Believe it or not, the answer is “yes”. As long as you don’t mind the mess, sex during menstruation is safe. Let me rectify that: about as safe as it can be expected. Blood is a medium in which certain infectious agents multiply, so you might want to consider that before starting. Also, the chance of getting HIV is probably sky-high with all that blood around. Better use a condom if you are not sure of yourself or your partner. Still, there is no medical reason why a mutually monogamous couple (which is also free of STDs) should not have sex during menses.

But if you are not scared by these problems, then you can go right ahead. Of course you should wait for your lady to get over the worst days of her period, if you want sex to be any fun that is. The best idea is to spread a towel on the bed in order to keep the blood off the sheets, preferably a black or dark red towel. You can try any position you want, but your best bet is to stay on top and have the lady below. This should limit the flow of blood a little. The lady could also put to good use a diaphragm or a menstrual cup in order to keep the blood in, at least for a while.

The biggest risks brought by sex during menstruation are an increase in the risk of pelvic infections and HIV (because the opening of the cervix widens) and also a higher risk of pregnancy. Yep, you read that right: pregnancy. Just because your lady is having her period does not mean that you cannot get her pregnant. It’s rare, I’ll grant you that, but it did happen quite a few times.

Have fun and stay safe.

However, doctors nowadays recognize PMS as a real medical condition with physical and psychological symptoms. PMS or premenstrual syndrome is a set of hormonal changes that generate a variety of both physical and emotional symptoms in women. It usually occurs between 7 to 14 days before actual “period” and then disappears once the menstruation begins. Women may experience PMS during her childbearing years or sometimes even after menopause.

Bloating, cramps, fatigue, breast tenderness, and irritability, does this sound familiar? Well you are not alone for studies shows that about 95% of women experience some of over 150 symptoms associated to PMS. The degree of severity varies, some women felt only minor discomfort while for others the symptoms are unbearable enough to interfere with their lives. The symptoms may differ from one person to another and may change from cycle to cycle.

Normally, the psychological symptoms of PMS include mood changes like crying spells, depression, anxiety, anger, sadness or irritability. Psychological symptoms may also include some changes in mental functioning such as difficulty in concentrating or remembering as well as changes in sex drive.

On the other hand, a wide range of physical symptoms are associated with PMS. Some of the most commonly observed physical symptoms would include fatigue, insomnia, headache, acne, cramps, breast tenderness, bloating, joint or muscle pain. Occasionally, some women experience upset stomach, diarrhea, or constipation. Women with PMS also tend to give in to their food cravings especially for carbohydrates, chocolate or other sweets.

Although real test to diagnose PMS has not yet been created, doctors may conduct tests to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms. When the symptoms assent with the monthly cycle and the woman’s tests are negative for other conditions, then PMS is generally determined to be the cause of her symptoms.

There are several conditions to rule out when considering PMS.  That includes anemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism, perimenopause, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea and autoimmune disorders.

On the other hand, some of the psychological conditions that should be ruled out include eating disorders, alcohol abuse, personality disorders and chronic fatigue syndrome. Oral contraceptive side effects should also be ruled out when considering PMS. To further confirm doctor’s diagnosis, keeping a monthly diary of symptoms would also be helpful.

PMS is still considered as a largely mysterious phenomenon by the medical community and had been a subject for research and some ongoing studies. Since there has been no single cause of PMS identified or accepted by the medical community, it is likely that PMS is due to a variety of factors, as well as because of genetics, environment and lifestyle factors like nutrition and stress.

Tags: Womens health, pms