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If sex is literally the last thing on your mind during that time of the month, we get it. When you’re moody and crampy and barely have the energy to switch shows on Netflix, you’re probably not in the mood to have someone else all up in your personal space.
But maybe you’ve heard that period sex is pregnancy-proof. (Spoiler: Not so much.) Or maybe you’re just not weirded out by period stuff because, whatever, it happens every month and you shouldn’t have to plan your whole life around it. Either way, you may be wondering if it’s okay to have sex when you have your period.
“It’s absolutely normal to have sex during your period,” says Dr. Angela Jones, MD, a board-certified OB/GYN at Healthy Woman in New Jersey. But you still have to take the usual steps to make sure you and your partner stay safe and comfortable. Here’s what you need to know.
You CAN get pregnant on your period.
We’ve all heard the myth that you can’t. But while your risk is lower during that time of the month, Jones says, you definitely can get pregnant — especially if your cycle is irregular. “Some women can ovulate late, or within 5 days of their period,” she explains. In other words, you can be bleeding and totally fertile at the same time. So if you’re having hetero intercourse, you need to be using birth control.
Don’t skip protection.
Not only is the rhythm method kinda unreliable for preventing pregnancy, you also need to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections — and you need to be extra careful about blood-borne STIs like Hepatitis C and HIV when you have your period, Jones says. That means using a barrier method of protection — like male condoms, female condoms, or a dental dam — every time.
It might make your period suck less.
Obviously this shouldn’t be your only reason for doing the deed — ibuprofen and heating pads still exist! — but it can definitely be an unexpected benefit. During sex, your body releases endorphins that can give you a much-needed mood boost when you’re dealing with PMS. And, Jones says, having an orgasm can even help soothe your menstrual cramps. (Experts think it’s a combo of the feel-good hormones and increased blood flow to your uterus.)
Yeah, it can be messy.
If you’re squeamish about this sort of thing, period sex has horror-movie-vibe potential, especially if you’re having a heavy-flow day. But if that’s NBD to you, it’s easy to work around it. “It’s nothing a dark towel or shower sex can’t alleviate,” Jones says.
Bottom line, period sex isn’t any different than rest-of-the-month sex — as long as you’re playing it safe as far as birth control and STI prevention, then it’s totally up to you and your partner to decide what you’re comfortable with. And if you’re still a little freaked out by the idea, that’s 100% okay too — stick to whatever boundaries work for you.
