Sex During Period: Here's Everything You Need to Know

When it comes to sex during period, there tends to be a lot of confusion among couples. Some believe that it can increase the risk of infection, others say you can’t get pregnant, and some believe that it could even affect the sex of your child if you get pregnant.

But what really are the facts when it comes to having sex during your period?

Sex during period: What you need to know

What if you’re about to have sex with your partner, and you suddenly notice that you’ve started your period? Or perhaps you’re in the middle of your period, and you and your partner suddenly feel the need to have sex. Should you avoid having sex in these situations, or is it fine to just have sex even if you have your period?

A lot of people tend to get confused when it comes to these situations. One of the most common worries that people have is that the blood might cause an infection, or perhaps it could spread disease.

The reality is that it’s perfectly fine to have sex during your time of the month. So long you and your partner are comfortable with it, then there should be no problems. Some women actually feel more aroused or eager to have sex during their time of the month¹. So it might be a good idea to plan ahead if you want to have some exciting sex during this time.

In fact, sex can actually help relieve menstrual cramps²! So it might be worth trying it out with your partner.

Can you get pregnant if you have sex during period?

Now that we’ve established that it’s perfectly fine to have sex during your time of the month, the next question is can you get pregnant? If you look at your monthly cycle, the time when you’re most fertile, is right when you’re ovulating. That means that your body has an egg cell that’s ready to be fertilized by a sperm.

If the egg is not fertilized, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) which was preparing for possible implantation, will be shed. If you do have sex during this time, then the chances of you getting pregnant are lower compared to when you’re fertile, or during other days³.

However, this isn’t a 100% effective way of avoiding fertilization. You need to know that sperm cells can last for up to 5 days inside a woman’s body. This means that depending on when you had sex, you can still get pregnant.  There may also be instances when more than one egg is released in a cycle.

So it is important to still use protection if you’re not trying to have kids. With regard to the popular myth that having sex during this time can affect your baby’s sex, there’s no truth to that. There’s really no way for you to determine your baby’s sex.

Always practice safe sex during your period

With regard to STDs, one study found a correlation between more frequent period sex and higher risk of STDs⁴. Though, the study has yet to show a strong correlation between STDs and periods.

Menstrual blood on its own doesn’t carry any diseases. However, if a person has an STD such as HIV, their blood can be a carrier of disease. This is why it’s very important to always practice safe sex, especially if you have multiple partners.

It doesn’t matter whether you are on your period or not, you can still get infected through unprotected sexual intercourse.

Key Takeaways

Due to fluctuating hormones, a woman may become more aroused during her menstruation. You can have safe sex while on her period, but always consider proper protection to prevent transmission of diseases.

Learn more about Safe Sex here.