Many people question if having sex before, during, or right after their period is safe. People can continue to have sex during menstruation, but many of the considerations about infection and pregnancy remain the same.
There are also a few other factors that people may wish to take into account when considering sex during menstruation in order to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
In this article, we address some common questions related to having sex during menstruation, including the benefits and risks.
Is sex during menstruation safe?
There is a risk of infection when having oral, anal, or vaginal sex, or any form of skin-to-skin genital contact — even during menstruation.
Unless a person uses birth control or has a same-sex partner, there is also a risk of pregnancy when having sex during menstruation.
We look at the possible risks of sex during menstruation below, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy:
What is the risk of infection for sex during menstruation?
There are two types of infection that may occur due to sexual activity: STIs and problems caused by changes in normal vaginal flora, such as yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.
While yeast infections can also occur without engaging in sexual activity, people may have a higher risk of getting a yeast infection due to the hormonal changes during a period.
Vaginal-penile sex can also spread yeast infections, causing the head of the penis to become inflamed. This condition is called balanitis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate there are 20 million new sexually transmitted infections annually in the United States alone.
Sexually transmitted infections include:
- chlamydia
- genital warts
- gonorrhea
- hepatitis B
- herpes
- HIV
- human papillomavirus (HPV)
- molluscum contagiosum
- syphilis
- trichomoniasis
- scabies and pubic lice
The only way to protect against STIs is to use barrier methods such as condoms or dental dams. These protective measures do not guarantee that a person will not contract an infection, but they can significantly reduce the risk when used correctly.