Sex on your period is actually not that bad! Yes, you can go ahead and read that again just to confirm. It’s most commonly referred to as period sex. In many cultures, it is still frowned upon and discouraged. The main driving force behind this is that menstrual blood is considered ‘dirty' and a menstruating person is branded as ‘unclean’. Well, of course, this is all false but why is it still considered a taboo? Once you know the basics of period sex, your time of the month will not stop you from having sex. The most important thing is knowing how to go about it and how to enjoy it as well as tips to make it even more practical. Let’s start from the beginning.
Can you have sex during your period?
Simply put, Yes you can!
Medically, there’s nothing wrong with some penetrative or non-penetrative sex during your period as long it is consensual and you are comfortable with it. Despite the fact that it can be 'messy', it still is safe. In fact, several advantages come with period sex.
Pros of period sex
As hard as it is to believe, there are some benefits of having sex during your period. Such as:
Relieving period cramps - This can be achieved through orgasms. Cramps are a result of your uterus contracting to release its lining. During an orgasm, the muscles of your uterus also contract and release. That release helps provide relief from period cramps.
Shortens periods - Again during an orgasm, muscle contractions may push out the uterine contents faster resulting in a shorter period.
Natural lubricant - If you read the Grace Guide to vaginal dryness blog you might be familiar with how dryness can get in the way of sex. Blood, in this case, acts as a lubricant.
Increased sex drive - A woman’s body is quite interesting. Hormonal fluctuations may lead to increased sex drive at different times of the cycle. For most women, this happens during ovulation but others also report an increased sex drive during their period.
Might relieve headaches - Many women get headaches during their period but studies show that those who have sex at this time get some relief from the headache either partially or completely.
Cons of period sex
Here are some of the downsides of having period sex:
It’s messy - Probably the biggest disadvantage is how messy it can be. Well, in some cases, sex can already be messy but for period sex, blood could get on you, your partner and the sheets. This could also take away all the fun and make you overly self-conscious. However, there are a few workarounds that we will be discussing later in the blog post.
Risk of STIs - Viruses like HPV & HIV are found in blood and can be contracted or spread through infected menstrual blood. Using condoms can