It may seem taboo and many Chileans don’t like to talk about it, but having sex during your period can be great for your overall well-being, improving your sexual and reproductive health. Today, couples often feel more comfortable having sex than talking about it, but the truth is that sex it is an opportunity to explore not only your relationship with your partner but also your relationship with yourself.
Can you have sex during your period?
Yes, you can have intercourse during your period throughout your entire cycle if you wish. «There isn’t any health reason to not have sex on your period», points out the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. Jordin Wiggins, N.D.
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You are not doing more harm to yourself by having sex during your period. Some people may have more physical discomfort during their period (for example, cramping or sluggishness), which translates to you may be less likely to want or enjoy sex while menstruating, but that is individual and different for each person. Every menstruating person on the planet is different, and the way their bodies function during their period is rarely similar to another person.
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A study in Journal of Sex Research discovered that approximately half of sexually active women have sex during their periods so definitely It’s a common behavior.
If you don’t feel safe and you don’t know if you enjoy this type of relationship, you should try. And if you’re just not interested in putting a spin on sex while you’re on your period, that’s perfectly fine, too.
Just know that the unwritten rule that you shouldn’t have sex during your period is based primarily on ignorance, unsupported medical assumptions, and misplaced annoyances around the normal female bodily functions.
There is a whole spectrum of sensuality and eroticism, far beyond the cycle of sexual activity you are used to, waiting to be explored. What counts is the self-knowledge to know what things you prefer and what you dislike.
Can I get pregnant during my period?
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Although the odds are lower, You can get pregnant by having sex during your period if you skip real protection, like condoms or birth control.
The chances of a person getting pregnant depend on the length of your cycle and when your fertile window falls. There are 4 phases that make up your menstrual cycle:
- Menstruation
- Follicle
- Ovulation
- luteum
The fertile window usually starts a few days before ovulation. But there are many variations to be aware of here: a 2020 study found that even if a person can predict the length of her cycle, her ovulation date it’s still up in the air. Physician and intimacy expert Alexandra Stockwell, MD, notes: «Bodies are not like math.»
Also, Sperm can survive inside the body for several dayswhich means that if you tend to ovulate shortly after your period, you can still get pregnant from the sex you had during your period.
Do you need to use protection during sexual period?
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Yes, you should always use protection during sex, even when you’re on your period. You should try sex during your period like any other time you have sexY use the same preventative measures you normally would.
menstrual blood (although it is completely natural and safe) it is like any other bodily fluid.
It can be appealing to skip the condoms and go straight to business, but sex is sex and the risks won’t go away.
Risks and side effects of having sex during a period.
Like any other time you have sex, there are risks during your period. «Blood is another bodily fluid which can also transmit sexually transmitted infections (ETS) like any other liquid»Wiggins says. And having menstrual intercourse leaves you susceptible to the same STDs and any vaginal infections.
There is also the possibility that the period gets a little «messy» with sex. With the right precautions, such as lay out a towel beforehandyou can forget about the mess and really enjoy the experience.
Can a man get an infection from menstrual blood?
Period blood is a mixture of blood and healthy tissues and therefore completely safe for men. «Because your cervix is a little more open during your period, there is a theory that that it is easier to transmit STDs«, says Wiggins, but assures that this is false. With safe sex and regular testing, there is no added risk of having sex during your period.
Your menstrual period leaves you vulnerable to the same STDs as any other time you have sex. your period blood in no way is increasing the chances.
1. Provides natural lubrication.
your hormones fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycleand those fluctuations can cause some people experience vaginal dryness during your period. However, this is not the case for all menstruators.
On the other hand, menstrual blood It can also be a natural lubricant during sex that makes penetration smoother and more pleasurable.
2. It can intensify intimacy.
The menstrual period makes you more vulnerable with your partner and with yourself. Most people’s period experiences are generally private; no one really knows the intimate details of your period other than yourself. But period sex opens the door for allowing another person to experience your body more intensely during this time. In addition, it can lead to other unexplored sexual areas, a product of that communion and intimacy.
3. It can improve your mood.
All the benefits of orgasms, in general, apply to period sex, perhaps especially. the fever of oxytocin after sex can make you feel comfortable and less stressed, which could be a welcome relief during your period.
4. It can make sex feel better.
Some of your reproductive and sexual organs may being fuller of blood during your period, which makes «a woman’s body more sensitive,» says Stockwell. On top of that, your body releases the endorphins that you produce when you have sex.
5. It can shorten your period.
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The length of your period depends on how thick the uterine lining is and how long it takes for your uterus to shed it all. sex and orgasms they can cause the uterine lining to sag at a higher rate. (This is why you can have a heavy flow when you have intercourse and a much slower flow for a few days afterwards).
6. It’s revealing.
Forget the usual loop of foreplay, oral sex, and then penetrative sex. «Sex can be many things,» says Wiggins. You may be surprised at what your likes and dislikes are when you remove the fear and assumptions.
1. Use a dark colored towel.
Going to bed with a dark-colored towel or shirt before being intimate will keep you calm about the mess. It wouldn’t hurt to get a little knowledge about stain removal (baking soda). For more comfort, you can have toilet paper and a bag to eliminate waste in the nightstand.
2. Consider sex in the shower.
In this way, you can combine sex and cleaning. If you haven’t tried shower sex, vintage sex is a good reason to do so. But be careful; it is as slippery as it is stimulating, so buy extra non-slip rubbers for the floor to avoid accidents.
3. Communicate with your partner.
Start a dialogue with your partner about how they feel about the sex of the season, any concerns they may have, and also what might excite them. Wiggins recommends a simple question like «What forms of intimacy are okay?» to start a conversation. Once you start having sex during your period, try to talk about the experience as well to make sure that both parties feel good about it.
4. Find out what sex positions work for you.
You are your own person. Sex positions that work for you during your period may not work for the person accompanying you. Find out which ones work for you and your comfort level, which can also have a lot to do with your cycle. Stockwell recommends missionary style for a couple trying to have sex for the first time. In this way, «the experience can be fully enjoyed» by both parties. Relaxation is the key to sexual pleasure after all.
The stigma surrounding sex during your period is disappearing. It’s becoming more and more common honor the menstrual cycle and treat it as if it were a natural occurrence. Embracing the sexual period is another example of the ways we are opening to the true power of sexual wellness.