Side Effects of Sex During Periods

Sex during periods. It is a myth that having sex during periods is impure or immoral. There are no evidential backgrounds that sex during periods is harmful to either males or females. Most concerns around periods time sex side effects are based on myths rather than facts.

However, if you are a hygiene-conscious person, having sex during your period is still possible but requires extra care to maintain cleanliness including open talk with your partner, using protection to prevent STIs (sexually transmitted diseases), and preparing yourself to manage potential mess like using towels or showering afterwards.

Overall, it's considered safe as long as proper hygiene practices are followed.

Having sex during a period is it good or bad?

There are both upsides and downsides to having sex during the menstruation cycle. Studies show that period sex can drive even more pleasure than regular sex.

When it comes to period sex, there are a few other factors that couples need to consider when planning for it.

In this blog, let’s address some of the most common doubts and questions associated with period sex.

Is it safe to have sex during menstruation?

The answer to the question is yes. It is safe to have sex during menstruation. Having intercourse during the menstrual cycle has certain beneficial impacts on the physiological health of your body.

Benefits of Sex During Periods

Even though all the benefits are not evidentially proven, some potential benefits of having sex during periods include:

• Heightened sex drive
• Increased lubrication
• Relieve menstrual cramps
• Shortened period
• Relieve from headache or migraine

Heightened sex drive

One of the most common benefits of sex during a period is libido. Libido is nothing but a heightened sex drive. This happens due to the hormonal changes in a woman’s body.

In addition, increased blood flow to the pelvic area during the menstrual cycle can indeed contribute to a heightened sex drive, which can lead to increased genital sensitivity and arousal.

Increased lubrication

The blood flow during a menstrual cycle can act as a natural lubricant during sexual intercourse. This makes the penetration easier for some women.

However, it is important to consider personal comfort level and potential mess when engaging in sexual activity during one's period.

Some couples use lubrication products as they experience dryness during intercourse. The menstruation week can technically be considered a natural week for such couples.

Relieve menstrual cramps

Among most women, the menstrual cycle comes in the package of feelings of sadness, cramping, irritation, and depression. Having sex during periods can actually help with it.

Many couples wonder by questioning is it good to have sex on your period. The answer to the question is yes.

According to medical information, having sex during your period can actually help alleviate some menstrual symptoms like cramps.

Sexual activity releases endorphins which have pain-relieving effects and can contribute to the feeling of relaxation in women. Apart from this, sexual activity can actually keep you occupied which may be the cause of diverting yourself from the cramping and other discomfort.

Shortened period

Having sex during your period can sometimes lead to an increased menstrual flow due to the congestion of uterine veins, which can be more prone to rupture during sexual activity.

Also, this can typically shorten your period as the uterine contractions from sex help with expelling the uterine lining more quickly and effectively by clearing out the contents of the uterus.

Relieve from headache or migraine

Headaches and migraines are common attacks in women during menstrual cycle. They happen due to the hormonal changes. These hormonal changes can also lead to other menstrual symptoms like joint pain, fatigue and mood swings.

Studies have found that having sex during the menstrual cycle can actually help women relieve these attacks and symptoms. However, many women avoid sexual activity during the headache and migraine attacks.

Side Effects of Sex During Periods

When it comes to having sex during periods, it is not an immoral activity until and unless the couple is comfortable doing so.

The sexual activity during the menstrual cycle is considered to be a natural part of their life. The activity can even offer potential benefits such as relief from cramps due to the release of endorphins at the time of discharging orgasm.

However, it's important to have an open talk with your partner and practice good hygiene to manage any concerns about messiness or potential risks.

The side effects of sex during period may include the potential risks of:

• Chances of getting pregnant
• Increased risk of STIs (sexually transmitted diseases)
• Risk of infection
• Vaginal dryness
• Increased menstrual flow
• Tampon removal

Chances of getting pregnant

Can we have sex during period to avoid conception?

Women can technically get pregnant even in their menstrual cycle but in some rare cases. We all know that pregnancy happens during the ovulation period.

Yet, there are possibilities of getting pregnant when you are into sexual activity towards the end of your menstrual cycle. Especially, if women have a shorter period of cycle such as 21 to 24 days, the ovulation takes place a bit early. In such scenarios, pregnancy happens as the partner’s sperm can survive in the vagina for up to five days. Hence, pregnancy happens.

For women with regular cycles such as 26 to 31 days, the possibility of getting pregnant is very low. This is because their fertile window, which is an ovulation period will be between the 10th and 20th day of the menstrual cycle. However, it is still possible to get pregnant during your periods.

In addition, the possibility of getting pregnant is much higher when you cannot accurately determine the days of your fertile window. The major factors that affect menstrual regularity and cause confusion in predicting the accurate fertile window can be influenced by:

• Weight loss or extreme exercise
• Eating disorders
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Premature ovarian failure
• Breast-feeding
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids

Increased risk of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)

Sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) are another side effect of intercourse during periods. It is scientifically proven that having intercourse during the menstrual cycle has the potential risk of transmitting diseases such as HIV, herpes, and hepatitis. This happens as pathogens and viruses exist in the menstrual blood. Hence, it is strongly suggested by the physicians to use protection to lower the potential chances of risk.

Risk of infection

Apart from STIs, some women tend to have yeast infections in their vagina the week before their menstrual cycle. Studies found that the risk of transmitting this infection to the partner is much higher when they are engaged in sexual activity during this time. Therefore, it is considered a potential cause of having sex during periods of side effects.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is another potential risk of having intercourse during periods. Some women are much more prone to such infections as the infection or bacteria can easily move towards the bladder during sexual activity.

Vaginal dryness

During the menstruation period, women tend to use menstrual hygiene products such as tampons and sanitary napkins. When you use tampons, there are possibilities that they contribute to vaginal dryness as they absorb not only menstrual blood but also some of the vagina's natural lubrication. The vaginal dryness could be more severe than the normal days. Having sex during those days can cause discomfort and pain in women. Hence, it is suggested to frequently change the tampons or use other menstrual products. Otherwise, during period sex is safe.

Increased menstrual flow

Studies have identified that having sex during the menstrual cycle increases the flow of menstrual blood temporarily. This happens when the congested uterine veins are more vulnerable to rupturing during sexual activity.

Tampon removal

If you use tampons as your menstrual hygiene product, it is always suggested to remove them before having sex. If you forget to remove them, there are possibilities of getting pushed deep into the vagina during sexual activity. This can cause severe infections or need medical help from the physician to remove them.

Things to consider

Having sex during the period requires extra care to maintain cleanliness including open talk with your partner and preparing yourselves to manage potential mess. The mess may include using towels or showering afterwards. However, there are some more factors that couples need to take into account when considering having a period of sex, yet worried about the mess. The factors may include:

• Never hesitate to have an open talk with your partner about having sex during the menstrual cycle. Make each other comfortable.
• Remove the tampons before starting to have sex.
• Try using the menstrual disc or menstrual cup to prevent it from leaking.
• Spread a dark-coloured bed spread or a towel on the bed.
• Try having sex in the shower to avoid the mess.
• Keep the wet wipes handy to clean the mess as soon as possible.
• Try different sexual positions to prevent the leakage.
• Choose the lighter blood flow days than the heavier flow days.