Image of "period" with a bright red period at the end of it.

Sexual activity during periods. As a sexual health educator, I am asked about this field of study a lot.

"Do other couples do it?" "How does it piece of work?" "Will I get meaning?"

There are some myths and one-half-truths floating around about sex during a period, and so we are going to try to fix the record straight…

Can you lot have sex on your menses?

Yes. But similar all issues surrounding sex, communication is critical. This ways checking in with your partner. Depending on whether yous're the i menstruating or not, questions might include: "How exercise you feel during your period? Would you ever desire to have sex while you're menstruating?" or "I'g on my period correct now. How exercise yous feel well-nigh having sex while I'm menstruating?" For many folks who menstruate, sexual desire changes during different times of the menstrual cycle. For example, a person might feel increased desire during menstruation or ovulation – it all depends on the person. Be sure to talk almost desires and feelings to ensure anybody is on the same folio from the offset.

Is having sex activity on your menstruum bad for you?

No. Having sex while one or more partners are on their catamenia is not harmful. In fact, at that place are a few means in which it might be helpful! Start, the contractions of orgasm might assist salve menstrual cramping. 2nd, sex might feel particularly great because the vagina can get super lubricated from menstrual secretions. If you or your partner worry about a mess from the blood, consider spreading out a towel or having sex in the shower to minimize post-coital cleaning.

Tin you become pregnant if you have sexual practice while on your menses?

The simple reply is yes.

Nosotros get a lot of questions about specific situations on this.

If a person whose body ejaculates sperm has sex with a person whose body houses ovaries, so yes, information technology's possible to get meaning at whatever time during a menstrual cycle. To put that in writing again – if you accept unprotected vaginal/penile intercourse during a menstrual catamenia, it IS possible to get pregnant. Pregnancy tin happen if y'all have sexual activity earlier, during or later your period.

You are most likely to get meaning if you take penile/vaginal sex around the time of ovulation. Ovulation is when an egg is released from the ovary. Ovulation usually occurs most 14 days afterwards the starting time of someone'south last catamenia.

Why do some people retrieve that having sex on their period means they tin can't get meaning?

If someone has a perfectly regular, 28 24-hour interval menstrual bike where they ovulate every month on day 14 and their monthly bleed begins at mean solar day 23 and lasts for v days – having penile/vaginal sex during mean solar day 23-28, when they are menstruating, has a very small run a risk of growing a human being. Notwithstanding…

  • MOST PEOPLE Do NOT HAVE PERFECTLY REGULAR 28 Twenty-four hours CYCLES. Many people who menstruate have unpredictable periods, or at least slight variations each calendar month, meaning it tin be difficult to know when they ovulate. In fact, folks who use the rhythm method / Fertility Sensation where they track their cycles and only have penile/vaginal sexual practice during days they believe are not a risk for pregnancy have a 25% chance of creating a human. That'south a 1 in 4 adventure. There are much more than reliable ways to avoid pregnancy.
  • Some people may feel spotting at the time of ovulation, which could be confused with a menses. And then if that person thinks that when they bleed is a safe time to not get meaning but happens to exist someone who spots during their ovulation that particular calendar month (or regularly), they take a very high chance of getting pregnant from penile/vaginal intercourse.
  • Sperm can live in a vagina for upward to 5 days. Yup, five days. If an egg comes effectually at any point during that time, pregnancy could happen.
  • Some people have sex activity more than regularly than every 5 days. Each instance of penile/vaginal intercourse extends the timeframe for live sperm to exist in the vagina.
  • Many people who have sperm release a minor amount of semen prior to ejaculation. While this helps with lubrication and condolement, it makes "pulling out" a less effective method of contraception since sperm can be present prior to ejacuation. Fifty-fifty foreplay with someone with ovaries has a chance of conception due to this pre-ejaculate fluid.

And then how do I go far less probable to have a babe?

  • Don't have penile-vaginal sex.
  • Simply if you lot're going to have penile-vaginal sex activity…
    • Utilize barrier contraception such equally an external or internal safe, diaphragm or sponge, possibly with spermicide.
    • Use a prescription method of contraception such as the pill, patch, ring, implant or IUD.
    • Control your and your partner's behavior:
      • Advisedly rails menstrual cycles to meliorate understand normal cycles and predict ovulation.
      • Withdraw the penis from the vagina before ejacuation.
      • These methods have a lot of self-control and 100% consistency on the part of both partners. Yous can't control your partner'due south behavior, so this tin be a good backup method, merely we don't recommend using i or both of these behaviors as the primary way to avoid pregnancy.
    • Whatsoever combination of the above.

I already had sex on my catamenia. Now I'm worried I might be significant.

If you already had penile-vaginal sex without contraception and you don't desire to get significant, consider Emergency Contraception (such every bit ella, Program B 1 Step or a Copper IUD). Many of these are available at most pharmacies over the counter and are pretty darn effective for up to 5 days after unprotected sex.There are more than reliable methods of contraception than Emergency Contraception. We encourage y'all to speak with your pharmacist or medical provider about contraception options that might work for you.

Are other people having sex activity on their catamenia?

Based on the number of folks who are reading this blog commodity – yup. But really, it doesn't matter if other folks are doing information technology or non. Having sex during flow is a personal decision, so we again emphasize that you should talk with your partner to see how they feel. If zilch else it can exist some other opportunity to get to know your partner and their likes, dislikes and comfort level.

This commodity has been edited for clarity and updated formatting since information technology'southward original publishing date.

Most contempo edit: Nov v, 2019