There are many, many ways of masturbating to achieve orgasm. Even if you are happily involved with a partner and have a great sex life, masturbation can be a great way to add even more pleasure to your sexual play. Some women have difficulty achieving orgasm through intercourse alone, so unless your partner is in the habit of getting your off with his hands or mouth or toys (and let's hope he is considerate enough to do this), you may want to masturbate regularly to achieve orgasm. Sexual release can be an important part of feeling healthy and whole and masturbation is a fairly universal human experience that almost everyone has experimented with, and that the majority of people do regularly.
 
There are a variety of techniques to get yourself off, and depending on your sensitivity, preferences and energy level you can try any number of these, maybe more than one in the same session of self-love! If you are without a partner, explore these many ways of pleasuring yourself without any embarrassment: we all need some intimacy in our lives and creating an intimate space with our own skin by masturbating can be very stress-relieving. If you do have a partner, masturbation can help your sex life buy helping you become more in tune with yourself. You may even find new ways for your partner to help you achieve climax. Below you will find tips on many different ways to achieve orgasm.

Use Your Hands
Direct clitoral stimulation: For most of us masturbation means focusing on the clitoris, but of course you can touch and stroke the entire genital area, including the vulva, vaginal lips and vagina.

If you decide to use toys or other objects, make sure your hands and the object are clean so you do not introduce unwanted bacteria into your vagina as this can cause an infection.

Rolling: Place your thumb and forefinger around the clitoris and gently roll it in between your fingers. You can start off with a slow gentle roll and then gradually pick up the pace and the pressure according to what feels good.This two-fingered technique helps you develop some agility in your fingers, too.

Circular rub: For most women this is a nice fast way to get off if you are pressed for time or just really horny! Just take one or two fingers from either hand (the pointer and middle finger are what work for most) and place them over the top of you clitoris. Then begin moving them in a circular motion over top of the clitoris. You can vary the speed and pressure easily with this technique. Most women will come off very quickly using this method. You can use lube if needed.
 
Tapping: This technique is less familiar but for some women it works wonders. Expose the clitoris by pulling your vaginal lips apart and gently tap on the clit with your index finger, starting slow and maybe increasing speed if that feels good. The sensation will build up a bit more slowly than other methods but this creates exquisite tension as you build towards climax.

Two hands: This can be a very satisfying method and allows for stimulation of the entire genital area. Have your fingers from one hand playing with your clitoris, stimulating it however you wish. Take the other hand and place two or three fingers inside your vagina and begin thrusting. This is similar to the sensation of intercourse with the added bonus of clitoral stimulation. You can also find your G-spot (in the front wall of the vagina) with this method and that combination of G-spot and clitoral stimulation is a surefire intense orgasm every time.
 
Water
 
Some women love using water techniques for masturbation. It's good clean fun! You can also get a partner involved in this form of play.
 
Running Water: You can use your bathtub for this if it is shaped in a way that allows you to position your clitoris under the water flow; just slide your buttocks down until you are positioned beneath the faucet. Start with a gentler flow of water and gradually increase the pressure. It is important to make sure you can easily control the temperature of the water so you don't scald yourself!
 
Water Spray: To vary your use of the bathtub faucet, just place your thumb or finger over the faucet and then direct the spray so that it falls directly on your clitoris. You can also use a shower nozzle to do this, or, on a very hot day, your garden hose. (Some find the cold water very stiumulating but it takes some getting used to.

Shower Massage: These are handy gadgets for masturbation and all the different settings can help you experiment to find one that works. Most women like warm water for this. (hot can sometimes lead to a loss of sensitivity after a while). Just hold the spray while you are standing or lying in the tub and vary the pressure as you please. You may want to hold onto a rack or steady yourself against the wall if you are standing.
 
Jacuzzi: If you have a jacuzzi spray in your hot tub or bathtub this can be an amazing way to mastubrate with water. The strength of the water pressure if properly aimed at the clitoris and genital area creates a very pleasurable sensation and can bring you off really quickly or slowly, depending on how you move to adjust the pressure. The spray cannot be moved so it will be up to you to adjust your body position.
 
Vibrators
 
These are great little toys and many varieties are now available. You can get pocket size ones to travel with, or larger ones to play with at home. You can also conveniently order them on line. Check out the websites for Good Vibrations and Toys in Babeland to get all sorts of information on the best vibrator for you. If you are lucky enough to have a local sex shop, they may offer tutorials on these and other toys; in any case they will be happy to advise you. Make sure you have fresh batteries on hand! There is nothing worse than running out of power when you're in the middle of things.
 
Dildos
 
Technically speaking, a dildo is any object you insert into the vagina to simulate the penis. This can be an actual plastic or rubber dildo you purchase from a shop, or an object shaped for pleasure. Some women use hair brush handles, or carrots or cucumbers, or other objects. Whatever you use, make sure it is clean and that there is no danger of small parts breaking off inside you, or of any scratching or irritation. Dildos manufactured for this purpose come in all shapes and sizes and types of firmness, so you may want to get one for yourself as they really do make the best penis substitute. When using the dildo, having some lube available (like Astroglide) will probably come in handy. You can insert the dildo and move it slowly or quickly and also engage in some clitoral stimulation at the same time. You can get yourself close with a combination of fingers on your clit and the dildo inside your vagina, and then finish off with the
            
Other Ways
 
You are really only limited by your imagination here. Some women can get themselves off just rubbing or squeezing their thighs together (this can be done in public too!) You can use something made of fabric (like silky lingerie) and pull it back and forth between your legs. You can stand near a doorknob or against a table leg and rub yourself against it. I have read about using a powder brush (like you apply blusher with) and gently teasing the clitoris until you can't stand it anymore. Experiment and see how many creative ways you can get yourself off, and before you know it regular orgasms will be as much a part of your routine as shaving your legs or washing your hair or going to the gym.