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Deciding whether or not to have sex while on your period is a very personal choice. For some, it’s a hard pass. Others find sex during their period to be an enjoyable experience.
Wherever you stand, maybe you’re wondering: is it safe to have period sex?
The good news is yes, it’s no more or less safe to have sex on your period than it is at other times in your cycle. But it is still possible to get pregnant, so make sure to use protection if you’re not trying to conceive.
Want to know even more about period sex safety and tips for a better experience? We’ve got you covered, keep reading!
Key Takeaways
- Having sex on your period is safe. Period blood is just another bodily fluid like semen or vaginal discharge. It won’t cause you or your partner any harm.
- Period sex may feel good because the blood can provide extra lubrication.
- Sex during period may even help relieve headaches or menstrual cramps.
- A potential drawback of sex on your period is the mess factor. But there are ways to overcome this like using dark linens or towels.
- Another downside is a small bump in your risk of infections like bacterial vaginosis due to period blood altering your vaginal pH.
- If you have a partner who hasn’t been tested for sexually transmitted diseases, make sure to use a condom to keep yourself safe.
- Sex during your period doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant. Women who have irregular periods or shorter menstrual cycles could conceive during their period or soon after.
- Tracking your cycle with an app or fertility monitor can help you track your sex drive and fertile window so you can plan to have sex accordingly.
- If period sex is a no for you, remember that there are alternatives to penetrative sex, like oral sex and intimate touch, as with a sensual massage. So do what feels right for your sex life.
- You know your body and your preferences best. Let your comfort level and communication guide how you approach period sex!
Can You Have Sex on Your Period?
Yes, you can absolutely have sex during your period.
If you’re unsure about it because you’ve heard people say it’s “dirty” or “risky,” let’s clear up that confusion.
Like vaginal discharge, arousal fluid, and semen, menstrual blood is a normal bodily fluid. It’s completely hygienic and safe.
So if that’s your only hang-up about intimacy during menstruation, don’t let that hold you back!
Of course, make sure you and your partner are on the same page about going for it, and use other safe-sex practices.
Now that you know period sex is generally safe, you may still be weighing the pros and cons. So read on for a deeper look at the potential benefits or drawbacks of vaginal sexual intercourse during menstruation.
Know more: Can You Get Pregnant During Your Period?
Are There Benefits to Period Sex?
On top of the regular pleasures of having sex, there are actually a few other potential benefits to period sex.
1. Period blood = more lubrication
Menstrual blood acts as a natural lubricant. And more lubrication means less friction and more pleasure!
Know more: Fertility Lubricant: Safe Use When Trying to Conceive
2. Potential relief from menstrual cramps
About 81% of women experience some extent of cramping and pain during their period. Period pain is normal (thanks to hormone-like chemicals inside your uterine lining called prostaglandins). But that doesn’t make it fun.
Having sex on your period may help relieve this pain, though. This is because the physical release you experience during sex (especially during orgasm) releases endorphins. Endorphins can help with pain relief by relaxing the muscles and blood vessels of your uterus that contract and cause that crampy feeling.
Know more: Do Painful Periods Mean Good Fertility?
3. Headache help
One study reported that about half of the participants got headaches around menstruation.
These pesky period headaches (called menstrual migraines) usually show up anywhere from the 2 days before your period through the first few days of bleeding. They’re thought to be triggered by dropping estrogen levels (which is characteristic of the late luteal phase and early follicular phase).
Interestingly, another study found that sexual activity provided relief for some patients who suffer from either migraines or cluster headaches.
It may sound like an unconventional treatment. But if you get headaches around the arrival of Aunt Flo, it could be worth a try to see if period sex helps!
While you may be excited about these potential upsides to period sex, there are also some downsides to beware of.
The Downsides of Period Sex
1. Extra messy
As a menstruating person, you’ve likely had to toss out a favorite pair of panties or pants in your time. (Period blood can be so cruel sometimes).
So it goes without saying that having sex on your period could pose some risks for your wardrobe or your bedding.
2. Slightly higher risk of infection
Anytime you have unprotected sex, there’s an increased risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). And this risk goes up if you have more than one partner or a partner who hasn’t been recently tested for STIs. It also increases the risk for STIs like HIV and hepatitis that get transmitted through blood.
