Have Sex During Your Period

Sex during your period can deliver amazing sensations (even more amazing than the normal ones, believe it or not). If you can get past the cultural taboos, it opens up a week that's otherwise limited to tubs of ice cream and stomach cramping. If you and your partner aren't intimidated by the "icky" factor that hangs up a lot of people, follow these tips to have sex during your period, and enjoy the pleasure while minimizing the mess.

Steps

Mastering the Mess-Free Deed

1. Get some towels. You don't want your menstrual fluid (combined with everything else) to soak into your sheets and mattress, so while you're having sex place some towels beneath you and some tissues to your side. The towels will be on constant duty; the tissues will be used to wipe yourself off just before sitting up (when all is said and done).
   • If odor is a problem, don't let it ruin the moment -- throw on some blankets. If you keep them above your midsections, they'll help block the wafting scents.
2. Stick to the missionary position. Lie on your back to lessen the flow of blood while you're having intercourse.
   • Also, be careful about deep penetration because your cervix may be lower and more sensitive during your period. If anything starts to hurt, just tell your partner and proceed with care.
3. Have sex in the shower. Not only is this less messy from the get-go, it's a change of pace, too. When you're under the flow of the water, that other flow becomes a lot less noticeable.  If you can fit two in comfortably, give it a shot (if you haven't already!).
4. Don't get too handsy. Unless your partner's into uterine lining, they probably shouldn't start feeling around down there. However, if you're the type that needs loads of foreplay, you're in luck! You already have a natural lubricant, so your partner's fingers (and whatever else) can have the night off.
   • That doesn't mean you should skip the foreplay entirely. No, no, no, no -- that's a travesty! Just use it as an excuse to experiment with new tricks and moves.
5. Stick to your lighter days. This just makes sense. If you know that days 3-5 are lighter than days 1 and 2, just keep your panties on for that 48 hours. Let the anticipation build and avoid any awkward trips to the laundromat.
   • If it doesn't bother your partner and they're totally down for day 1 sex, evaluate your concerns. Maybe it's something you could get over -- after all, it's no less sanitary than what you've been doing. It's just a bit redder!
6. Take a shower after. There will probably be at least a little something on your skin that needs to be washed off. If you didn't do the deed in the shower, hop in after for at least a quick rinse. You'll feel better, too.
   • If you're using toys during this time, get those things sanitary immediately. Putting it off will only result in a, how do you say, less-than-glamorous experience. All in all, get everything hygienic as quickly as possible.

Staying Clean and Healthy

1. Use contraception. When you're on your period, you're at higher risk for STDs and pelvic infections. What's more, you're less likely to get pregnant, sure, but it's not impossible. So if you thought this was your ticket to ride, sorry -- you still gotta stay safe. Here are some of your options:
   • Diaphragms do double-duty as birth control devices and as menstrual cups to inhibit flow. Sometimes, diaphragms can be felt during sex, and removal can be messy. However, they are generally easy to use because your gynecologist will provide a diaphragm fit exactly to your cervical measurements.
   • Contraceptive sponges are foam devices soaked in spermicide that are inserted into your vagina during sex. They can prevent pregnancy and have the side benefit of absorbing flow, although they don't prevent STDs.
   • Male condoms will help prevent pregnancy, block STDs, and keep blood from getting on your partner's penis.
   • Female condoms, which will also keep your partner from coming into contact with blood while enabling more heat and sensation, are also a good form of birth control, although they will provide slightly less protection than male condoms. You can improve the effectiveness of a female condom by putting some spermicide on the closed end before you insert it into your vagina.
2. Wear a cup that will stop the menstrual flow from leaving your vagina. Wear a menstrual cup for sexual play that doesn't involve intercourse. Wear a softcup for penetrative intercourse.
   • Avoid wearing regular menstrual cups during penetration. They are not designed to be used that way and will probably leak. However, if you just want to fool around, menstrual cups prevent leaking and allow for mess-free play including oral sex. Skip cups made of rubber because the rubbery smell and the taste of rubber in your vaginal fluid may be unpleasant for your partner. Use a silicone cup instead.
   • Instead softcups are specifically designed to be used during intercourse. They are shaped like a diaphragm, are very flexible, and available at most drugstores. Keep in mind that while you can have intercourse with a soft cup, it doesn't work as a contraceptive.
3. Know that sperm can stay alive for up to 72 hours. That's three days those little guys have to swim around doing whatever they dang well please. So if you do take the risk of having unprotected sex and your partner ejaculating into you, that's what'll be going on inside you. If your period is over tomorrow, though the risk of getting pregnant is minimal, it's still there.

Convincing Your Partner

1. Talk to Your Boyfriend About Uncomfortable Subjects Not everybody enjoys period sex, so it's best not to initiate sex during your period and deliver an awkward surprise to your partner and a potentially frustrating response to you. Instead, talk it over and find out what your partner thinks about the situation before you get started. He or she probably has an opinion!
   • Some religions and cultures consider the act of having intercourse during your period to be wrong. While no scientific principles support this restriction, you'll have to respect your partner's feelings on the matter.
2. Reap the benefits. Sex on your period actually makes a lot of sense, if you look at it from the right angle. A lot of women can actually be more sexually aroused during this time, so the sex can be even better. But what's more, it's good for your period.
   • Having sex on your period actually makes it shorter. The muscle contractions of the orgasm actually drive out everything faster (as opposed to making it magically disappear). Your period may be a bit heavier, but it'll shrink in duration.
   • Your cramps will be lessened. An orgasm is our bodies' version of a natural painkiller. It's a rush that wipes away all those aches and floods our feel-good receptors in our brains. If you're out of Midol, take to the sheets!
3. Be confident. Your period and your vagina are in no way dirty or gross. Having sex while menstruating isn't weird, uncommon, unhygienic or unsafe. It's all in your head, so quit psyching yourself out!
   • If both of you enjoy it (and you inevitably will), why the fuss? You may feel awkward when you first start, but your mind will be taken off the matter in minutes. Maybe even seconds!
4. Be inventive. Sex is generally thought of as penetration, but there are many other forms of sexual play that can bring pleasure to both partners, even if you or your partner do not wish to have vaginal intercourse during your period. Take this opportunity to discuss and brainstorm new ideas.

Tips

• Make sure you trust your partner. This may be one of those things you only do with someone you love or are comfortable with.
• Talk to your doctor about birth control pills. Certain brands of oral contraceptives allow women the option of extending the time between periods. Just don't skip a pill or you may experience spotting (you'll also need to use an alternative, like a condom, for backup). However, these pills also make knowing when you're pregnant more difficult.
• Stay safe! Since the cervix of your vagina opens during menstruation, you are more prone to STDs, bacteria and pregnancy. Menstrual flow contains germs, and it can be unhealthy for the partner.
• Men should wash too! Intercourse with a partner on their period also increases the risk of infection to the man.

Warnings

• If you feel a sharp pain in your stomach it may be a sign your partner penetrated too deeply and hit your cervix, which descends during menstruation. If you are okay to carry on, try a different position and ask your partner to be careful.

Things You'll Need

• Towels, tissues, etc.
• Contraception
• Menstrual cup or softcup (optional)

Related Articles

• Deal With Your Period
• Be Ready for Your Period As a Teen
• Swim when You Are on Your Period
• Shower While on Your Period

Sources and Citations

See also

• Determine Why Your Period Is Late
• Manage Your Period
• Delay Your Period
• Enjoy Periods
• Tell a Friend You Have Started Your Period
• Stop Your Period Early
• Cope With Periods
• Get Rid of Menstrual Cramps
• Deal With Your Period
• Swim when You Are on Your Period

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