Masturbation is a normal part of being human. Unfortunately, however, it's an activity that's inherently taboo - especially for women.

But one Instagram challenge is here to change this and I am HERE for it.

Because if you didn't know it already, May is Masturbation Month, and to celebrate, the co-hosts of the Shameless Sex podcast, Amy Baldwin and April Lampert, have created the Self-Pleasure 30-Day Instagram Challenge.

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Now, before we give you the deets, I want to take this opportunity to outline the benefits of masturbation.

It's well-known that the vast majority of women can't orgasm through penetrative sex alone, and it's also pretty well-known that women who enjoy lady love are far more likely to get off than those who don't.

So if you're a person with lady parts whose sex life is lacking, try masturbating and letting go of that patriarchial shame which says people with vaginas can't enjoy sex. We can. And the more we self-pleasure, the more we will know about our bodies, which is invaluable when it comes to teaching partners what we want in the bedroom.

As for people with penises, while there's less shame around you masturbating, you, just like everyone else, should be allowed to masturbate as often as your sex drive dictates (as long as it's not having a detrimental effect on your life).

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Okay, now back to the challenge. As its name suggests, the Self-Pleasure 30-Day Instagram Challenge involves masturbating for 10 minutes a day for a glorious 30 days. However, there's a catch, you're not allowed to watch porn or use a sex toy to get you off.

Amy and April wrote: "The intention of this challenge is to help de-stigmatize #selfpleasure while also giving participants an opportunity to connect with their own pleasure/body on a deeper level."

The pair explained the ban on porn and sex toys: "The intention of this challenge isn't to shame people for using vibrators or porn.

"It's to give them an opportunity to connect to the subtle sensations in their bodies that are often hard to feel with vibrators. There's a lot available in the slowness and presence that comes with using hands."

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In addition to masturbating, participants have been invited to send Amy and April an anonymous picture describing how they currently stimulate themselves in 10 words or less.

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Naturally, once the challenge is over, or during May, participants can then contact the girls again with another anonymous picture explaining in 10 words or less what they've learned.

On that note, happy Masturbation Month!

A woman who had sex with her husband every day for a year has revealed the surprising change she made during intimacy.

Brittany Gibbons, a writer for Women’s Health, made headlines after opening up about the unusual challenge she set for herself: sleeping with her partner every single day for 365 days.

While the idea might raise eyebrows, Gibbons said the decision had nothing to do with saving her marriage. Instead, she explained that the challenge was about rediscovering her own confidence.

The woman slept with her husband every day. Credit: YouTube/HLN

The Motivation Behind The Experiment

The writer said the idea came after she began struggling with body image following the birth of her third child.

"Shortly after having my third child, I remember getting out of the shower, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and wondering, ‘Who let my mum in here?’ From that point on, I didn’t let myself be naked," she wrote.

"I kept the lights off during sex, hid my stomach and boobs inside a camisole, and I waited for my husband to leave the bedroom before barreling from the shower to my closet to get dressed," she added.

Determined to change how she felt about her body, Gibbons began the year-long intimacy challenge with her husband.

The One Thing She Started Doing Differently

A few months into the challenge, Gibbons said she reached a major turning point.

"Six months in, I took off the cami I'd hidden my body inside of, not caring that my boobs plopped off into my armpits," she said. "For the first time, I was more concerned with every part of sex that felt good than finding a flattering angle to hide my stomach or back fat."

Letting go of the insecurities she had carried for years allowed her to focus on the shared experience with her husband rather than worrying about how she looked.

Brittany had sex every day for a year. Credit: YouTube/HLN

Confidence Continued To Grow

As the challenge continued, the woman said her confidence only grew stronger. By the end of the year, she quipped that she had become so comfortable in her own skin that clothes barely felt necessary.

"A year in, I stopped wearing clothes entirely. At least, I assume that is what my kids would say," she penned.

The shift wasn’t just about what happened in the bedroom - it also changed how she moved through everyday life.

"I stopped that primal run from the shower, and now lazily walked to the closet naked," she revealed. "I made school lunches in my underwear, and didn't reflexively pull away when Andy came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist."

A New Relationship With Her Body And Her Husband

Daily intimacy helped Gibbons grow more in love with her body and strengthen the connection she shared with her husband.

Reflecting on the experience, she said the lessons extended far beyond the challenge itself: "Having regular sex with my husband isn’t making my marriage divorce-proof or immune to infidelity or angst, but it is helping me feel confident enough in my skin to survive it if it does happen."

"I used to joke that I never wanted to have to be in a position to date again, because my body wasn’t ‘showroom ready.’ While I naturally hope to stay married to Andy until the end of time, and should I die first, haunt him, I don’t have that fear anymore, because my definition of desirable has changed."

"It was never about anyone wanting me, it was about me wanting myself. And it only took an entire year of getting laid to figure that out," she concluded.

Featured image credit: YouTube/HLN

In a bold experiment to transform her relationship and body image, Brittany Gibbons committed to a year-long challenge of daily sex with her husband.

Now, three years later, she’s reflecting on the lasting effects the experience had on her marriage, self-esteem, and overall sense of intimacy.

