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New study: self-pleasure helps menopausal symptoms

ByRachel Ann Melegrito

Despite being a normal part of aging, menopause remains shrouded in shame and stigma — and that silence often extends to the doctor’s office, particularly when the potential treatment carries an even heavier stigma: masturbation. Today is World Menopause Day and a small clinical study from the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University found that regular self-pleasure significantly reduced the frequency and severity of menopause symptoms — including mood swings, sleep problems, and fatigue. Yet despite these benefits, fewer than half of women (44%) experiencing menopause have ever discussed their symptoms with a healthcare provider, and even when they do, the conversation almost never includes this simple, low-cost option.

“This survey shows self-pleasure offers an effective, accessible tool for menopausal symptom relief, which is important to integrate with existing care strategies,” said Cynthia Graham, PhD, co-author of the study.

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Self-Pleasure: A “Secret” in Menopause Care

Women cite many reasons for masturbating, from sexual pleasure and releasing tension to stress relief and better sleep. Many of these motivations mirror the most common menopause complaints, suggesting self-pleasure could address more than just sexual needs.

And now, research suggests it does. In a clinical trial of 66 peri- and postmenopausal women, 92.9% reported that at least one symptom became less frequent after three months of regular masturbation, with the biggest improvements seen in fatigue, mood swings, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating.

Participants masturbated three to four times per week across several phases. Symptoms were consistently highest during abstinence and lowest during masturbation, suggesting a direct link between sexual activity and symptom relief.

Orgasm played a key role in symptom relief. Those who didn’t reach climax reported smaller improvements. Researchers believe this is due to the release of neurochemicals during orgasm. During female orgasm, dopamine and serotonin gets released in the brain, generating feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and well-being, while endorphins provide natural pain relief and elevate mood, with effects more potent than morphine. Prolactin surges and remain high for up to an hour after orgasm, creating deep relaxation and sleepiness, which may explain the improvements in sleep quality many women report. The trial’s results mirror what earlier broader survey suggests: many women already find self-pleasure helpful for managing menopause symptoms. A 2024 study of U.S. women found that nearly 4 in 10 (36%) experienced relief through masturbation, yet only 1 in 10 used it as a primary method for symptom relief.

Stigma Still at Play

Despite growing evidence, conversations about masturbation remain almost entirely absent from menopause care. While about 61% of participants said their doctor had discussed menopause with them, only 5% said masturbation was ever mentioned. And yet, women are already turning to self-pleasure on their own. Findings showed that nearly one-third (28.4%) of participants said they regularly use masturbation to manage symptoms. About 10% said it makes their symptoms “a lot better,” while 42% said it makes them “a little better.”

The barrier isn’t lack of willingness but the lack of awareness and normalization. A striking 91% said they’d be more likely to masturbate if they knew it could improve menopause symptoms, and nearly 8 in 10 said they would do so if a doctor recommended it.

This disconnect reflects a deeper cultural discomfort around female sexuality, a stigma that continues to shape how menopause is discussed and treated.

Verena Singmann, Lovehoney Group’s Head of Pleasure Advocacy, emphasized that masturbation should not remain a secret in menopause care. “Women have the right to know all of their options when it comes to managing the challenges of menopause,” she said, calling it an “empowering and effective choice.”

Masturbation Remain Relevant After Menopause

Although masturbation is seldom discussed as a menopause treatment strategy, a recent study shows it remains a meaningful and common part of many women’s sexual lives well into midlife, with about 56% of women aged 40 to 65 reporting they had masturbated in the past year.

However, the reasons for doing it evolve with age. While pleasure and sexual satisfaction remain key motivations, stress relief, better sleep, and relaxation become increasingly common drivers during peri- and post-menopause, benefits that mirror some of the most persistent menopause symptoms.

And while frequency of masturbation may decline slightly after menopause, many women reported that the quality of their orgasms stayed the same or even improved.

These findings show that sexual pleasure persists long after menopause. More importantly, it may be an overlooked tool for managing the physical and emotional challenges of this transition — one that deserves a larger place in conversations about symptom relief and long-term well-being.

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Rachel is an experienced health writer with over five years in the field and bylines in publications such as Medical News Today and The Epoch Times, as well as various health brands.

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