The singer P!nk may be unhappy with an obnoxious man when she sings, “it’s just u + ur hand tonight.” But for many people, “ur” hand is something to celebrate during the month of May. National Masturbation Month starts May 1st.

Good Vibrations, a San Francisco sex toy and education business, began National Masturbation Month in 1995. Earlier that year, Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders was fired for saying masturbation should be discussed as part of young peoples' sex education. That was the end of her career, but the beginning of National Masturbation Month. Offended by Elders' ouster, Good Vibrations decided this was a good way to keep up the conversation about Elders's unjust firing and prompt people talk about masturbation.

Among the first steps taken by Good Vibrations was to promote masturbation as a healthy, safe and natural way to express one's sexuality. That’s because many people still feel guilty about it, or feel it's a second-best substitute for real sex. The company wants people to feel better about what they’re doing. And for those who aren’t, they hope to encourage people to do it and not feel bad about it.

You’re not alone if you masturbate. It’s the most popular and most frequently engaged in sexual activity around the world. In fact, many sexual health educators often refer to it as one of the cornerstones of sexual health. Studies show masturbation has documented emotional, physical and psychological benefits.

Women who regularly masturbate increase their resistance to yeast infections. Masturbation helps women release pre-menstrual tension and can provide menstrual cramp relief. That’s because it increases blood flow to the pelvic region which helps reduce pelvic cramping and related backaches. Masturbation can also help to alleviate chronic back pain.

Need another reason to masturbate? A good one might be that masturbation is the ultimate safe sex. For both men and women, as long as there is no exchange of bodily fluids, masturbation prevents the possibility of sexually transmitted disease or unwanted pregnancy.

But wait, there’s more! Masturbation is a great way to relieve stress and release a healthy amount of mood boosting endorphins. It’s a natural energizer and on the flip side, a good way to help people sleep better. Lastly, masturbation can help people build stronger pelvic floor muscles. These can improve sexual performance and enjoyment.

So go ahead, grab “ur” hand or the sex toy of your choice and celebrate National Masturbation Month!

Sources:

LAWeekly.com

Sexuality.about.com

Examiner.com

GoodVibes.com

Expressmilwaukee.com