How to Masturbate for Men: Techniques, Toys & Tips

Looking to shake up your masturbation routine, explore something new, or simply understand your body better? In this guide, we cover the basics of how to masturbate for men, or anyone with a penis for that matter, from beginner-friendly hand techniques to Lovense toys that offer hands-free stimulation, customizable patterns, app control, and interactive experiences.

And if you’re wondering if Lovense sex toys for men are actually worth it or not, we’ll b reak that down too. Here’s a quick look at the main types of sex toys for men and what each one brings to the table:

If you’re looking to explore more, browse Lovense's full range of sex toys for men or keep reading to find your starting point.

Short answer: yes, and we’re not just saying that, some research and medical sources support it.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, masturbation may offer a range of physical and mental health benefits including stress relief, an improved mood, better sleep, and even reduced muscle tension.

One study summarized by Harvard Health suggested that men who ejaculate more frequently may have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer. It's important to note this is not a guaranteed prevention method and should never replace medical advice or routine checkups with your doctor.

In terms of sexual wellness, masturbation can help men become more comfortable with their bodies, understand what feels good for them, and may support better confidence and communication with a partner.

If you’ve been looking to go beyond your typical masturbation routine but not sure how to, we’d suggest starting at a level you’re already pretty comfortable with—manual stimulation. Here, you can use either a toy or your hand, but the only requirement is an understanding of what your body responds to.

The Standard Stroke

The most common technique has been around for centuries, where billions of men throughout time have perfected the following method: wrapping their hand around their shaft, and moving it up and down with a consistent rhythm. If you’re looking to switch up your stroke game, then try the following techniques:

Edging

Edging is the practice of bringing yourself close to orgasm and then deliberately slowing down or stopping, which is one of the most effective techniques for intensifying your eventual climax. It trains you to last longer and can result in significantly stronger orgasms. For a deeper look at these and other approaches, check out this guide on male masturbation techniques for more pleasure.

Manual stimulation works, yes, but it has its limits. Your hand can only create so many sensations, and after a while, it can be frankly repetitive. That’s where male sex toys come in.

Toys make sense when:

If you're still undecided on whether you need a sex toy or not, our honest breakdown of whether male masturbators are actually worth it covers the real-world case for trying one.

In this day and age, there are plenty of men’s sex toys on the market, more than most people actually realize. Here’s a breakdown if you’d like to learn more:

If you are new to sex toys for men or would just like a refresher course on what’s available on the market, then this section is for you. Not only do we break down the different mechanisms for each type of sex toy, but we also offer our expert recommendations. 

Male Masturbators and Auto Strokers

These toys typically use a textured inner sleeve, usually made from soft sleeve material such as silicone or TPE, depending on the toy, which wraps around the shaft. Motorized versions may use vibration, contraction, suction, oscillation, or automated stroking to create different sensations. 

The Lovense Solace Pro is a fully automated blowjob machine that uses a powerful motor to adjust its stroking pattern in real time. It's hands-free, app-controlled, and has the ability to sync to your favorite adult content, making it one of the most advanced AI-powered male masturbators on the market.

The Lovense Max 2 is another male masturbator with an air Pump that mimics 360° vaginal contractions alongside vibration. As a master controller toy, it uses Lovense Toy Sync to connect and control other Lovense toys like the Nora, Mission 2, and more.

Both Solace Pro and Max 2 are Master Controller toys, which means their stroking or movement can control any Lovense toy in real-time via Toy Sync. For example, the harder you thrust Max 2, the harder your partner's Lush 4 will vibrate.

Penis Massagers 

Penis massagers usually have a vibration motor which sits against the shaft, delivering stimulation through oscillation or different patterns rather than movement.

The Gush 2 is a vibrating and oscillating penis massager that wraps around the shaft to deliver focused stimulation to the frenulum, one of the most sensitive areas of the penis. Its hands-free design and adjustable intensity make it especially well-suited for teasing, pacing, and extended edging sessions.

Prostate Massagers

These are insertable toys that apply targeted pressure to the P-spot (prostate), which is often known as the male equivalent of the G-spot, located a few inches inside the anus. Some people describe prostate stimulation as producing deeper or more intense orgasms.

The Edge 2 is a dual-motor prostate massager with a flexible neck that bends to fit your anatomy. One motor targets the prostate internally; the other stimulates the perineum externally, simultaneously.

Butt Plugs

These are insertable toys as well that create a sense of fullness and provide steady anal stimulation during masturbation activity. If you’re unsure which size to start with, check our butt plug size chart for a more detailed sizing guide.

The Lovense Hush 2 combines app-controlled vibration with a wearable butt plug design, offering steady anal stimulation and a fuller sensation during solo or partner-controlled play.

Lovense sex toys for men differ from traditional sex toys as their vibration patterns, control sync, content sync and more can be used with the free Lovense Remote app.

Scenario 1: Hands-free solo session with the Solace Pro

Set up the toy against your computer desk, insert your penis into the sleeve, connect to the app, and choose your favorite adult content you’d like to sync with. You can even adjust the angle of the toy’s mount so you can sit back and let the toy do all the hard work.

Learn more about content sync here ->

Scenario 2: Edging with the Gush 2

Use the Gush 2 along the tip of your penis and intensify the vibration as you approach climax, then power it down and pause. Repeat the cycle two or three times before fully orgasming.

Scenario 3: Prostate play with the Edge 2 + traditional stroking

Insert the Edge 2 and allow a few minutes for your body to adjust before combining it with hand stroking along the shaft. The added prostate stimulation creates a more intense, full-body orgasm experience.

App-controlled toys can be a life saver for those in long-distance relationships, solving one of the most frustrating parts of being so far away from a partner: physical intimacy. The Lovense Remote app lets a partner control your toy in real time from anywhere, whether they're in the next city or a different timezone.

In compatible long-distance sync modes, Lovense master controller toys like Max 2 and Nora can also react to each other’s movements, so the faster you thrust Max 2, the stronger Nora will vibrate.

Add a video call and the experience becomes visual and more interactive. For a broader look at what's available, this roundup of app-controlled sex toys for men covers the best options for long-distance use.

Expert guidance helps narrow down your options, but  firsthand experiences can make the decision feel more  confident. Explore what real users share about comfort,  usability, build quality, and how the sensations compare to  expectations.

Masturbation for men isn't complicated, but doing it well, and enjoying it more, comes down to knowing your options. Whether that means trying a new hand technique, experimenting with edging, or picking up your first toy, small changes make a real difference.

If you're just getting started with toys, the Gush 2 or Max 2 are the most approachable entry points. If you're ready to explore prostate stimulation, the Edge 2 is purpose-built for it. And if hands-free masturbation is what you're after, the Solace Pro is in a category of its own.

Explore the full Lovense men's collection and find what fits your body, your routine, and what you actually want from the experience.