It is safe for most people to continue to have sex during menstruation, also called periods. However, many of the considerations about infection and pregnancy remain the same.
There are also a few other factors that people may wish to take into account when considering sex during menstruation in order to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
In this article, we address some common questions related to having sex during menstruation, including the benefits and risks.
Sexual intercourse when a person is menstruating is safe. However, as with any form of intercourse, there is a risk of infection when having oral, anal, or vaginal sex, or any form of skin-to-skin genital contact.
There are two types of infection that may occur due to sexual activity: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and problems caused by changes in normal vaginal flora, such as yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.
STIs are infections that pass from one person to another during sexual activity.
Sexually transmitted infections include:
The only way to protect against STIs is to use barrier methods such as condoms or dental dams. These protective measures do not guarantee that a person will not contract an infection, but they can significantly reduce the risk when used correctly.
Other infection risk
While yeast infections can also occur without engaging in sexual activity, people may have a higher risk of getting a yeast infection due to the hormonal changes during menstruation.
Vaginal-penile sex can also spread yeast infections, causing the head of the penis to become inflamed. This condition is called balanitis.
It is possible for a person to become pregnant after having sex when menstruating, although it is unlikely. This is due to a person’s fluctuating fertility during the menstrual cycle. In most cases, people are most fertile around two weeks after menstruation ends, meaning the chance of sperm from intercourse surviving to this point is very low.
However, a person’s menstrual cycle can be shorter than 28 days, and people may ovulate sooner than 14 days post-menstruation. Sperm can also live inside a body for up to 5 days. Although it is very rare, a confluence of these factors can mean that sex during menstruation can lead to pregnancy, although it is incredibly rare.
Menstrual cycle and fertility
The menstrual cycle typically lasts 28 days. It lasts from the first day of menstrual bleeding to the day before bleeding begins the following month. The length of the cycle varies between individuals, but it is usually between 21 and 35 days long, with 28 days being the average.
In a typical 28-day menstrual cycle, people are most fertile around the 14th day after menstruation ends. This is the time when the egg is released from the ovary during ovulation and travels down the fallopian tube, where fertilization occurs. The sperm must fertilize the egg at this point to begin a pregnancy.
Factors affecting menstrual cycle length
Every person is different, and menstrual cycle lengths
- a person’s age
- chest feeding or pregnancy
- rapid weight changes
- weight loss or extreme exercise
- polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS)
- premature ovarian failure
- pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- uterine fibroids
- endometriosis
Sex can have a positive impact on overall health, though not all the benefits have been scientifically proven. In general, the possible benefits of having sex during menstruation include:
- shorter menstruation due to uterine contractions during orgasm
- lighter, less painful menstruation
- reduced stress
- improved sleep
- headache relief
- strengthened immune system
- improved fitness
Having sex during menstruation can sometimes be messy. However, there are some steps people can take if they are worried about this, including:
- being honest with a partner about menstruation
- using towels to cover sheets or other surfaces
- having sex in the shower
- staying in the missionary position or laying on one side
- using a condom
- using a disposable menstrual cup
Menstruation does not mean sex is not an option. It is important to remember, however, that people can still become pregnant or get an STI while menstruating.
As such, people should continue to use barrier methods of contraception during sexual activity, such as condoms or dental dams, to prevent unintended pregnancy and infections.