Let's start by breaking some of the taboo around this. Periods are not gross. And period sex is not a niche kink reserved for couples who've run out of conversation topics.
It's just sex, with a slightly different (and frankly more interesting) hormonal backdrop. And once you understand what's actually going on in your body during menstruation, you may start to see those few days a month very differently.
As a clinical sexologist, the period sex question lands in my inbox almost every week. So let's talk about it properly.
Your Body During Your Period Is Wired For Pleasure
When you menstruate, your oestrogen and progesterone both sit at their lowest. That hormonal reset triggers a few things worth knowing about.
Your cervix sits lower in the vaginal canal, which can make certain positions feel different (sometimes more pleasurable, sometimes more sensitive, depending on the day). Pelvic blood flow increases significantly to support the shedding of your uterine lining, which means your clitoris, labia and vaginal walls are often more engorged. Translation. Many women report heightened sensitivity and easier arousal during their period, not less.
You're also naturally more lubricated. Menstrual fluid is, biologically, a lubricant. It might not be the kind you'd buy at the chemist, but your body has its own version on tap.
The Actual Physical Benefits
This is the bit that's surprising. Orgasms during your period can be helpful. When you climax, your body releases a cocktail of feel-good hormones. Combine that with the uterine contractions that happen during orgasm, and you may find it helps (in more ways than one!). The serotonin and dopamine bump from orgasm can take the edge off the late-luteal-into-menstrual mood dip many women feel.
Logistics, Without The Awkwardness
A dark towel or splash blanket underneath you sorts most of the visual concerns. A warm shower beforehand can also help if you're nervous about it.
If you'd rather not deal with flow during penetrative sex, menstrual discs (not cups) can be worn during intercourse and catch the flow internally.
Position-wise, missionary or side-by-side tends to feel best on the heavier days because gravity does some of the work. You on top gives you more control over depth, which matters if your cervix is sitting low and feeling tender.
Talking To Your Partner About It
Most resistance to period sex isn't medical. It's social conditioning, often inherited from a parent or a primary-school whisper network. If you want to try it and your partner is hesitant, lead with curiosity rather than persuasion. 'I read that orgasms can help with cramps. Want to experiment with me?' lands very differently to 'why won't you just?'
And if you're flying solo, period masturbation is a wildly underrated form of self-care.
Your body doesn't switch off for five days every month. It shifts. Knowing how to work with that shift, rather than disappearing under a doona until it passes, is one of the most quietly powerful pieces of body literacy you can build.
By Heather Foord, Core Restore Co
About The Author
With a background in women's medicine, Heather Foord (aka The Vanilla Sexologist) is a clinical sexologist and passionate advocate for women's health. Heather writes for Mamamia and Women's Health magazine, has appeared on Sunrise, The Today Show and The Morning Show, and is the Director of pelvic floor and core clinics Core Restore Co. With Masters in Sexology and Women's Medicine, degrees in Communications and Health Science and a Diploma in Pilates, Heather works hard to break stigma through education and workshops across Australia and abroad.