The Origins of the Challenge: A Desire to Reclaim Confidence

Brittany, a married mother of three, was inspired to try a daily sex challenge after hearing about the positive effects it had on a friend’s marriage.

While her relationship with her husband, Andy, was strong, Brittany admitted she was seeking a way to "save herself" after feeling her confidence diminish post-pregnancy.

In an article for Women’s Health, Brittany opened up about how her body image had taken a hit after the birth of her third child. She shared: "I didn’t let myself be naked.

I kept the lights off during sex, hid my stomach and boobs inside a camisole, and I waited for my husband to leave the bedroom before barreling from the shower to my closet to get dressed."

Brittany had sex every day for a year. Credit: YouTube/HLN

Daily Sex: A Challenge and a New Beginning

When Brittany pitched the idea of daily sex to her husband, she wasn’t expecting it to be easy. The initial days were "rough," she explained, as the thought of sex felt exhausting.

However, as the days turned into weeks and months, something shifted.

"As the months passed, I started looking forward to it," she revealed.

"Sex begat more sex, and those connected, loved-up feelings began to creep outside of the bedroom – or, in our case, the laundry room, the closet, and our garage – and into our everyday lives."

The couple found themselves being more affectionate in small but meaningful ways, like sharing longer kisses and touching each other more throughout the day.

Transforming Intimacy and Body Image

Over time, the experiment began to reshape Brittany’s view of both intimacy and her own body. She found herself enjoying sex again and shedding some of the insecurities that once plagued her.

"I found myself enjoying sex again, making a playlist of songs that turned me on, and no longer being hyper-aware of the sounds my curvy body was making," she explained. "Like the way my thighs clapped together, or my tummy smacked his."

By the six-month mark, Brittany was ready to stop hiding her body behind clothing. The process of having sex every day for a year helped her reconnect with herself in a way she hadn’t expected.

"I developed an amazing relationship with my body by the end of the year," she noted.

The challenge left her more confident. Credit: YouTube/HLN

The Aftermath: Lasting Effects Beyond the Year

While the couple didn’t maintain the daily sex routine once the year was over, Brittany acknowledged that the impact of the experience was still felt in their marriage.

"I totally don’t have sex with my husband every day, not anymore," she said, adding that it wasn’t because they were "sick of each other" but because they were, after all, humans with real-life commitments.

However, the lessons they learned during their year of intimacy remained relevant. "The effects and lessons from the experience are still apparent in our marriage even now," Brittany shared.

She explained that they learned how difficult it can be to prioritize sex amid the demands of daily life. "The majority of people around you are not having sex every single day.

They’re busy being stressed at work, coordinating their kids’ soccer schedules, and paying bills. Fitting sex into all of that is difficult, but, for us, it’s necessary."

What Daily Sex Taught Them About Marriage and Intimacy

Brittany explained that their year-long experiment also helped them better understand their sexual needs.

"We worked out our sexual appetites, so we now both know the exact amount of sex we need to keep us happy in our marriage," she said.

This awareness allowed them to be more relaxed about periods of time when sex wasn’t happening as frequently.

"I no longer freak out if two weeks pass and we forget to have sex, because we work to connect in other ways," she added. "Intimacy doesn’t always mean penetration."

Finally, Brittany emphasized how the experience helped her feel more secure in her relationship and in herself.

"I am not the best version of myself when I am insecure and panicky," she shared, joking, "I’m basically a walking vague relationship Facebook post."

The challenge allowed her to refocus on herself, ultimately improving not only her marriage but her overall well-being. "It was never about anyone wanting me – it was about me wanting myself. And it only took an entire year of getting laid to figure that out."

Featured image credit: YouTube/HLN

Marriage and long-term relationships often bring both rewards and challenges.

As the initial excitement of a new relationship fades, many couples find themselves navigating through more routine and domestic phases of their partnership.

While some might experience drier spells in intimacy, others might find ways to reignite their connection.

For one woman, the decision to have sex every single day for an entire year resulted in profound personal transformation.

The Challenge of Sex Every Day: A Year-Long Commitment

Brittany Gibbons, a writer for Women’s Health, shared her personal experience of committing to a daily sex routine with her husband for one whole year.

Though this may seem like a surprising decision, Brittany’s motivation was not about saving her marriage - she did it for herself.

In her article, Brittany addresses a common question she often gets asked: no, she wasn’t having sex with different partners every day - this challenge was solely with her husband.

She made it clear that this commitment was literal, as she and her husband shared intimacy every single day for a year.

Brittany had sex every day for a year. Credit: YouTube/HLN

Not About Saving the Marriage - But Finding Herself

Brittany explained that her decision to embark on this year-long journey wasn’t aimed at repairing her relationship, but rather at improving her own sense of self-worth.

“It was for me,” she said, adding that the experience helped her develop a new sense of confidence and liberation.

One of the biggest shifts she noticed was a change in how she viewed her body, particularly when it came to sex.

Instead of focusing on insecurities or worrying about certain parts of her body, she found herself prioritizing the pleasure of the experience.

