Sex during periods: What’s the Biblical and medical approach?

Recently, as a sexual and reproductive health specialist and enthusiast, I was interested in obtaining the community’s perception of sex during periods. So, using my various social media platforms, I shared information about how safe it is to have sex during periods.

Interestingly, there were thousands of messages from various individuals about how it is prohibited to have sex during periods. What caught my attention most was the quoting of various scriptures in the Quran and the Bible. Some members went ahead and said, “but can’t a man wait to have sex for these 3-7 days of periods”. Others went ahead and said “never can I ever have sex during periods). Truth be told, such topics are controversial, and I tasted the power of religion and culture, just like it is for love and money.

Well, menstruation or period is a natural biological process that women undergo for a major period of their lives. It is the regular discharge of menstrual fluid through the vagina that occurs as part of a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle and usually lasts around two to seven days. Menstrual fluid contains some blood as well as cervical mucus, vaginal secretions, and endometrial tissue.

Almost all major religions of the world have placed restrictions on menstruating women, such as the prohibition of sexual contact. Undoubtedly, their views and rules overall have played an important role in how various societies and cultures around the world and through the centuries have perceived women, man-woman relationships, and the role of women in society.

For example, Leviticus 15:19 states that a woman undergoing menstruation is perceived as unclean for seven days and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening. Moreover, “if a man actually lies with her so that her menstrual impurity is on him, he shall be unclean seven days, and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean” (Leviticus 15:24).

In other words, if a man has sexual relations with a menstruating woman, he is not perceived as unclean only until evening, but for seven days. When seven days pass from the beginning of menstruation, the woman is regarded as clean and thus, sexual contact is permitted.

In another biblical passage (Leviticus 20:18), it is stated that if a man has sexual relations with a woman during her menstrual period, both must be cut off from the community, for they have both been exposed the source of her blood flow. Islam also forbids men to have vaginal sexual intercourse with their wives during menstruation (Surah al-Baqarah 2:222).

From the medical approach, having sex during periods has upsides/benefits and downsides/disadvantages:

Some of the benefits of sex during periods include; 

1. Orgasms may relieve menstrual cramps, which are because the uterus contracts to release its lining, which can bring some relief from period cramps. Sex also triggers the release of chemicals called endorphins, which make one feel good, plus, engaging in sexual activity occupies your mind, which may help take it off your menstrual discomfort.
2. Having sex may make one’s periods shorter because the muscle contractions during an orgasm push out the uterine contents faster, and this could result in shorter periods.
3. There is increased sex drive in some women during their periods. While many women say their sex drive increases during ovulation, which is about two weeks before their period, others report feeling more turned on during their menses.
4. Blood acts as a natural lubricant for some women and there is no need to use the KY gel.
5. Sex during periods relieves headaches. About half of women with migraine headaches get them during their periods. Although most women with menstrual migraines avoid sex during their attacks, many of those who do have sex say it partially or completely relieves their headaches.

There are some side effects or downsides to having sex during periods or menses and these include;

1. There is an increased risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STI) like HIV or hepatitis B. These viruses live in blood, and they can spread through contact with infected menstrual blood. However, using condoms every time you have sex can reduce your risk of spreading or catching an STI.
2. Although the chances of pregnancy during unprotected menstrual sexual contact are very small, they do not completely disappear. This occurs because sperm can survive within the woman’s body for a few days and, in the case of premature ovulation (e.g., a short menstrual cycle of 21 to 24 days), this can result in an unplanned pregnancy. 
3. Sex during periods is a possible risk factor for the development of endometriosis, which is a hormone-dependent, chronic inflammatory gynaecological disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue in sites other than the uterine cavity. Part of the cause of this disease likely reflects retrograde menstruation, though it also involves a complex interplay of genetic, anatomic, environmental, immunologic, and infectious factors.
4. Sex during periods can increase the menstrual blood flow and can negatively affect the man’s sexual desire. 
5. Also, sex during periods can be a mess, as blood can get on one and their partner, and the sheets. 

As a Nurse-Midwife and Women’s Health Specialist, I urge all of us to note that sex is a normal part of life and should be enjoyed by all women, and ensuring one has good contraception and a barrier to contracting STIs throughout the menstrual cycle should make it even more safe and enjoyable. It is also important to understand before having sex, the risks of STIs and pregnancy even during periods. 

Conclusively, from my own perspective, no couple should be judged for deciding to have sex during periods or deciding not to have sex during periods.

Lilian Nuwabaine Luyima; is a BSc Nurse and MSN-Midwife and Women’s’ Health Specialist