Sex is a deeply personal experience that means different things to different people. Whether you’re gay, straight, bisexual, or something in between, engaging in sexual activity is an important aspect of our lives and can have many health benefits.
For example, orgasms can relieve menstrual cramps. It’s because during orgasm, your uterus contracts to help shed your period lining, which reduces pelvic pain.
1. Increased Blood Flow
Women can experience increased libido throughout the menstrual cycle and, for some, this means a deep desire to have sex. As long as both partners are comfortable, sex can be very pleasurable while on your period. In fact, there are several surprising pros to sex during your period (and no, you can’t get pregnant).
Orgasms are great—whether from partnered sex or masturbation—and can definitely relieve period pain. This is because orgasms cause the body to release oxytocin and dopamine, both of which are known to reduce cramping. Plus, orgasms can help to relax the uterus, which can also alleviate pain from cramping.
Additionally, sex and orgasms can cause the uterus to shed its lining faster, which can lead to a shorter period – This quote was taken from the service’s editor sexoctopus.com. And, of course, sex and orgasms are also very effective lubricants—so you may not need to use any additional lube during your period.
Of course, if you’re experiencing cramps that are too intense for orgasms to ease, it’s important to consult with your partner and take any necessary medication to control the pain. Taking oral contraceptives can help to prevent pregnancy, while anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or mefenamic acid can alleviate painful periods by blocking the production of prostaglandins, which trigger uterine contractions and contribute to cramping.
2. Endorphins
If you’ve ever had a painful period, you know that orgasms are a major relief. Whether you have partnered sex or masturbation, the pain-relieving endorphins that get released in your body help tame those cramps and make the rest of your period much more bearable.
Those feel-good chemicals are called endorphins and they bind to receptors in your brain that block or reduce pain signals. They also act as a natural mood booster, making you feel happy, relaxed, and warm. And if you’re feeling particularly PMS-y, the oxytocin and dopamine that are released during an orgasm can even elevate your mood further.
You might think that having sex while you’re on your period is taboo, but many women do it. It’s not only a great way to relieve cramps, but it can also shorten your period by speeding up the shedding of the uterine lining.
If you’re worried about getting pregnant, just be sure to use a condom. However, if you’re not comfortable having sex with your partner, masturbation that ends in orgasm can also help alleviate pain during your period. Just be sure to use lube, as menstrual blood can act as a natural lubricant and make sex more pleasurable. And if you don’t have access to a lube, a dry sponge or towel can do the trick as well.
3. Reduced Pelvic Pain
Many people feel pelvic pain called cramps (dysmenorrhea) during their period. It happens when chemicals called prostaglandins are released by the uterus just before your period starts each month. Prostaglandins cause the muscles in the uterus to contract, which causes the cramping. Painful periods are a common condition, but there are ways to ease your pain.
Sexual activity can reduce pelvic pain by increasing blood flow, releasing endorphins, and relaxing the uterine muscles. Orgasms can also help relieve pain by blocking pain signals from reaching the brain. However, it is important to discuss this issue with your partner and make sure you’re both comfortable trying sex during your period. If you do decide to have sex during your period, it helps to use lube.
Other methods of relieving pelvic pain include heat therapy, over-the-counter pain relievers, exercise, and herbal remedies. However, there is no guarantee that any of these methods will work for you. If you’re experiencing severe or persistent pelvic pain, talk to your doctor for personalized advice. You may need further evaluation by a specialist, such as a gynecologist or an internist. This is especially true if your pain lasts longer than a week or interferes with your daily life activities.
4. Shorter Period
Although many women have long-held beliefs about not having sex during their period, the truth is that most people can. If you’re comfortable and your partner is happy, having sex during your period can bring you closer to your partner, relieve menstrual cramps, may shorten your period (as the contractions that occur during orgasms help your uterus shed its lining), and make sex more pleasurable. Just always remember to use protection to avoid STIs and pregnancy, even with oral sex.
Orgasms, whether from partnered sex or masturbation, feel amazing, and are an excellent form of pain relief. If you’re on your period, your blood is a natural lubricant, so you may not need as much lube as you usually do. If you do need lube, try using a tampon or menstrual cup so that the extra body fluids aren’t exposed to your partner.
If the thought of having sex with your own blood is too much to bear, you can still have sexual pleasure during your period by having a masturbation session in the shower. The extra lubrication from your blood will make things easier and more enjoyable, and your partner will likely be too aroused to care about the fact that you’re shedding your uterus’s lining. Plus, having sex in the shower can also be less messy since your blood will wash away more easily.