Sex during your period: yes or no?
Ask anyone about sex on your period and there will be a room full of mixed reactions. Most boys react like it’s going to be a bloody mess thats going to be permanently painted all over their skin. It is blood after all, and men are silly when it comes to ovulation. This blood is part of you, and the only time most guys would ever bleed from this sensitive area is if they were dying. It’s difficult for younger men to relate to the feminine aching and this feeling of SEX MUST HAPPEN NOW that women often experience on our periods. I think we instinctually feel that sex will cure everything, and it’s completely true. Having sex on your period will reduce the pain, your period won’t last as long AND it will give you such a high that the last ten hours of cramps will seem like a lifetime ago.
Having a period is not nasty or dirty, it’s part of life! And if you want to get the most from your man (or lady), it’s best you continue reading and understanding the magic behind sex during your period.
The science of ovulation
The “ew” reaction has got to go. When comparing to the gross things that happen on a man’s penis, it lessens the blow of the gross factor. Unclean dick sauce can be just as gross as blood. Women’s menstrual cycle lengths vary, and the most common cycle length is somewhere between 23 and 35 days. Variation in menstrual cycle length is more common during the follicular phase, which is the cycle before you ovulate. For most women, this length of time between ovulation (a cycle where woman’s ovaries are releasing eggs) and the average period length, which is called the luteal phase, is typically between 12 to 16 days.
Before you Ovulate
At the beginning of your cycle your body begins producing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland in your brain. Follicles are the fluid-filled cavities in your ovaries, each containing one undeveloped egg. FSH is the main hormone involved in stimulating your body to signal that your ovaries are ready to produce mature eggs. The FSH stimulates these follicles to develop and begin the process of producing the hormone estrogen. At this stage during the first day of your period your estrogen is at its lowest point. From then after, it continues to increase as follicles grow.
After estrogen is produced and a number of follicles begin to develop, one follicle becomes “dominant” and this egg matures. During this time your body is increasing the hormone estrogen in your body, ensuring that the lining of the womb thickens with blood and nutrients. This ensures that if you do get pregnant, the fertilised egg will have the essential nutrients and support it needs to grow. Not as gross now that you understand the specifics, right?
Ovulation
The level of estrogen in your body continues increasing, eventually causing a rapid rise in luteinising hormone (the ‘LH surge’). This LH surge forces the dominant follicle to rupture and release the mature egg from the ovary. From there it enters the Fallopian tube, completing the process of ovulation.
Most women think that they will ovulate on day 14, but 14 is not typical for everyone. Most women will actually ovulate on a different day of the menstrual cycle, and can even change based on co-workers and room mates cycles. Some women feel increased cramps and pain during ovulation, making sex on your period a great way to alleviate cramps and menstrual pain.
After Ovulation
Once the egg is released into the Fallopian tube towards your womb, it can live for up to 24 hours. Sperm survival is more variable, but typically 3-5 days, so the days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation itself are your most fertile – when you are most likely to get pregnant. As soon as you have ovulated, the follicle starts producing another hormone: progesterone. This causes further building of the womb lining in preparation for a fully fertilised egg. During this stage the empty follicle within the ovary shrinks down in size, continuing to produce progesterone and beginning to produce estrogen. During this stage it is common to report pre-menstrual tension (PMS) such as bloating, irritability, depression and breast sensitivity at this stage.
Sex on your Period
Now that you have the facts on how menstruation works, here is a little known fact: women love to have sex on their period. That’s right. We are horny as hell and embarrassed to admit it, but sex on your period can be the most relieving experience for PMS irritability and the almighty hell of period cramps. More people are having sex on their period than you would think, it’s just not being talked about.
Wear a condom!
Just because you are on your period doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant. We suggest some form of barrier protection if you don’t know your partner’s STD status. Because the cervix is more open during this time of month (which helps the blood to pass), there is a slightly higher risk of infection from exposure to a sexually transmitted disease during unprotected sex while on your period.
5 Tips For Great Sex during your Period
TIP #1: Get some towels, you’re gonna need them. You don’t want your menstrual fluid to soak into your sheets and mattress, so if you want to be extra cautious consider placing towels down before you do the deed. It is important during sex having sex to place some towels and tissues to your side. This is even more important during sex on your period! The towels will be ready to lay on as you switch positions. The tissues will be used to wipe yourself off just before sitting up, preventing a small mess from turning into a bloody mess!
- If odour is a problem, don’t let it ruin the moment — throw on some blankets and cover your midsections to help block the wafting scents.
TIP #2: Have sex in the shower. Save the mess from the get-go, and change the pace with your partner. While you are under the flow of the warm water brushing down your skin, a little pink drop won’t be as noticable. If you can both fit in the shower comfortably, give it a round or two. Just be careful not to slip!
TIP #3: Wash your hands before you eat anything. Yeah, this is kind of obvious isn’t it? But if you’re the type that needs loads of foreplay, and your partner is a bit adventurous you’re in luck! Enjoy the natural lubricant of ovulation, so your partner can put their fingers (and whatever else) to rest. You’ve got plenty of blood flow to get going.
- NEVER skip the foreplay entirely. Use this experience as an excuse to experiment with new tricks and sex moves.
TIP #4: Stick to the missionary position if possible. Make him do the work to save some mess– lay on your back to decrease the flow of blood while you’re having intercourse during your period.
- Also, be careful about deep penetration. Your cervix may be lower and more sensitive during the menstrual cycle. If something starts to hurt or not feel right, make sure you communicate with your partner and proceed with care.
TIP #5: Try to bang it out on your lighter days. This just makes sense, right? If you know which days are lighter than others, try to get the action while your period is at it’s lightest. This can save you a few changes in sheets, couch covers, blankets, etc.
- Train your guy to get used to day 1 of your period. Then when you are at day 6 and the cramps are killing you, he won’t mind as much.
TIP #6: Take a shower after. There will probably be something left over that needs to be washed off. And when is the best time to shower besides after sex? If you didn’t get it on in the shower in the first place, hop on in after for a quick rinse and wash. You’ll feel great.
- If you’re using toys during sex, now is a good time to sanitize them immediately. Putting it off will only result in a horrible experience. Best practice to keep everything clean and hygienic quickly as you can.
Be confident and enjoy your new found cure to cramps.
Your period and your vagina are in no way dirty or gross. Having sex when menstruating isn’t weird, uncommon, unhygienic or unsafe. If both of you enjoy it (and you inevitably will), there is no reason to fuss. You may feel awkward at first, but your mind will forget about your period soon enough. Just remember to shower after and use a towel!