Another potential infection risk during menstruation is that your vaginal pH becomes more alkaline. And this higher pH can make you more prone to certain infections like yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.
Aside from these two potential risks, you may still have other worries about period sex. Like if it could impact the timing of your menstrual cycle or your chances of pregnancy. Keep reading to get these questions answered.
Can Sex Affect Your Period?
Nope, not directly! It’s possible for sex to cause mild uterine contractions, but no evidence shows that it impacts your menstrual flow or your cycle length.
In some anecdotal reports, there are women who claim to have shorter bleeding or a less heavy flow. At this point though, there’s not much in the way of research to back this up.
Know more: Can Sex Delay Your Period?
Can You Get Pregnant on Your Period?
You may have heard that you can’t get pregnant on your period. But that’s actually not true!
It’s true that you aren’t as likely to conceive if you have sex during your period. But it is still a possibility.
If you’ve been around here for a minute, you probably have a good idea of when your fertile window is. (These are the days in your cycle when you are most likely to conceive.)
But menstrual cycles and ovulation can be tricky. So if you have a shorter-than-average cycle or irregular periods, ovulation may happen really close to your period or even while you’re bleeding.
Let’s say you have a shorter cycle that’s usually around 22 days. This may place ovulation somewhere around cycle day 8 (CD 8) for you (12-14 days before your next period).
When you factor in that sperm can survive for up to five days, that means you could get pregnant if you have sex on cycle day 3 or 4. And if you have an average bleed length, you are likely to still be menstruating on days 3 and 4 of your cycle.
So in this case, having sex close to the end of your period could mean that sperm is present for fertilization to happen.
Know more: Can You Get Pregnant During Your Period?
Convinced to give period sex a try (or another try)? See some helpful ways you can make period sex safer and more enjoyable!
Tips for Having Better Period Sex
- Communicate! Having open communication with your partner about what you’re each comfortable with. And about what does and doesn’t feel good when it comes to sexy time around menstruation.
- To lessen the mess and avoid staining, lay out a dark-colored towel or blanket. Or any other sheet or fabric you don’t care about dirtying.
- Use barrier methods and protection like condoms to help prevent getting an STI (if your partner hasn’t been tested).
- Take out your tampon or menstrual cup beforehand! (Yes, forgotten tampons really do happen!)
- Keep close tabs on your menstrual cycle. Your sex drive is naturally higher at certain times in your cycle. But this varies person to person. The Inito app, which syncs with the Inito Fertility Monitor, gives you a place to track symptoms like this so you know when sex may be more pleasurable for you!
- Trying to conceive or have a short or irregular menstrual cycle? Use a fertility monitor like Inito so you can see when your most fertile days are.
- To prevent pregnancy if you’re not TTC, use some form of birth control. Then you can have sex worry-free
FAQs
No, there’s no research to support that sexual activity can bring about an earlier-than-expected period. If you experience this, it’s likely a coincidence. And some women naturally experience cycles that vary in length.
Having sex on your period is perfectly fine. While it may be a bit messy, nothing bad will happen from having sex during menstruation.
The only way a male partner can become infected by menstrual blood is if the female partner has a sexually transmitted infection. Some STIs, like hepatitis and HIV are passed through the blood. So to play it safe, make sure to use barrier methods like condoms or ask your partner if they’ve been tested for STIs.
For some women, sex can help with period cramping and pain. This is because sex helps you release endorphins which are like feel-good hormones. These hormones relax your body, including the uterine muscles that contract and cause cramping.
No, sexual activity doesn’t stop your period. But keep in mind that for many women, there’s a day or two in their cycle where bleeding decreases or even temporarily pauses. So if you have sex around this time, it’s easy to see why you could believe that intercourse caused your period to stop. Just know that it’s almost certainly a coincidence.
Yes, yes, yes! It’s not as likely, but it is possible. So if you aren’t trying to conceive, make sure you are using some form of contraception and/or carefully tracking your cycle with a fertility monitor like Inito.
For some women, it does! Menstrual bleeding can add an extra layer of natural lubrication that can make sex more enjoyable. And some women may have an increased libido around their period, too.
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