Overcoming Body Insecurities and Embracing Pleasure

Six months into the challenge, Brittany experienced a breakthrough moment. She shared that she finally removed the cami she had always used to hide her body, no longer caring about her physical appearance.

“For the first time, I was more concerned with every part of sex that felt good than finding a flattering angle to hide my stomach or back fat,” she recalled. It was a transformative experience, as she felt her body was being celebrated, not just by her husband, but by herself.

“My body was being enjoyed by the both of us, equally,” Brittany said, reflecting on how much her perspective on intimacy had changed in just six months.

The challenge left her more confident. Credit: YouTube/HLN

Confidence Grows: A Year of Intimacy Brings New Freedom

As the year progressed, Brittany’s confidence only continued to grow. By the end of the 365 days, she had shed many of her previous body concerns.

In fact, Brittany humorously shared: “A year in, I stopped wearing clothes entirely.”

Though she jokingly speculated that her children might disagree, her relationship with her body had become so comfortable that she felt no need to cover up.

Day-to-day life was also affected by the newfound openness and affection between her and her husband.

Small, yet meaningful changes took place in her daily routine.

“I stopped that primal run from the shower and now lazily walked to the closet naked,” she said, highlighting how her confidence allowed her to embrace her body in a more relaxed way.

A New Sense of Intimacy and Connection

The impact of this year-long journey wasn’t just physical - it had a significant emotional and relational effect as well.

“I made school lunches in my underwear, and didn’t reflexively pull away when Andy came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist,” she shared.

This physical openness translated into a deeper emotional connection with her husband, fostering a sense of closeness and affection that had been previously missing.

“My relationship with my husband, and my body, had changed in amazing ways,” Brittany concluded, reflecting on the lasting positive changes in both her personal confidence and her marriage.

Featured image credit: YouTube/HLN

A woman, who famously vowed to have sex with her husband every day for an entire year, has discussed how indulging in the ‘relationship-saving’ practice transformed her confidence and marriage… but what exactly changed?

For many couples, maintaining intimacy can be difficult when insecurities, stress, and everyday responsibilities get in the way.

Writer Brittany Gibbons shared her story with HuffPost, explaining that she had long struggled with body image issues and admitted she was "horrible at intimacy."

Her insecurities made sex with her husband feel like "a really anxiety-inducing experience," often leading her to avoid it altogether.

Whenever intimacy seemed likely, Brittany said she would find reasons to put it off. Whether it was the temperature, work deadlines, cramps, or stress, there was always a convenient excuse.

When she tried to explain her insecurities to her husband, she said the conversations often left her feeling "like a horrible, horrible a**hole."

When did Brittany begin to see a change?

Determined to change things, Brittany came up with a bold plan, which was to have sex every day for a year. The idea was rooted in the belief that if she kept prioritizing intimacy, it would eventually stop feeling forced. As she put it: "You make yourself do it until suddenly, you love it."

The challenge didn't get off to an easy start. Brittany admitted the first few months were "rough" and that she spent so much time preparing herself mentally that the daily commitment initially felt like a "chore."

Over time, however, her perspective shifted dramatically.

"It stopped being a chore," she explained, adding that intimacy eventually became the time of day when she felt "most at peace." It also strengthened communication with her husband Andy, who she joked "had a really good time" throughout the experiment.

"As the months passed, I started looking forward to it," Brittany wrote.

"Sex begat more sex, and those connected, loved-up feelings began to creep outside of the bedroom - or, in our case, the laundry room, the closet, and our garage - and into our everyday lives."

She said the increased intimacy improved their relationship in other ways too.

Brittany Gibbons had sex with her husband every day for an entire year. Credit: Brittany Gibbons/Instagram

"We were more romantic with each other, touching arms as we passed, kissing longer before work - and not just the cold familiar peck. Our relationship was stronger and better when our intimacy was flourishing."

One of the biggest changes Brittany noticed was a significant boost in her self-confidence. Through open conversations, she and her husband developed a better understanding of her insecurities and how they affected their relationship.

"It took a lot of talking to make him realise that me not feeling sexy was not an attack on him, and him being hurt about it only made me feel worse," she explained.

"I wanted to enjoy sex, too. And the key for me being able to enjoy it is feeling confident and gorgeous, and that was a me journey, not a him journey, though having a cheerleader on the sidelines was a plus."

As her confidence grew, Brittany found she was better able to communicate her preferences and express what she enjoyed, rather than expecting her husband to instinctively know.

What was the most significant difference?

Looking back, she believes the greatest benefit wasn't the daily intimacy itself, but how it changed the way she viewed herself.

The experience left her feeling more secure in both her marriage and her own identity.

"I am not the best version of myself when I am insecure and panicky," she said, before joking: "I'm basically a walking vague relationship Facebook post. I am so much more focused when worrying about my sex life is off the table."

Ultimately, Brittany said the lesson she learned was deeply personal.

"It was never about anyone wanting me - it was about me wanting myself. And it only took an entire year of getting laid to figure that out."

Although she and Andy didn't continue having sex every day after the challenge ended, she said the experience helped them better understand each other's needs and left their relationship in a much healthier place.

Featured Image. Credit: Brittany Gibbons/Instagram