What Are Periods or Menstruation?
Periods or menstruation is bleeding from the vagina occurring once a month in a female. The body of a woman is prepared every month for pregnancy. When pregnancy does not occur, the uterine lining sheds as menstrual bleeding. This menstrual blood is shed partly with blood and tissues from the uterus. This menstrual cycle usually starts from 11 to 14 years and continues until menopause by 51 years.
What Are the Benefits of Having Sex During Periods?
There are several benefits of having sex during periods. The benefits are:
1. Relieves Menstrual Cramps: Sexual orgasm (peak of sexual arousal) relieves menstrual cramps by the contraction of the uterus. Sex also triggers the release of endorphins, making a female feel good. Along with this, engaging in sexual activity occupies the mind and relieves menstrual discomfort simultaneously.
2. Shortens the Duration of Periods: Having sex during periods makes them short. Uterine muscle contraction during orgasm pushes out the uterine content faster and results in short periods.
3. Increases Sex Drive: Due to hormonal fluctuations, a female experiences more libido (sexual desire) changes during menstruation. Some females might experience increased sexual drive during ovulation, and some females experience increased sexual drive during menstruation.
4. Serves as Natural Lubricant: While having sex during periods, blood serves as a lubricant. A woman can stop using lubricating jelly during menstruation.
5. Relieves Menstrual Headache: Some females develop migraine headaches during periods. Having sex during periods might relieve migraine headaches partially.
6. Other Benefits: Sex during periods also provides some benefits. Sex during periods also reduces stress, improves sleep, and strengthens the immune system.
What Is the Side Effect Experienced by Having Sex During Periods?
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The common side effect experienced due to sex during periods is the mess. Blood can spill on a person, their partner, and bedsheets while having a heavy flow. Apart from bleeding, a female may feel self-conscious. The anxiety created by the mess makes a person and their partner feel unenjoyable during sex. Another common risk developed is the high risk of passing sexually transmitted infection to the partner.
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When a female plans to have sex during the period, it is necessary to remove tampons if worn. A forgotten tampon might get pushed inside the vagina during sex, and further management is needed by consulting a doctor.
What Is the Risk of Developing an Infection While Having Sex During Periods?
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The two common infections that occur due to sex during periods are sexually transmitted diseases and problems that change the normal vaginal flora, such as yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.
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Though yeast infections occur without engaging in sex, some females may have a high risk of developing yeast infections due to hormonal changes in periods. Vaginal-penile sex can spread yeast infections and makes the head of the penis inflamed. This condition is known as balanitis.
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The common sexually transmitted infections that can spread through sex during periods are Chlamydia (a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria), Gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that may also cause infertility), Genital Herpes (a condition characterized by genital sores and pain), Hepatitis B (serious infection of liver), Human Papillomavirus or HPV (a condition causing viral infections in warts or mucous membrane growths throughout the body), Molluscum Contagiosum (skin infections causing painless bumps), Syphilis (a bacterial infection that initially starts as a painless bump), and Trichomoniasis (a condition caused by parasitic infection). The only way to protect against STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) is by using condoms or dental dams, and these protective measures reduce the risk significantly.
Can a Female Get Pregnant During Menstruation?
Most women experience 28 days of the menstrual cycle. This cycle lasts from the first day of the menstrual bleeding to the day before the bleeding begins in the following month. The most fertile period in a menstrual cycle lies between eight and 19 days.
During this time, the egg is released from the ovary and travels down the fallopian tube for fertilization. After being fertilized by the sperm, the egg travels to the uterus for implantation. Though the timing is essential, there are some factors to be considered.
After ovulation, an egg stays alive and viable in a woman's fallopian tube for 24 hours. Sperms can live for three to five days after being ejaculated inside the body. However, changes in the menstrual cycle cause a challenging situation to identify a fertile period in a woman.
Menstrual irregularity often occurs during breastfeeding or pregnancy, eating disorders, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS (a hormonal disorder causing cysts in the enlarged ovaries), Premature Ovarian Failure (non-functional ovaries before the age of 40), pelvic inflammatory disease or PID (infections occurring in female reproductive system), Uterine Fibroids (growths in the uterus), and endometriosis (tissue growth outside the uterus). Due to these reasons, a woman can get pregnant at any time. It is good to use birth control even when a woman is menstruating.
Is It Preferable to Use Protection While Having Sex During Periods?
Maintaining protection while having sex during periods safeguards a person against STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection). A female can transmit diseases to her partner as viruses like HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can survive in menstrual blood.
Advise the partner to wear latex condoms every time while having sex to reduce the chance of getting pregnant and catching an STI. If a person or their partner is allergic to latex, one can use some other forms of protection. They can also ask the doctor for further management options.
What Are the Tips for Having Sex During Menstruation?
A person can follow these simple steps to have more comfortable sex during periods.
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One must talk honestly with their partner about their experience or any discomfort during sex in periods. They can choose to have sex during less menstruation flow.
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Partners can talk about the reasons for discomfort and resolve them. If a female uses a tampon, it is good to remove them before sex.
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A woman might use dark-colored towels over the bed to catch blood leaks. Otherwise, both people can have sex under a shower or bath to avoid mess.
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A person can also use a wet washcloth or wet wipes to clean the bed after sex.
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One can advise their partner to use condoms during sex. If a person feels that the sexual position is uncomfortable, one can also try different sexual positions; preferably, people should opt for missionary positions.
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If people are uncomfortable with foreplay during sex in mensuration, they can find other ways of arousal or can keep tissues handy.
Conclusion:
Do not think that sex during periods may not be enjoyable. The following steps, as mentioned above, can help to have comfortable sex during periods, and one may also find sex more enjoyable during periods. If people have any doubts regarding sex during menstruation and feel any discomfort about the same, they must reach out to the healthcare provider for proper assistance and clarification.
