Multimedia Editor

Masturbation is a pretty common thing in this day and age.

Now, not everyone does it, and not everyone admits to doing it, but for the majority of us, it is something you joke about with your friends and use to arouse your partner.

Masturbation is an amazing way to explore your body and experiment with yourself.

You find out what feels good for you and what turns you off. There are multiple ways to masturbate and help yourself reach climax.

For women, the more traditional way is rubbing your clitoris or fingering, but lately, sex toys have become normal for people.

“I’ve used a vibrator before, but I honestly prefer using my fingers,” said Maricela, 19 (her name has been changed to protect the source’s identity).

She says she always uses her fingers to rub her clitoris to help herself climax, and hardly ever inserts her fingers.

According to the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, recent findings show that 92 percent of men between the ages of 20- to 24-years-old say they masturbate.

Greg Gomez, 21, said he lays down, searches for porn on his phone and gets to business.  

“Sometimes I’ll think about a girl I like and masturbate while thinking about her,” said Gomez.

Masturbation has plenty of physical and mental health benefits.

You’d be surprised by the number of calories you burn from masturbation alone.

It is better to masturbate than sleep around.

I know it’s not the same, but it will definitely keep you free of any sexually transmitted diseases and heartbreaks.

According to an article in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, masturbation helps you build and maintain happy and healthy relationships.

Your brain releases several hormones including dopamine.Women’s brains release endorphins.

“Research on self-stimulation has revealed that, if anything, people who masturbate tend to have better physical and psychological health,” stated Justin J. Lehmiller, PhD in Social Psychology and creator of “Sex & Psychology.”

Personally, I feel as if my day is a lot better if I start it off by self-pleasure.

It relieves stress and provides me with the energy I need to take on the rest of my day.

Gomez said masturbating doesn’t necessarily give him more self-esteem. “Sometimes it becomes addictive,” said Gomez.

The stigma of masturbation for women is much more arduous.  

A lot of people believe that women don’t do it, and it’s not a normality as much as it is for men.

Men are more likely to masturbate and talk about it than women, according to a study published by the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture.

Although it’s more common for men to do it, that doesn’t mean that women don’t do it at all.

It is speculated that men are more comfortable talking about masturbation and are comfortable with their genitalia because they see it more often women do.

Masturbation shouldn’t be a taboo topic for people. It’s a completely normal thing to do and openly talk about.

All we have to do is let the good times come.