This is a blog post written by a local colleague, Bernadette Nolan.  A womens pelvic health physiotherapist

Why Women Over 40 Should Masturbate!! 🤩

Midlife and menopause can do a number on our sexual selves. Our bodies are changing But did you know that masturbation can be medicinal for midlife changes like hormonal shifts, painful sex, and low libido? 

Here are some AMAZING reasons why MIDLIFE MASTURBATION is exactly what your body needs now more than ever....

 💗💗Keep Vaginal Atrophy At Bay

Vaginal tissue needs stimulation to stay healthy, but as we age, it loses elasticity. Masturbation can help keep vaginal tissue healthy by gently stretching & stimulating the vaginal canal. Self stimulation or use of a vibrator can boost blood flow across every inch of the vagina, promoting tissue repair with absolute pleasure - how good is that?!

💗💗 Exercises Your Pelvic Floor! 

Let’s face it, pelvic floor exercises are not that exciting! 🫣

Over time, pelvic floor muscles can stiffen & slack off in their supporting role. A vibrator or self-stim turns exercising your vagina into an orgasmic workout. Powerful and pleasurable vibrations relax & release the pelvic floor. And orgasm contractions actually exercise the pelvic floor, so orgasm more!

💗💗Improve Vaginal Dryness Naturally

Struggling with vaginal dryness as your estrogen levels drop? By stimulating your vulva & vagina- you will get increased blood flow across the entire vulva, encouraging natural lubrication in a gentle manner that will make your crave masturbation!

💗💗Masturbation LOWERS STRESS, lifts mood, and improves sleep

Vaginal stimulation & orgasm physiologically stimulate the vagal (also called vagus) nerve, which increases parasympathetic (aka rest and digest) activity and triggers the secretion of oxytocin, which has an anti-stress effect and elevates feelings of well-being. Orgasm also releases other feel-good hormones and chemicals including dopamine (aka the happiness hormone) & a few more. This all makes your body slip into slumber mode so much easier

So many good reasons 😜

(Note: Of course, all of this is deeply personal. If masturbation is against your personal and/or religious beliefs, you can certainly live a rich, full, and fulfilled life without it!)