Most women who masturbate do so one to three times a week. In a large study of German women, the most commonly reported frequency was two to three times per week (26.8%), followed closely by once a week (26.3%). A separate international survey found similar results: 40.3% of female participants reported masturbating more than once per week but less than daily, while 23% reported at least monthly but less than weekly. About 5.5% of women report never having masturbated at all.
What “Average” Actually Looks Like
There’s no single number that captures every woman’s experience, but the data clusters around a few patterns. Roughly a quarter of women masturbate a few times a week, another quarter do so about once a week, and a smaller group does so a few times a month. Daily masturbation and never masturbating sit at opposite ends of the spectrum, each representing a small minority.
A nationally representative U.S. survey conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic found that the most common reasons women gave for masturbating were pleasure, feeling aroused, stress relief, and relaxation. Sexual desire was the primary driver, but practical motivations like winding down before sleep or managing tension were common enough to show up as top responses.
How Frequency Changes With Age
Younger and middle-aged women tend to report the highest frequencies. In one study spanning ages 18 to 60, the distribution of how often women masturbated didn’t shift dramatically between age groups. The differences were not statistically significant across women aged 18 to 25, 26 to 40, and 41 to 60.
The more notable shift happens after menopause. A Kinsey Institute survey of 1,500 U.S. women aged 40 to 65 found that postmenopausal women reported masturbating significantly less often than premenopausal or perimenopausal women. This aligns with the broader hormonal changes of menopause, which can reduce libido and alter arousal patterns. That said, “less often” doesn’t mean “not at all.” Many postmenopausal women continue to masturbate regularly, and for some, it serves a specific physical purpose: helping maintain vaginal lubrication and reducing pain during partnered sex.
Orgasm Rates During Masturbation vs. Partnered Sex
Women consistently reach orgasm more reliably during masturbation than during sex with a partner. This is one of the most replicated findings in sexual health research. The gap isn’t small. Partnered sexual activity typically results in a lower orgasm rate than solo stimulation, largely because masturbation allows direct, self-guided contact with the most sensitive areas.
Orgasm frequency during any type of sexual activity is positively linked to sexual satisfaction. Women who orgasm more often report higher overall satisfaction with their sex lives. Regular masturbation can help women learn what kind of stimulation works best for them, which often translates into better communication with partners and more satisfying experiences overall.
The Role of Sex Toys
Sex toys are a common part of solo sexual activity. Among women who masturbated in the past year, 56.4% used a vibrator or other sex toy at least some of the time, and nearly half used one almost always or always. Toy use correlates with higher orgasm rates: 83.8% of women who almost always used a sex toy reported consistently reaching orgasm, compared to about 75% of those who used them less frequently or not at all.
Interestingly, women who used sex toys, whether frequently or occasionally, were also more likely to want more sexual activity in general. Among frequent toy users, 56.1% desired more sex, compared to 41.2% of women who never used them. This suggests that toy use doesn’t replace sexual desire but may actually reinforce it by making solo experiences more rewarding.
Physical and Mental Health Effects
Orgasm triggers the release of dopamine and oxytocin, two hormones that promote feelings of well-being and counteract cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. This hormonal shift is part of why masturbation can improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety, effects that have been documented in clinical research.
There are also specific physical benefits for women. Masturbation can relieve menstrual cramps, likely through the combination of increased blood flow to the pelvic area and the pain-relieving effects of orgasm. For older women, regular sexual activity (including masturbation) helps maintain vaginal tissue health, reducing dryness and discomfort.
Why Some Women Don’t Masturbate
The roughly 5.5% of women who report never having masturbated give two primary reasons: rarely feeling sexual desire, and believing that sex is something that should only happen with a partner. Cultural and religious attitudes play a significant role in shaping these beliefs, and stigma around female masturbation remains stronger than stigma around male masturbation in most societies. Neither masturbating nor choosing not to is a sign of a problem on its own. What matters is whether a person’s sexual life, solo or partnered, feels satisfying to them.