For starters, masturbation doesn't just feel goodsolo play is legit good for you . "Masturbation releases stress and anxiety," says Leah Millheiser , MD, clinical assistant professor and director of female sexual medicine at Stanford University Medical Center.

"We know that you get total-body relaxation after an orgasm , which is great for someone who's tense," she adds. "Masturbation also increases blood flow to the genitals, which is important because blood flow keeps the vagina healthy." See? Female masturbation is GOOD for you. Yeah, you're welcome.

In other words, you should probably consider adding it to your self-care Sunday routine, stat, especially at a time when stress levels are soaring.

Beyond that, a solid solo session is crazy-good for your sex life in all sorts of ways. For one, it may help you get more comfortable in bed. "People who dont masturbate are more likely to have difficulty reaching orgasm with a partner," Millheiser explains.

And when you finally bring your S.O. into the action, you might feel closer to themorgasms release oxytocin, a powerful hormone, that make you want to bond with the person next to you, she adds.

Now, all that good stuff said, the only problem is not knowing how to masturbate. (It's not like pleasuring yourself was covered in sex ed, and your parents certainly didn't include female masturbation in The Talk.)

Of course, there's no right or wrong way to masturbate (to each vagina her own!), but these expert-approved tips and tricks will not only teach you how to best pleasure yourselfbut also take your self-made orgasm to the next level. Let's begin.

1. Bust out a mirror.

Before you can "rock your body" Justin Timberlakestyle, you first have to know your body. "It's essential for women to be able to identify their anatomy," says Janet Brito , PhD, a licensed psychologist and certified sex therapist in Honolulu. I know you're probably thinking, Duh!, but for so many women, this is their downfall.

Brito recommends beginning your investigation the old-fashioned way: with a hand-held mirror. That's the best way to see what your vulva **actually** looks like and, even more importantly, identify your clitoris (a.k.a. your best friend). For many women, the clithome to some 15,000 (!) nerve endings is where the masturbation magic happens.

That is, once you find it (easier said than donejust ask your ex). From the outside, all you'll be able to see is the clitoral hooda flap of skin that retracts during sexual arousaland the glans clitoris, a little button-like nub.

But that's only the tip of the orgasmic iceberg. Here's what's going on under the hood: