Table of contents:
- Sex while still menstruating, is it okay?
- The benefits of having sex during menstruation
- Relieve stomach cramps
- Speed up your menstrual period
- Natural lubrication
- However, there are risks
You've just had your monthly guests, but your partner wants to make out? It feels like your heart wants to refuse because it's uncomfortable, but on the other hand, your sex drive is also at its high. Apart from the possibility of getting the sheets dirty, is it really okay to have sex during menstruation or menstruation?
Sex while still menstruating, is it okay?
Having sex during your period is your personal choice. If you feel like this isn't a problem, it's okay to have sex during your period. Vice versa. If menstrual pain to make mood ugly and lazy to move too much, it's okay if you want to be "absent" first from all bed activities for a while.
There is nothing wrong with wanting (or not wanting to) have sex during your period. Menstruation is a natural condition that every woman goes through every month.
There is nothing filthy or disgusting about sex during menstruation, after all, it's just the lining of the uterus that sheds. Likely, the blood that comes out during lovemaking is not so much that it is a terrifying sight.
But remember, this is a topic that should be discussed first with your partner. Ask how your partner responds to this. If he feels reluctant, respect his decision and compromise together to reschedule when sex is the best time for both of you.
If he's okay with your idea, why not do it? In fact, there are a number of benefits you can get from having sex during menstruation.
The benefits of having sex during menstruation
Relieve stomach cramps
There are several reasons why sex can relieve stomach cramps that you experience during menstruation. Reporting from Kinsey Confidential, sex drive and orgasm help the body release endorphins which work as natural pain relievers.
In addition, during sex a woman's mind will be distracted to think more about pleasant things and make the arousal peak. Sexual intimacy can help relieve stress and ailments from the minds of women (as well as men), for example stomach cramps.
The experience of sexual arousal and orgasm also changes the chemical reactions of a person's body. Women and men both release oxytocin, dopamine, and other endorphins which are linked to feelings of pleasure, satisfaction and happiness. Of course it's hard to feel irritated with pain when feeling so happy.
Still about pain. Several studies have shown that women perceive pain and discomfort differently when they feel aroused. Thus, there is a high probability that sexual activity can help a woman's body react to pain signals differently than usual.
Speed up your menstrual period
Reporting from ABC News, during orgasm, your uterus will continue to tighten and during the process, will shed more tissue and residual blood faster, thus shortening your monthly menstruation.
The missionary position during sex has also been shown to help lower the risk of endometriosis, a common medical condition in which uterine tissue develops outside the uterus that can cause pain and soreness during sex.
Maybe you couldn't relax because you were too worried about the leak? Sex during menstruation can get messy sometimes, if you don't take precautions. Cover it with an old towel or sheet, for example.
Natural lubrication
Before you respond with disgust, understand this first: Yes, menstruation is bleeding, and it can seem scary to see your partner "covered" in blood during sex. But, the menstrual blood that you see is actually just the remnants of your shed uterine wall.
Quoted from WebMD, women in general will lose only 4-12 teaspoons of blood each month. Not as many as you think so far.
Just relax and try to convince yourself that the blood that may come out during sex is a natural lubricant addition. Water- and silicone-based lubricants are safe for sex itself and for the resistance of the condom. On the other hand, oil-based lubricants can damage condoms, increase the risk of tearing, and are not recommended for use with latex condoms.
Still not sure? Sex on normal days is also basically gross, with a mixture of sweat, saliva, body fluids, and odors all in one. But, this has never stopped you before, has it?
Reporting from TIME, according to a study from the University of Groningen, humans - especially women - may be able to ignore all the disgusting factors associated with sex when they are aroused. Sexual arousal signals override the body's natural disgust response and reduce reluctance to allow a person to participate in behaviors that would normally be considered gross or obscene.
However, there are risks
It's important to practice safe sex while you're menstruating because you can still get or transmit venereal diseases like HIV during this time, according to the US CDC.
Viral disease may be present in menstrual blood. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend using condoms to reduce this risk. Lauren Streicher, MD, associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, says there are two reasons for this risk. "Any bodily fluids can carry HIV or other infectious infections, and during your menstrual period, the cervix will open slightly, which may allow the virus to enter more easily."
You may also be more prone to some infections during your period. The vagina maintains a pH level of 3.8-4.5 throughout the month, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). But during menstruation, the level of the vaginal pH level will increase as a result of being affected by a higher blood pH. In this condition the yeast is able to grow more rapidly.
