Many women might notice an increased libido during their period. Although it is messy, sex during menstruation can be actually awesome. For those who have already consider it as a regular part of their sex lives and those who are tempted to give it a try, this blog will help you answer one simple but crucial question: “can sex during period make you pregnant?”

Can you be fertile during menstruation?

It’s a simple yes. Although you are technically not able to get pregnant during menstruation, sperm can still live within your reproductive system for up to 5 days. Hence, you will still have a chance to get pregnant with unprotected period sex. You need to take your menstrual cycle length into consideration when you have period sex next time.

Let’s take an example that your period cycle is less than 28 days. You have sex on the last day of your six-day long period and ovulate shortly after. Some of the sperm are still swimming around your reproductive system. Now, there is a slight chance that you will get pregnant. It doesn’t sound very likely but it’s not impossible and hence makes unprotected sex risky. However, if you know your fertile window well, you’ll be able to calculate it more precisely.

A to Z about period sex

So if period sex is your regular activities, now you should take the right precautions. Condoms and some other barrier methods can help prevent pregnancy and protect you against STIs if used correctly.

Obviously, period sex is not to everyone’s liking. Some people find it extremely gross and messy while others seem to enjoy it a lot thanks to their high libido during period. The reason for that increased sex drive is an uptick of both estrogen and testosterone levels. Additionally, when you reach orgasm, the period cramps will be eased, the uterus will have to contract more, which eventually shortens the period length.

For safety, you need to remove any tampons or menstrual cups. They can cause danger if misused or left too long inside the vagina and also block the vaginal passage.

Period sex might not be as bloody as you think. Actually, you might even get surprised at how little the amount of blood there is. The heaviness of period varies across individuals. Heavy for you might be just normal to someone else. However, the amount of blood loss should only be around 6 to 8 teaspoons during the entire period. Hence, to prepare for your period sex, you might just need an extra towel or a steamy time in the shower.

If you lose more than 80ml (up to 500ml) or your period lasts longer than 7 days, or both, you are experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding. Abnormal uterine bleeding can lead to anemia, fatigue and shortness of breath. To reduce the amount of uterine lining build up, you should take Phytoestrogen (plant-based estrogen). High quality phytoestrogen can be found in Vagifirm, a herbal vaginal tightening pill you can take orally.