What You Should Know About Safety, Benefits, and Risks
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Just because you’re having your period doesn’t mean you can’t fool around. For some women, period sex can be even more pleasurable than at other times of the month.
The need for lubrication lessens during your period, and having an orgasm can soothe period-related symptoms, such as cramps.
“Sex is a normal part of life and should be enjoyed by all women,” says Carrie Coleman, MD, an ob-gyn at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
But before having period sex, make sure you understand the risks of STIs, other infections, and pregnancy — even during that time of the month.
Here’s what you need to know about having safe period sex.
Risk of Infection Can Still Happen
It’s crucial to practice safe sex while you’re having your period because you could still get or transmit an STI, like HIV, during this time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus and other pathogens may be present in menstrual blood. Therefore, doctors strongly encourage using a condom to decrease this risk.
Lauren Streicher, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, says that anecdotally speaking, there are two reasons for this risk. “Any bodily fluid can carry HIV or [other] STIs, and [during your period], the cervix opens slightly, which might allow viruses to pass through,” Dr. Streicher says. “My message to women is you’re not off the hook as far as using protection.”
You may also be more prone to some infections in general at this time. When healthy, your vagina maintains a pH level of 3.8 to 5 throughout the month, according to research published in November 2021 in Diagnostics. But during menstruation, that level rises because of the higher pH level of blood, and yeast is able to grow more rapidly.
Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection are more likely to occur the week before your menstrual period, as research has shown hormonal changes that take place at this time of the month can cause an overgrowth of Candida, the fungus responsible for yeast infections. Intercourse during this time can exacerbate symptoms, but clear evidence is lacking for any increased risk of getting a yeast infection if you have sex during your period.
There’s also the dreaded urinary tract infection (UTI). “Some women can be more prone to having urinary tract infections after intercourse,” says Dr. Coleman. “This is most likely related to bacteria being able to easily travel to the bladder with intercourse, but it may happen at any point during the menstrual cycle.”
You Can Still Get Pregnant
Yes, you can get pregnant when you have period sex, especially if you have a shorter menstrual cycle (21 to 24 days) and you have sex toward the end of your period. Sperm can remain viable in your vagina for up to five days, per Mayo Clinic, so pregnancy is possible, and it’s important to continue to use birth control.
Less Need for Vaginal Lubrication
You’re less likely to need lubricants if you engage in period sex, because menstrual discharge tends to provide enough lubrication. If you do need a lubricant, then “water-based lubricants are widely available and safe both for sex and for condoms,” says ob-gyn James Simon, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC.
“Silicone and hybrid lubricants that are water-based and silicone-based are likewise safe for both sex and condoms. Oil-based lubricants, especially mineral oil-based lubricants, can deteriorate condoms — increasing the risk of breakage — and are not recommended with latex condoms,” Dr. Simon says.
It Might Be a Pain Reliever
If you experience symptoms such as cramping, feelings of sadness, or depression during your period, having sex might help you deal. Streicher says that because orgasms release endorphins — feel-good hormones like oxytocin and dopamine — in theory, la petite mort could also decrease some period symptoms, although there hasn’t been any specific research supporting this. Still, “there’s no harm in trying,” she says.
Women who have endometriosis, on the other hand, may experience more pain and other symptoms when they have their period, as well as pain that occurs with sexual activity or orgasm. However, treatments are available, and sex doesn’t have to hurt. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible; the earlier you speak up, the sooner you can feel better and enjoy sex again.
You’ll Likely be Horny
You may feel more turned on during your period because of the changes in your hormone levels. Some women experience a ramped up sex drive due to increased blood flow to the pelvic area, which can lead to heightened sensitivity and arousal. But for some women, this extra sensitivity may make period sex uncomfortable. (If you don’t like having sex when you have your period, there are birth control options that can make your period shorter, lighter, or less frequent, or even eliminate your period altogether.)
Remember that there’s nothing shameful or dirty about having period sex — it’s totally natural. The bottom line is to make sure that both you and your partner are comfortable with the situation. “Don’t assume anything,” Simon says. “Open questions with honest answers beforehand are paramount.”
Additional reporting by Amy Kraft.
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