Sex during periods

Sex during a period is really a matter of culture (in some cultures menstruation is considered ‘unclean’) and personal preference.
Menstrual fluid consists of blood and tissue from the lining of the uterus (womb), with some of the normal ‘friendly’ bacteria from the vagina. It contains nothing dirty or harmful, so contact with menstrual fluid will not cause irritation of the penis or any other problems.
Sex at this time will not harm the woman. The menstrual fluid seeps out of the normal small opening in the cervix. This hole does not become any larger during a period, so there is no need to worry that the penis might poke up into the uterus.

The period is the least fertile time of the woman’s cycle, so it is one of the safest times for avoiding pregnancy. However, it is possible to conceive at this time – sperm can live for several days, and ovulation could occur earlier than usual, so it might be possible for the sperm to meet up with an egg. To be safe, use contraception.

Remember to remove a tampon beforehand, otherwise it might become pushed up into a corner of the vagina during sex, and then forgotten.

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