writing this post.  While the Hitachi Magic Wand is the mother of them all, I have to go with the Mystic Wand for the survival kit.  It is half the size of the Hitachi and I’m partial to it.  Unlike the Magic Wand, you don’t have to plug it into the wall, it has multiple speeds and the head is made from 100% body friendly silicone.  Many women would challenge me on this one, but like I’ve said before, the Mystic Wand is the stuff dreams are made of.

Silicone Dildo: Sometimes you need a little nonvibratory goodness when it comes to masturbating.  Stimulate your g-spot and/or the nerves of your vaginal wall for an intense pleasure building session.  Use a dildo to stimulate internally while using a vibrator for clitoral stimulation and rocket ships, rainbows and puppies covered in glitter just might burst from your head.

Why silicone?  Silicone is phthalates free, non porous and hypoallergenic.  What does that mean?  It isn’t made of yucky chemicals that will cause infection, it doesn’t harbor bacteria and it can be 100% sterilized (boil for 5 minutes, clean with 1% bleach solution or a toy cleaner).  Give the Ophoria Beyond #3 a whirl.

Toy Cleaner: Hygiene is important.  Not to mention, keeping your sex toys clean helps them to last longer.  System Jo’s Toy Cleaner is definitely one to check out.

In case you were worried about not being able to survive National Masturbation Month, well you can stop worrying.  No need to thank me.  Just masturbate.

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Contest is closed!
We would like to think those who entered and congratulate our winners:

Best Female Masturbation Story: LadyInToyland wins the Brigit by Touche

Best Male Masturbation Story: Cedrick wins the CyberSkin Vibrating Sex Buddy by Topco Sales

Wildest Masturbation Story: Missy wins a surprise gift!

We will be emailing you shortly for a mailing address so we can put the prizes in the mail.
Thanks to all that participated!

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Tell us your wildest masturbation story and win a free sex toy!

SexToys.com is proud to announce a contest that will run through the end of the month. May is officially National Masturbation Month, so it only seems fitting that SexToys.com shares and spreads some of the love to make sure each person can celebrate in their own special way!

And our way is to give away sex toys! But we can’t just give the prize away. We have to make it interesting. So since this is the month of masturbation, to enter the contest we want you to tell us your stories. We want to hear the hottest, wildest, craziest, naughtiest masturbation stories that have happened to YOU. Nothing made up, it needs to be 100% true. We want everyone to post their story in the comments section here. That way it will give everyone a chance to read and enjoy your experience!

Here are the different adult sex toys that everyone is “playing” to win:

Best Female Masturbation Story: Brigit by Touche

Best Male Masturbation Story: CyberSkin Vibrating Sex Buddy by Topco Sales

Wildest Masturbation Story: Surprise gift based on sex of winner!

We are going to keep the contest open until May 31, 2010 and then a panel of SexToys.com staff will select the Best Male Masturbation Story, Best Female Masturbation Story and the Wildest Masturbation Story.

HOW DO YOU ENTER?
Submit a comment at the end of this post describing your wildest, craziest, sexiest masturbation story. Good writing is great but we realize not everyone has the same ability or talents so don’t be discouraged. Authenticity will weigh more than how well the post is written. But please don’t spare any details! You can use a fake name when posting but please include your real email address so we can contact you if you should win.
ONLY ONE COMMENT PER PERSON!

IMPORTANT:
Sextoys.com will not publish your name or any personal information, nor will we sell, share or use your email for promotional or sales purposes. But as stated above, we do need a real email address to contact the winners. Prizes are shipped in plain boxes with no mention of Sextoys.com, or invoices with information on what is inside.

By entering the contest, you certify that you are of legal age to receive a sex toy and that sex toys may be delivered to the jurisdiction in which you live. Contestants must be at least 18 years of age. (21 years of age in some jurisdictions.)

ELIGIBILITY:
No purchase is necessary to enter. Employees of Sextoys.com and any affiliated companies are not eligible to enter or win prizes. You must be 18 years of age (21 in some jurisdictions) or older to enter.

The contest is open to residents of the United States of America and Canada ONLY.

WARRANTY:
Sextoys.com offers no warranty on prizes.

May is National Masturbation Month, and we’ve written a few posts on the subject, but we’ve only focused on the benefits of solo masturbation.  What can masturbation do for your relationship?  That’s a great question to ask.

