Being shy about the subject of masturbation is understandable; men are more likely to talk about it, while most women find this topic a little too intimate. 

Masturbation is the act of stimulating the genitals to increase sexual arousal or have an orgasm. It is believed that 90 - 94% of men and 50 - 60% of women in the UK masturbate. According to a Kinsey Institute study, over 50% of American women aged 18-49 masturbate at least once every 3 months.

American neuroscientist and researcher Nicole Prause, Ph.D. says that today masturbation doesn’t have the stigma it once did but there are myths that still influence the way that some women feel about it, and how they do (or don’t) touch themselves.

The medical community reassures us that self-stimulation is natural human behavior and in general, it is not harmful as long as all the personal hygiene norms are followed.

Sources:

Female Masturbation: 5 Things You May Not Know, webmd.com

A Touchy Subject: The Health Benefits of Masturbation, psychologytoday.com