Masturbation Month exists to open up the conversations that aren't happening elsewhere — to shine a light on the places self-pleasure should be talked about and still isn't. Menopause is one of the biggest. Consider this your briefing.
The menopause tool nobody's talking about
We're a proud partner of Gen M and MTick certified — the world's first symbol dedicated to helping people in menopause identify products that genuinely help. It's a standard we take seriously, which is why conversations like this one matter to us. Because there's one tool that barely makes it into the menopause conversation — in doctors' offices or anywhere else. A 2026 peer-reviewed study published in The Journal of The Menopause Society surveyed 1,178 US women ages 40 to 65 on the role of masturbation in relieving menopause symptoms. Here’s what they found.
What does the research actually say about masturbation and menopause?
The study looked at a wide range of strategies women use for menopause symptom relief — exercise, diet, supplements, hormone therapy, stress reduction, and masturbation. Nearly 1 in 5 women who had used masturbation reported that it had a positive effect on their symptoms. When asked about specific symptoms, 46% of perimenopausal women and 32% of postmenopausal women noticed improvement in at least one — the most common being mood, sleep, vaginal lubrication and sexual desire and pleasure.
In the words of one participant:
"[Masturbation] seems to ward off the hot flashes and definitely combats vaginal dryness/atrophy." Study participant.
Real women. Real results. Just not enough people talking about it yet.
Why does masturbation help with menopause symptoms?
The short version: orgasm releases a cocktail of hormones — oxytocin, endorphins, dopamine, and prolactin — that work together to lower stress hormones, lift mood, reduce pain perception, and signal the body toward rest. These aren't small effects. They're the same mechanisms behind why exercise improves mood and why sleep deprivation makes everything harder. Masturbation just gets there more directly.
The researchers noted that for menopause symptoms like mood changes, sleep disturbances, and pain, masturbation may offer a direct path to relief. For symptoms like hot flashes — which are worsened by emotional stress — it may help indirectly, by reducing the stress that amplifies them.
Three reasons to make masturbation part of your menopause routine
1. Vaginal health
As estrogen declines, vaginal tissue can become drier and less elastic — and regular arousal is one of the most effective ways to support it. The mechanism is simple: arousal increases blood flow to vaginal and vulvar tissue, which helps maintain elasticity and natural lubrication over time. Solo pleasure counts here just as much as partnered sex — actually, more so.
Lubricant is essential from perimenopause onwards — not just a nice-to-have. Using it consistently and generously makes a real difference to both comfort and tissue health.
2. Sleep
Poor sleep is one of the most disruptive menopause symptoms — and masturbation addresses it more directly than most people realize. Orgasm triggers a prolactin surge (the same hormone that's elevated during sleep) and a drop in cortisol, giving the body a natural cue to wind down. Many women find it one of the most reliable tools for falling — and staying — asleep.
But what happens in your body is only part of the picture. The environment matters just as much — which is where CoolSoft, another Gen M partner, comes in.
“Temperature regulation can make a huge difference to menopause-related sleep disruption, especially when night sweats and overheating interrupt deep sleep. When HRT wasn’t an option for me, I struggled to find a natural solution that kept me cool at night without disturbing my partner’s sleep, which is what led me to create The MenoMat using naturally cooling, moisture-wicking fabric.I needed it to only cover half the bed so it wasnt affecting my partners sleep either. It completely changed our sleep. Whether at home, travelling for work or on holiday, it really helped me wake up feeling rested and refreshed again.” Charlotte Taylor, CoolSoft Founder
3. Pelvic floor health
Declining estrogen during menopause affects pelvic floor tone, which can impact everything from bladder control to sexual comfort to the ease and intensity of orgasm. The good news: orgasm is one of the most effective forms of pelvic floor exercise available. The rhythmic contractions that happen during orgasm strengthen and coordinate these muscles in a way that directly supports pelvic health over time.
Targeted supplementation can also support pelvic floor function during this transition — making everything feel a little more like it used to.
“During menopause, many women notice worsening pelvic floor control, namely leaks when coughing, sneezing or exercising. This is because the pelvic floor area has multiple oestrogen receptors and the loss of oestrogen contributes to reduced elasticity. Pelvic floor exercises and support under the guidance of a pelvic floor physiotherapist is recommended to help strengthen your pelvic floor. PelviTone(TM) is designed to be used alongside a pelvic floor exercise programme and contains creatine to support muscle function.” Dr Masarat Jilani, Jude's in-house Women's Health GP
Our advice? Masturbate more during menopause
The study found that fewer than 8% of women have ever had a doctor bring up masturbation as a way to manage menopause symptoms. And yet nearly half say they would try it if they knew it could help.
Your doctor might not bring it up. But we will. Let's get hot and bothered in bed — the good kind. Pleasure is available to you, it's good for you, and it might just be the menopause relief you've been after.
