A young woman has revealed why she swore off sex two years ago, saying it is the “best thing she ever did”.

Hannah Hutson, 22, decided to go celibate after finding she was turning to sex in order to feel validated and valued by men.

In 2021, she took the plunge and decided to stop having sex altogether and focus more on her own growth.

Now, she has celebrated the two-year anniversary of her celibacy with a party and cake, sharing the results in a TikTok which went viral with 850,000 views.

“It feels so empowering [to be celibate],” Hannah, from Denver, Colorado, US, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.

“When I was having sex, it was the only time I felt loved or wanted in the world.

“Since starting this journey I've learned how to connect with my body and sacred sexuality in an empowering way.

“My goal with sex was always to please the man, since the main thrill I got from it was male validation, so focusing on my sexual pleasure and experience through masturbation has been healing.

“In fact, I don't think about men or another person at all when I masturbate!

“I use it as a spiritual practice, speaking positive affirmations to myself and visualising my goals and dreams as I climax.”

After a rocky breakup, Hannah says she “slept around in an attempt to reclaim her power and be in control of her sexuality” – but instead found the casual hook-ups “harmful”.

But during the 2020 lockdown, she moved back in with her mum and decided to use the time to work on self-love – which became the start of hger celibacy journey.

She said: “It was here I realised it was time to learn to give myself the love I so desperately sought from others.

“As I learned to love myself, I experienced a glow up in every sense, and I knew I deserved to be loved for all of who I was as a person, not just my body or what I could offer sexually.”

After a year of celibacy, and she started dating someone new, but felt she was “used for her body” – so cut things off and started anew with her celibacy journey.

Hannah, who co-hosts the Healing with the Hutsons podcast, vowed that the next person she slept with was going would be the person she was going to marry.

She said: “With the next man, I said I would take my time getting to know the person and would only sleep with them once we were in a committed relationship and sure of our connection.

“Now I'm waiting for my real soulmate, I've learned my lessons and won't rush to that conclusion until the love and trust is there, which can truly only be built overtime.”

In July, she reached her two-year milestone.

Hannah said: “For me the hardest part has been waiting to meet my soulmate – I'm a romantic at heart and, though I don't fantasise about having sex, I fantasise about being in love.

“It's been a difficult process rewiring my brain to give myself the love I seek instead of waiting for it to be given to me by someone else, but self-love is the necessary foundation for all successful relationships and there's hardly any endeavour more worthwhile.”

And she says the perks of celibacy have been “endless”.

Hannah said: “I can't tell you how freeing it is to not be dating or sleeping with men.

“All of my time, energy, thoughts, and emotions are spent pouring into myself, my career, and my family instead of someone who's only interested in using me as a sexual object.

“My mental health has improved immensely now that my actions reflect my high self-worth and respect.

“It’s the best thing I ever did.

“Plus, who doesn't love an excuse to celebrate with cake?”

She shared a video of the celebrations to TikTok, (@hwthpodcast ), where the video has recently gone viral, garnering 114,000 likes.

In the post, she has stitched together pictures and videos of her in a pink dress, holding a celebratory cake.

The cake is covered in frosting, with nuts and sprinkles, as well as ‘SEX’ written on the top with a big X through it.

TikTokers shared their own tales.

Kenzie said: “I gave up 3 years of celibacy for a man who won't text back. Stay strong friends, it's not worth it.”

Sara commented: “Celibacy is so peaceful.”

Judith added: “The longer you're celibate, the easier it gets and the better you feel.”

“I’m gonna do this because I DO DESERVE A CAKE,” wrote Kendall.

“One year and I’m happy for the first time in my life,” said someone else.

Hannah hopes to not remain celibate forever, and still dreams of meeting her dream man.

She added: “I'm waiting to find my soulmate and the person I'm going to marry, so however long that takes!

“Until then I don't mind waiting and spending my time investing in myself and my future and enjoying the single life.

“But I could genuinely go the rest of my life without sex, or even romantic love, because the love from my friends, family, and myself makes life fulfilling, and I think that's a great place to be.”

ENDS

EDITOR'S NOTE: Press are kindly asked to include mention of Hannah's podcast, Healing with the Hutsons, where possible.