If you’re a lousy sleeper, you’ve likely tried everything in an attempt to get a good night’s rest. You’ve stopped eating foods that are wreaking havoc on your sleep, you’ve listened to sleep meditation on YouTube and you’ve tested every sleep mask and melatonin product on the market. (If you’re a terrific sleeper, congratulations; this isn’t about you.)
One method you might not have tested out yet? Masturbating.
Yep, according to experts and studies alike, self-pleasure can actually improve your quality of sleep. One 2019 study published in Frontiers in Public Health, looked at online survey responses from 778 people who were mostly in their 20s or 30s and heterosexual. Researchers found that 54 percent of the volunteers said they slept better after having an orgasm from masturbation. Another recent survey by the female-focused sex toy brand Femme Funn found that 95 percent of people polled said they experience a better quality night’s sleep after having an orgasm. (Note that there isn’t enough data to say whether an orgasm is necessary to reap the positive sleep benefits of masturbation.)
Why the correlation? The authors of that first study explain that it’s all about the neurochemicals—like oxytocin and prolactin—that are released following sexual activity. These neurochemicals, the experts say, contribute to improved sleep, adding, “Promoting safe sexual activity before bed may offer a novel behavioral strategy for promoting sleep.”
If you’re interested in testing this out for yourself (which, um, you should), shop three of our favorite sex toys below to help you on your way.
