Masturbation may provide meaningful relief from common menopause symptoms such as mood changes and sleep disturbances, yet few clinicians discuss the potential benefits with their patients, according to a new study published in the journal Menopause.

Researchers at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, surveyed a demographically representative US sample of 1178 women aged 40-65 years. Nearly 1 in 5 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women reported that self-pleasure improved at least one menopause-related symptom.

Among those who used masturbation as a management tool, 21% cited noticeable benefits from self-pleasure, including enhanced mood (43%), better sleep (13%), improved vaginal lubrication (11%), and reduced pain or hot flashes (10%). It ranked among the most effective options, alongside partnered sex and lubricants.

Only a small proportion (about 3%) said masturbation worsened their symptoms, and those individuals were more likely to report poor general health or difficulty reaching orgasm since menopause, according to the study.

Follow-Up Study Shows Stronger Evidence

Lead author Justin Lehmiller, PhD, a social psychologist and research fellow at The Kinsey Institute, said preliminary data from a follow-up study strengthen the case that masturbation may have physiologic benefits during menopause.

The 3-month follow-up study, conducted in collaboration with the sexual wellness company Womanizer, tracked women through phases of masturbatory abstinence, regular masturbation, and masturbation using a clitoral sex toy. Participants reported fewer sleep problems, mood disturbances, and hot flashes during the masturbation phases.

“We found that reports of most menopausal symptoms went down when participants were masturbating regularly, three to four times per week, compared to when they abstained,” Lehmiller said.

Physiologic testing also suggested potential mechanisms for these improvements.

“We found some support for the idea that masturbation, particularly with a toy that targets the clitoris, is linked to enhanced vagal efficiency,” Lehmiller said. “Masturbation may be enhancing vagal tone, and this, in turn, may be reducing stress, improving mood, and facilitating sleep.”

He said the effects appeared strongest among women who reached orgasm regularly.

“This suggests that another part of the benefit has to do with the neurochemicals released upon orgasm, such as oxytocin and serotonin, which may also assist in falling asleep, getting better quality sleep, and just feeling better overall,” he said.

Jane Fleishman, PhD, a certified sexuality educator based in Northampton, Massachusetts, said the Kinsey Institute research is part of a growing body of evidence linking solo sex to health and wellbeing in older adults.

“Their results have really codified how important masturbation or solo sex can be in terms of mitigating the effects of perimenopause and menopause,” she said.

​​Conversation Gap Between Clinicians and Patients

Despite the potential benefits, only 7% of participants said a clinician had ever discussed masturbation with them. Just over half recalled any conversation with a healthcare provider about menopause itself. Still, 56% of perimenopausal and 40% of postmenopausal women said they would consider masturbation as a relief strategy if their physician recommended it.

“Many healthcare professionals aren’t comfortable talking to their patients about sex, partly because they don’t typically receive a lot of training in this but also because many are afraid of upsetting or offending their patients,” Lehmiller said.

Fleishman said many physicians and nurse practitioners could benefit from more training in sexual medicine and suggested collaboration with certified sexuality professionals.

“Some physicians may themselves have some of their own misconceptions and their own mythology,” she said. “We give very little training in medical school to sexual medicine, and I think we need to do a better job of that.”

“But in the meantime, those medical professionals can team up with others, and we have wonderful referral sources all over the country of AASECT-trained professionals,” such as certified sexuality educators like herself, Fleishman added.

Lehmiller and Fleishman suggested that continuing education from organizations like Sexual Health Alliance help make those conversations easier.

Lehmiller advised clinicians to normalize sexual health discussions as part of routine visits.

“During routine visits, saying something along the following lines can help to get the conversation started: ‘I ask all of my patients about this. Do you have any sexual health concerns you’d like to discuss?’” he said.

He suggested connecting the conversation to a patient’s symptoms.

“One way to raise the issue is by connecting it to the patient’s main complaints,” he said. “For example, ‘Some research has found that using vibrators or engaging in self-pleasure can help in lessening common menopausal symptoms like the ones you’re experiencing. Would you like to know more about that?’”

Womanizer provided a grant to the Kinsey Institute to conduct the research but was not involved in study design, recruitment, data analysis, or manuscript preparation. Lehmiller reported no additional disclosures. Fleishman reported no relevant disclosures.