Sex on Your Period: Pregnancy, STIs and What Studies Found
PeriodsArticlePeriod sex is common: in a US national sample of 1,586 women, more than a quarter said they usually had sex during their periods. It isn't birth control, since sperm can live up to five days, and it doesn't protect against infections. Here is what the research found, and why the choice is yours either way, including in perimenopause.
Sex during your period is common, and the research on it is older and thinner than you might expect. Here are the facts that matter.
How common it is
In a US national sample of 1,586 sexually active women aged 20 to 37, more than a quarter said they usually had sex during their periods, and 16% had during their last one.1 That survey is from 1996, so attitudes may have shifted since.
A 2009 study of 92 sexually active college women found the full range: 40 had period sex, 37 said they never would.2 The women who did were more often in committed relationships, and none described it as disgusting.2 Both groups were making ordinary choices.
Three facts worth having straight
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| “You can’t get pregnant on your period.” | You can. Sperm can live up to five days, so pregnancy is possible, especially with short cycles.3 |
| “Period blood is dirty.” | It isn’t.4 |
| “Your period lowers infection risk.” | No. Menstrual blood can carry infections like any blood,4 and the 1996 survey linked period sex with a history of STIs, though it couldn’t show cause.1 |
So use your usual birth control, and condoms whenever STI protection matters.3
In your 40s
Cycles often get shorter in your 40s (see periods every 2 or 3 weeks in your 40s), and short cycles are one of the situations where period sex is more likely to lead to pregnancy.3 See also do you still need birth control in perimenopause?
Practical and personal
The logistics are mostly laundry: a dark towel, a lighter day if you’d prefer, or the shower. “I’ve got my period and I’m in the mood” and “I’ve got my period and I’d rather wait” are both fine answers.
If heavy bleeding is shaping your sex life, that’s part of what makes a period too heavy. See how to know if your period is too heavy. Pain with sex, or bleeding after sex, deserves a check. See is it normal to bleed after sex?
Try: “I’m 46 and my cycles have gotten shorter. If we have sex during my period, do I still need contraception?”
Period, Handled covers this in Chapter 10, “Work, Travel, Gym, Bed,” in a section called “Period Sex.” Its Period Scorecard counts what heavy bleeding costs you, including in your relationships, so that cost comes up at your appointment. See the book.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It isn't a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional who knows your health history. See a clinician for pain during sex, especially deep pain, or for bleeding after sex or between periods. You can still get pregnant in perimenopause until your clinician confirms menopause. Girl Playbook does not endorse any specific product, test, or provider.
Girl Playbook sells this book. It provides education and worksheets, not individualized medical care.
Sources
The research behind this article, in the order it’s cited. How we source our articles.
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (abstract via PubMed), 1996Sexual intercourse during menstruation and self-reported sexually transmitted disease history among women (opens in a new tab)ab
- Journal of Sex Research (abstract via PubMed), 2009Sexual activity during menstruation: a qualitative study (opens in a new tab)ab
- Cleveland Clinic, pregnancy page, 2026Can You Get Pregnant if You Have Sex During Your Period? (opens in a new tab)abc
- Cleveland Clinic, free bleeding page, 2025Go With the Flow: What You Need To Know About Free Bleeding (opens in a new tab)ab
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll check it.
