Can Masturbation Ease Menopause?

October is celebrated as Menopause Awareness Month. The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University and sexual wellness brand Womanizer revealed findings from a pioneering clinical study on how masturbation affects menopause symptoms. The new study is the first controlled investigation of its kind to look at how self-pleasure affects menopausal health and wellbeing. It builds on a peer-reviewed paper on masturbation across the menopause transition and a 2024 survey of 1,500 American women, which found that 36% experienced menopause symptom relief from masturbation and 1 in 10 used it as their primary relief strategy (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Menopause & Masturbation Clinical Study

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From April to August 2025, researchers recruited 66 peri- and postmenopausal women aged 40 to 75 from 27 states and the District of Columbia. Participants were screened by surveys and interviews before being asked to vary their masturbation habits at home for three months while completing biweekly surveys.

At baseline, 97% of participants reported at least one menopausal symptom, the most prevalent of which were fatigue, night sweats, sleep difficulties, difficulty concentrating, and joint pain.

Why Orgasms May Hold the Key to Easing Menopausal Symptoms

After four weeks of using Womanizer Next with 3D Pleasure Air™ Technology, 92.9% of subjects reported experiencing fewer menopausal symptoms. The most significant gains were in feeling well-rested and having fewer mood changes.

Attitudes toward masturbation: 91% stated they would masturbate if they knew it might improve menopause symptoms, and 79% indicated they would do so if advised by a doctor. However, only 3% reported having a doctor address masturbation with them.

Orgasm matters. While masturbation alone appeared beneficial, women who attained orgasm experienced the greatest symptom reductions, most likely due to neurochemicals such as oxytocin and endorphins, which improve sleep, mood, and pain perception.

Effectiveness of Womanizer Next, 95% of women reported enjoying the product, and 32.3% claimed it made it simpler to achieve orgasm than their favorite approach.

"Conversations about menopause often focus on hormone therapy or lifestyle changes, but self-pleasure is overlooked," said Dr. Cynthia Graham, Senior Scientist at the Kinsey Institute. "Our findings suggest masturbation, and especially reaching orgasm, may play a meaningful role in symptom management."

Bringing Sexual Wellness Into Menopause Conversations

This study identifies a significant gap between patient interest and clinical recommendations. Although most participants were willing to try masturbation for symptom relief, few had ever received a recommendation from a healthcare provider. By proving concrete effects, this study hopes to de-stigmatize self-pleasure and highlight sexual wellness as an essential component of menopause treatment.

"We've long believed that sexual wellness is an important aspect of health and wellness," said Verena Singmann, Head of Public Relations at Womanizer. "These findings underscore how our products can support women through different life stages, especially menopause where pleasure is often forgotten."

Reference:

1. Menopause & Masturbation Clinical Study - (https://www.womanizer.com/media/menstrubation/Womanizer_x_Kinsey_Institute_Report.pdf)

Source-Medindia