Or perhaps the problem is that we live in a culture where an errant tampon string peeking out of a bikini bottom is newsworthy enough to grace the cover of a gossip mag. We’ve been taught our periods are awk…
So it might surprise you that most men are likely to be unfazed by the idea of having sex with you during your period – according to a Men’s Health survey, it’s women, not men, who decide they should close up shop at that time of the month. More than three-quarters of the blokes polled said they’d be up for sex during that time of the month.
And you might love it too.
According to Dr Sara Gottfried, author of The Hormone Cure, your oestrogen is at an all-time low at the beginning of your period, but during the week, as those oestrogen levels rise, your testosterone rises, too, and you may get turned on more easily. Gottfried adds, “For some women, the thrill of doing something forbidden or unconventional might make them more aroused during their period.” Yep, period sex can be hot.
Even if you think you’re in the “no period sex – period” camp (that is, while you manage your cramps, headaches and bad mood, you’d rather your bloke brew you peppermint tea than tear off your clothes), you still might want to try it, says sex coach Amy Levine, founder of Ignite Your Pleasure. Take your cycle into account, she suggests. On certain days you may need to wear ratty pajamas and moan, but lighter-flow days can be more conducive to sex.
And, as long as you’re not feeling too affected by period pain, “Wetter often feels better,” says Levine. “The blood can serve as a natural lubricant. Plus, having an orgasm is a great way to relieve menstrual cramps.”
Less mess
Ready to give red-hot sex a go? Here are Levine’s tips:
■ Before having sex, spread a dark towel on the bed.
■ Use a latex condom so some of the blood that gets on him can be easily, er, “rolled off”.
■ Keep a warm, wet flannel nearby.
■ Most important, stay safe! The Men’s Health survey revealed that 44 per cent of men see period sex as a great opportunity to forgo using a condom. But, Gottfried warns, you can still get pregnant while you think you’ve got your period (some women ovulate late or within five days of bleeding, a phenomenon called “breakthrough bleeding”), and both partners can transmit and receive some STIs, including HIV. No matter what time of the month it is, a condom is your safest bet.
Prime positions
To keep things a tad neater, try these period-sex possies:
■ Lying on your back or side will be less messy than on top.
■ Try missionary with your legs hooked over his shoulders. It’ll keep the blood from flowing downward.
■ Hit the shower. If it’s a bath and shower in one, try sitting on top of him with your legs wrapped around his waist as he sits in the tub. Or let him enter you from behind as you bend over and hold the side of the bath for support. Any mess will swirl straight down the drain.
Still squeamish? Remember there’s nothing to feel embarrassed about. We get periods. Men ejaculate. Yep, it’s messy, but so what? The best sex usually is…
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