Period Sex Dos & Don'ts

Regardless of the myths you may have heard, you and your partner can intimately enjoy each other's company despite Aunty Flo making her appearance. The thought of sex during that particular time of the month may make you feel nervous—which is totally normal. There may be a lot of learning or unlearning to do to become comfortable with the idea. Period sex takes an open mind and true appreciation of the human body. For some, just the thought of being on their period brings misery—understandably. Sure, there's some pain to complain about, but you can allow your body to experience more than just that. Like most positions in life, our outlook on things has to change to learn what to appreciate from it. Of course, it's all about personal preference.

Is Period Sex Safe?

Firstly, a 'period' is simply a term for time—that indicates when a woman's body discards the monthly buildup of the lining of her uterus (womb). You may be thinking, is it healthy to have sex while on your period?… Absolutely! Period sex is as safe as you allow it to be. Taking the right precautions before having intimacy should be your norm. You'll also want to ensure you're taking good hygienic care of your vagina, especially during your period, to feel confident about your health.

While a woman's body is busy regenerating for another cycle, she's more hormonal and experiencing distracting discomforts. The stigma and misunderstanding of how to care for a woman during such a delicate time have created a barrier to healthy period sex. A lack of knowledge has contributed to potentially unsafe period sex. Protecting yourself is still vitally important. Here's what you need to know:

Getting Pregnant During Period Sex

It may sound hard to believe, but you CAN get pregnant while on your period. It's all about timing. The odds of becoming pregnant are lower on the days you're on your period, but they aren't zero.

Tracking your cycle is important because it will help you keep track of the most fertile days when you can more easily conceive. Once a woman's ovary releases an egg, the egg lives for 12 to 24 hours. A typical cycle is around 28 days. Day 1 is when she starts her period, and by day 14, she'll ovulate, releasing an egg for fertilization. If sperm is available in the uterus, it is possible to become pregnant. After ejaculation, sperm can live inside a woman for up to 72 hours. Toward the end of your period, your chances of becoming pregnant increase.

Health Risks During Period Sex

Another concern about having sex during your period is the risk of passing on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like hepatitis or HIV. These viruses live in blood and can spread through contact with infected menstrual blood.

What Not to Do During Period Sex:

1. Don't hold this information from your partner. You may feel either confident or insecure about being intimate while on your period. If you're feeling confident, you have all the knowledge to understand how to have safe sex while on your period. Make sure you give your partner that same opportunity before you go for it. Feeling insecure is understandable, but withholding information that could jeopardize both of your health isn't worth the risk. Have respect for yourself and partner with communication.

2. Don't spare your normal hygiene. You may feel that because your period is already messy, you can afford to ignore certain hygienic protocols beforehand. Your vagina is such a delicate part of your body, you should clean yourself before and after sex. Consider your vaginal health in all given situations. Period blood contains natural bacteria from the vagina and cervix, among other components like uterine endometrial tissue.

3. Don't skip your medicated birth control. Continue your prescribed medications as you normally would. Having period sex isn't a superpower, but if you do it right, you may feel like it is. You'll still want to consider the consequences of skipping your medications. Missing one or more birth control pills can throw your cycle off for a month or two.

4. Don't have period sex because you feel pressured to. Maybe your partner doesn't mind, but you're not quite feeling it or even a bit shy. Go with your feelings rather than your partners. If you are uncomfortable, do your best to have a clear conversation. Your partner should have you feeling confident and heard. The point of becoming intimate during your period is to allow your body to feel wonderful during what would typically be a distressing moment.

Benefits of Period Sex

Period sex can be very empowering once you accept the naturally beautiful qualities of your womb. Spiritually, there's a lot to look forward to while having sex on your period. Think about it—our bodies are designed with such powerfully divine intentions. Our minds and bodies are linked to create the perfect environment to either create pleasure or endure pain. So, when having sex on your period, you can experience the power that is always within you and turn that energy into sexual pleasure.

If you're mentally in the mood, but your body isn't agreeing as you experience menstrual cramps—know that when you orgasm, your body releases chemicals like oxytocin and dopamine that act as painkillers that help deal with your cramps. The blood rushes to the uterus and helps relieve your body with pleasure, and in turn, you can find yourself in ecstasy rather than agony.

Having period sex can also promote positive changes to your body, even after sex.

It could possibly shorten the length of your period. Muscle contractions during an orgasm push out the uterine contents faster, which could result in shorter periods. Period sex can also potentially increase your sex drive. Hormonal fluctuations allow your libido to change throughout your menstrual cycle. You may feel more sensitive or aroused when menstruating a few days into your period.

What to Do During Period Sex:

1. Appreciate your (or your partner's) body. It's important to understand the deep intimacy that comes with period sex. Plenty of trust & respect need to be exchanged during a sacred yet sensitive moment. Remember that your period is a symbol of your power.

2. You may want to jump straight into it, which is great, but…you also may want to use a towel. Depending on what stage you are on your period, it can get quite messy. Save yourself the cleanup afterward.

3. Set the mood. If you tend to get a little distracted or are worried about the messiness—try to keep the mood flowing by creating a romantic or sexy environment, like shower sex or trying certain 'helpful' positions to minimize the mess.

4. Use protection! We can't emphasize enough on having safe period sex. Use a condom, and if you're having oral sex, wear a vaginal cup or tampon to protect your partner.