Relax, Everyone: Period Sex Is Healthy And Normal

I’ve heard women talking about it since I was in high school: The horniness we have right before our period is on a whole different level. In fact, it can be so intense, it makes us want to stop and drop trou at the site of anything that resembles a set of genitals or a vibrator.

Hell, a Mr. Clean commercial got me going one month, and I have no shame in admitting that. #BelieveIt

While not all women feel this way during their crimson wave — we are complex creatures, after all — Kameelah Phillips, an OB/GYN in New York City tells Redbook magazine the reason some women have an increased sexual appetite is because during that time of month, “increased blood flow to the pelvis can lead to greater genital sensitivity and therefore more intense orgasm.”

I hear that.

But let’s be honest here, as much as we’d like to just have sex whenever the hell we want, period sex does have a certain stigma attached to it.

First of all, it’s messy. We don’t feel fresh, and there’s nothing that kills the mood like saying, “Hang on, let me remove my tampon/diva cup and grab a ratty towel for us to have sex on, Babe.”

But here’s the thing: period sex is not only normal to have and want, it can be fucking amazing for some women. And feeling self-conscious about bringing up the subject isn’t enough of a reason to not experience these intense orgasms if you want them.

Not to mention menstrual blood can act as a natural lubricant which might be make the experience more pleasurable for all involved. Also, orgasms can relieve menstrual cramps so I’ll take two, please. A word of caution though: Many think you can’t get pregnant during your period, but you actually can.

While it’s not always ideal to bring it up during a make out session right before things get really good, potentially catching your partner off guard, if you discuss it beforehand, it can be hot. You know, maybe start out with something like, “Hey baby, it’s that time of month, but I am craving you tonight — you game?” Hot, I tell you.

(Or maybe not if that’s not your thing.)

The good news here is that your partner will have warning and you can both move forward knowing what the other is comfortable doing.

I’ve heard people say they don’t mind the mess it leaves at all because — hello! — showering together after sex is amazingly hot too, not to mention relaxing. There’s no better sleeping pill than some sexy time and a hot shower.

But an even better way to deal with period sex is to go at it in the shower or bath; it makes clean up that much easier.

As women, some of us feel we shouldn’t want sex when we are bleeding, or maybe we feel our partners with think we are too “dirty,” but if you are a woman who wants to get down during your period, talk to your partner about it. Chances are they are going to be into it too.