Everyone masturbates. Well, at least most people do. The good news is that masturbation is the safest form of sex. It's much harder to hurt yourself than during sex with a partner. But there are precautions to take here as well.

1. Wash your hands

Cleanliness is the key to health, including during masturbation. You need to wash your hands to prevent the spread of bacteria and to avoid getting an infection.

If you have touched the anus, you should wash your hands before moving on to the vulva or penis.

2. Use lubricant

The golden rule of sex: if you think lubricant would be useful, it definitely is. Masturbation without lubrication can lead to irritation due to friction. Lubricant prevents micro-tears and improves glide.

Water-based lubricants often need to be reapplied, but they are universal: suitable for any type of sex, condoms, and sex toys. Silicone-based lubricants do not dry out for a long time, making them good for prolonged and intensive movements.

3. Do not use unsuitable objects as sex toys

A banana, cucumber, or deodorant – all these items are not suitable for sexual pleasure, even if you put a condom on them. The risks outweigh the pleasures. A banana can break, a cucumber can tear the contraceptive. All these items are dirty and dangerous if used for unintended purposes.

The beauty of sex toys is that they are made from non-porous materials, and with proper care, the risk of introducing an infection is minimal. There are no guarantees with non-specialized objects.

4. Be careful with anal sex toys

It’s easy to lose an object inside, and then it cannot be retrieved without medical help. Interesting medical stories do not arise from nowhere; there are indeed many patients.

There is even a special service in private clinics – removing foreign objects from the rectum.

This is another reason why you should not use non-specialized items for masturbation. And this is why all sex toys designed for anal stimulation should have a stopper (enlargement) that prevents them from slipping inside.

5. Take care of sex toys properly

It is advisable to wash sex toys immediately after use with warm water and regular soap or a special cleaning agent. And it’s important to do this every time. If you are too lazy, wash the toy later, but it will take more effort because bacteria multiply quickly over time.

Unwashed sex toys should definitely not be used.

Keep an eye on their condition: choose the right lubricant (only those that are water-based can be used), store in a special case or, at worst, in a fabric pouch, in a light-protected place. It is also important to ensure that there are no sharp edges, cracks, or tears.

6. Don't overdo it with porn

Porn addiction is not recognized as a disorder. Scientists have very diverse opinions about what exactly should be considered it and whether it exists at all. But in general, a person can become addicted to anything.

If you are sleeping poorly, have become irritable, and pornography interferes with meeting loved ones and distracts you from important tasks, then something needs to change. At the very least, analyze what exactly, besides sexual satisfaction, this activity gives you. It may be an escape from emotions, feelings, or perhaps chronic increased stress.

If, however, porn, just like masturbation in general, does not interfere with life, then everything is fine, and there is no point in talking about addiction.

There are no norms or rules for masturbation that are the same for everyone. Some may find it completely unnecessary, while others may need it several times a day. There is no abnormal way to masturbate as long as safety measures are followed. Hair will not grow on your palms, masturbation will not lead to infertility, and sperm will not run out. And no, masturbation is not infidelity.

In other words, masturbation is not harmful. If there is pleasure and no pain – you are doing it right.