Addicted44:


Masturbation should not be a taboo topic for women: Not only does it feel amazing, but it can also improve your health, sleep, and sex life. Whether you struggle to reach orgasm, are a busy mom who needs to do the deed faster, or are simply looking for a different masturbation technique to spice things up, these tips will sharpen your solo sex skills.

1 OF 15

FIGURE OUT WHERE YOUR center of gravity IS.
Assuming you're familiar with the clitoris, it's time you get to know the more elusive center of gravity. Located on the upper wall of the vagina, about two to three inches inside the vaginal opening, it swells up when you are already aroused, says Courtney Cleman, founder of the V. Club. Stimulating it can boost the sensations that can help you orgasm that much faster, she adds.

While there are center of gravity vibrators that help get the job done, to find it manually, insert one or two fingers into your vagina, palm facing down, and curl your fingers back. When you start to feel stimulated, you've hit the jackpot.

2 OF 15

MAKE MASTURBATION A FULL-BODY EXPERIENCE.
Your clitoris and center of gravity may be the main events during masturbation, but paying attention to the rest of your body can enhance your experience, Cleman says.

“Run your hands all over your body, as your partner would do, and give attention to your breasts, hips, and other areas where being touched turns you on,” she suggests. “Like sex, masturbation will be more fulfilling if you make it a full-body experience.”

3 OF 15

KEEP YOUR LEGS TOGETHER DURING ORGASM.
Bringing your legs together just as you’re approaching orgasm will make masturbation (and sex) more pleasurable. Cleman says doing so increases stimulation to the clitoral organ, which is actually six to eight inches long, on average. "[It] will give a sudden boost to your sensations, and can push you over the edge immediately," she says. "Just don’t do it too early when your body can’t possibly orgasm yet.”

4 OF 15

FOCUS ON A FANTASY.
When you want to masturbate but don't have much time, Cleman says it's best to hone in on a single sexual fantasy and stick to it. "The brain is our largest sex organ, so to masturbate faster, try to stay in the moment,” she explains. “Focusing your mind on the pleasure that you are experiencing will make orgasm stronger and bring it on faster.”

5 OF 15

SET THE MOOD.
Even the smallest distraction can keep you from reaching orgasm, which is why setting the mood can be one of the most important steps you take. Goddess Cecilia, a sexuality and pleasure educator at O. School Pleasure Professional, suggests having a couple of stimuli always at the ready. "A favorite descriptive paragraph in a steamy story, sexy images, or videos for your eyes only [are all great ideas," she says. Even if you don't have a ton of time to spare, making these stimuli a part of your masturbation can help put your brain in a state that's primed for pleasure, making it all the more likely to have an orgasm.

6 OF 15

USE LUBE.
Lubricant is not meant to be reserved for penetrative sex; using it is an easy way to get you to orgasm faster, Cecilia says. Just make sure you purchase one that works best for your body — if you have a history of frequent UTIs, yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, or you just feel more sensitive down there, Cecilia says a more natural, water-based lubricant is likely to work well as it has fewer ingredients that could potentially be irritating.


7 OF 15

FIND A intimacy gadget YOU LOVE.
intimacy gadgets are as diverse as women's desires, so it's important that you try out a variety of them to discover which toy textures and sensations you enjoy most. One kind that Cecilia is a big fan of? Toys that rumble. "[They] tend to have better stimulation and produce better orgasms,” she says.

But every woman is different, and there's such a wide variety of products out there that provide different types of stimulation — oscillation, rotation, and pulsations of air, for example. "Once you know what type your body responds well to, that can be your go-to toy that brings you to bliss with minimal effort," Cecilia says.

8 OF 15

TRY USING TOYS IN WATER.
Masturbating in water can instantly relax your body and mind, and there’s no shortage of intimacy gadgets that are perfect for water play.

“Try a suction Love Machine that attaches to the surface of the tub,” says Jess O’Reilly, Ph.D., sexologist and host of the Sex With Dr. Jess podcast. “You can adjust the angle and height, [as well as] the rhythm and depth to suit your needs.”

O'Reilly's top pick: the We-Vibe Wish. "It fits perfectly around the entire surface of your lips to stimulate the inner and outer parts of your clitoris," she says.

9 OF 15

EXPERIMENT WITH TEMPERATURE.
When you masturbate in the shower, changing the temperature by a few degrees can make a world of difference. Run a warm shower and, while the hot water cascades over you, press your frontside against the cold wall and touch yourself,” O’Reilly suggests. Focus on how your clitoris responds to the sensations of the cool wall and the hot water in succession, as the contrast may bring you to the brink faster.

10 OF 15

READ A STEAMY BOOK.
Many women are verbal, so it's more likely they'll be turned on by steamy passages in books than by visuals or their own sexual fantasies, O'Reilly says. That's why she suggests stashing a few sexy books by your bed, and reading a chapter or two before you masturbate. Then, "if the mood strikes you, you can drop the book and get yourself off using your fingers and fantasy alone," she adds.

11 OF 15

CHANGE POSITIONS.
Always having sex in the same position can get boring, and the same goes for masturbation. And while there's nothing wrong with doing it the same way for years, mixing it up can bring you to new levels of pleasure.

“New positions lead to new angles and new, often more pleasurable, sensations as your body is awakened by the thrill of anticipation and the unknown," O'Reilly says. Need some inspiration? “Try squatting, lying on your stomach, standing, or putting one leg up on the side of the tub or bed,” she suggests.


12 OF 15

WEAR A VIBRATOR DURING THE DAY.
If there's no time to get off before you get on with your day, don't wait until you're back in the bedroom to get in the mood. You can actually wear a discreet vibrator beneath your clothes. The We-Vibe Jive, for example, is designed to deliver rumbly vibrations to your center of gravity, and the thin outer arm fits discreetly in your underwear so no one will be the wiser, O'Reilly says. "You can control it from your phone, or give your partner the power to control it from theirs." Sounds like the making for a fun sex game, if you ask us.


13 OF 15

DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR MEDS.
It's not super well-known, but some medications can really mess with your arousal and libido. Antidepressants like Prozac, hormones, and pills that treat hypertension are common culprits, O'Reilly says, so if you've been experiencing a delay in orgasm since starting a new prescription, talk to your doctor about alternatives with fewer sexual side effects.


14 OF 15

CONSIDER UNEXPECTED PROPS.
If intimacy gadgets aren't really your style, there's good news: There are plenty of props around your house that can do the job just as well. "Rub up against the side of the mattress, a firm pillow or the bathroom sink,”

15 OF 15

GO WITH WHAT WORKS.
A few masturbation tips are really helpful, but at the end of the day, what feels good is unique to you. So try not to get too caught up in what you see in porn or hear from friends. "You can be inspired by other people, but ultimately you have to experiment to discover what turns you on and gets you off,” O’Reilly says. “Some people prefer penetration, and others like to rub themselves off. Some desire intense vibrations; others respond to the gentle flow of warm water. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to masturbation.”

Moral of the story: relax — and have fun.