Back in March, I referenced a study on the normalcy of masturbation in relationships.  The gist of the work was that it is entirely normal for people to masturbate, even if they are in a happy, contented relationship.  For whatever reason, couples aren’t always on the same page as far as sexual desire goes.  And sometimes, we just want to tinker with that particular fantasy as we tinker with ourselves.

But WebMD puts a great spin on sharing masturbation with your partner:

“Some experts suggest that masturbation can actually improve sexual health and relationships. By exploring your own body through masturbation, you can determine what is erotically pleasing to you and can share this with your partner. Some partners use mutual masturbation to discover techniques for a more satisfying sexual relationship and to add to their mutual intimacy.”

Now, our regular readers know that our standing advice on the decision of which sex toy to buy is constant.  First, learn about your body, and what stimulates you to the most pleasure, then decide which toy you wish to purchase.  If you take the next step and share time with a partner to decide how best to stimulate each other, then you both will get the most from play time.  And the purchase of a sex toy for partnered play is easier when you know each other’s sweet spots.

Learn your partner’s body and share the secrets to yours with shared masturbation, and you may discover entirely new ways to spice up play time together.  And once you know each other’s bodies, you can get down to business!

WebMD has a great article about sexuality and aging that outlines a key factor to enjoying sex well into one’s years: Have Sex! Just like exercise, sexual health must be practiced to be enjoyed. And there are many ways to practice. From the full article:

This could make life better

“Just as exercise is the key to maintaining fitness and health, having sex on a regular basis is the best way to maintain sexual capacity.

And just as it’s never too late to start an exercise program, it’s never too late to start having sex. Many older people who have been celibate for years develop satisfying sexual practices within new loving relationships. For others, self-stimulation (masturbation) is common and poses no health risks or side effects.”

It is important to note during National Masturbation Month, that it is good sexual exercise to masturbate.  You can enjoy all of the benefits of orgasm and its healthy side effects, and keep your general mental and physical health in much better shape.  And you don’t have to stop having fun, ever.

For those in relationships, as we’ve outlined before, masturbation is perfectly normal and can even spur a cold sexual relationship back to life.  Experimenting with mutual masturbation can reignite the engines and maybe even lead to other experiments.  You CAN teach old dogs new tricks.  All you have to do is try!

A few of the other suggestions offered are:

As you age, use more foreplay and direct contact with genitals to spur a better physical response.

Fantasy helps to keep your mind (and that large sexual organ – the brain) engaged in your sexual experience.

Communicate more.  As we age, we look different and that can spur self doubt.  Communication can overcome many problems that arise from doubt.

Don’t drink as much alcohol.  Moderation can lead to stimulation.

Of course, we always say that if you are experiencing sexual problems that persist, see a doctor or a specialist to determine the exact cause and best treatment options.  But if you’re simply looking to start over and have some fun, get going!  You can even win up to $1,000 worth of Sex Toys for FREE in Ginger Leigh’s Fabulous Shopping Spree, and that’s a great way to get back in the game!

How many people masturbate?  We posted on numbers given by WebMD some time ago.  A new University of Chicago study presents an alternative set of numbers.  From Psychology Today:

“The study by University of Chicago sociologists analyzed data from 3,116 Americans aged 18 to 60 (1,769 women and 1,347 men) gathered during face-to-face interviews as part of the National Health and Social Life Survey. The interviewers asked, “On average, over the past 12 months, how often did you masturbate?” It’s possible that the face-to-face format suppressed response. Some people might not have admitted masturbating to an interviewer. But even allowing for this possibility, it seems clear that masturbation is by no means as prevalent as the old joke suggests–or as many people believe.

Previous studies have shown that men are most likely to masturbate from their teens into middle age. That was partly true in this study. Men’s masturbation rate fell somewhat after age 50. But on the whole, men who masturbate continue to do so into later life.

However, it apparently takes young women some time to warm up to masturbation. In this study, women aged 20 to 39 were the most likely to masturbate, with lower rates among women 18 to 20 and those over 40.”

I’m more likely to accept WebMD’s numbers, and I think that sitting in front of an interviewer might have led to some people not admitting that they masturbate.  Whatever the case, masturbation is healthy, and May is National Masturbation Month!  So go ahead and enjoy a little autoerotic fun.

Speaking of masturbation, you can get a complete set of toys to help you on your way with up to $1,000 worth of toys for free in Ginger Leigh’s Fabulous Shopping Spree!