# Menstruating women and rape. (A bit gross) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 13, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074 "2007-09-13T14:59:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/1 "2007-09-13T14:59:10Z")
I’m sure it’s happened before, but is there any literature/journal/article/story about what really happens in this case? If I was about to be raped, and I had a tampon in, I wonder if I’d say something? I probably wouldn’t really be thinking along those lines, but if I didn’t say something, could he actually penetrate? I wonder if a potential rapist has ever been so grossed out by the blood that he stopped what he was doing? Gross and morbid, I know, but I’ve often wondered about this. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/2 "2007-09-13T15:03:23Z")
Considering that women menstruate one week out of four and the history of human relations, including the use of rape as a weapon, a reward, and a punishment, surely there have been women who were raped while they were on their period. If a woman has a tampon inserted in her vagina when the man penetrates her, surely he’ll feel it. Whether or not that stops him depends on the man and the circumstances. Some men get completely grossed out by menstrual blood. Some men aren’t bothered by it at all. I doubt there is any correlation between a man’s reaction to menstrual blood and his willingness to commit rape. If the rapist doesn’t stop, I imagine there would be more vaginal trauma than usual. ---
**Author:** ![nongoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@nongoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nongoog)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/3 "2007-09-13T17:48:06Z")
I once inserted a tampon while I still had a tampon in… I guess I forgot about it, or thought I’d already removed it. Then, later, when I pulled the first one out, two came. Anyway, I’d imagine that, as violent as alot of rapes are, it’s possible that a small tampon will just bunch up inside and not offer much resistance. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/4 "2007-09-13T17:56:32Z")
IIRC someone somewhere argued that because the victim asked if she could remove her tampon prior to being raped, the defendant didn’t really rape her, because she consented. Much like the “if she asked him to use a condom she consented” argument. Vaginas are rather more stretchy than you would imagine, and blood soaked cotton wadding is compressible. Enough squick for me. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/5 "2007-09-13T18:04:13Z")
[QUOTE=irishgirl] IIRC someone somewhere argued that because the victim asked if she could remove her tampon prior to being raped, the defendant didn’t really rape her, because she consented. Much like the “if she asked him to use a condom she consented” argument. Vaginas are rather more stretchy than you would imagine, and blood soaked cotton wadding is compressible. Enough squick for me. [/QUOTE] This is scary. tbh, I wouldn’t fight, and I might ask for a condom if I felt brave enough. If it’s going to happen, I’d like to at least…protect myself if I can. In regards to having a tampon in, I guess it would depend upon the ‘size’ of the rapist. I’ve accidentally left a tampon in and attempted intercourse with my spouse, and I sure as heck could feel it. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/6 "2007-09-13T19:06:20Z")
You know, this is something I’ve wondered occasionally, but never thought to ask. I really don’t think a tampon would bunch up enough to save the victim from worse damage. There’s room in there, sure…but it would still cause heavy trauma. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/7 "2007-09-13T19:08:14Z")
Considering how tiny most tampons really are, and the fact that they’re only made from cotton, they’d probably make a pretty inefficient shield. I’m not sure how a rapist would react to menstrual blood, though. Probably depends on the person. ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/8 "2007-09-13T19:12:47Z")
True crime reader here. This came up a few times in John Douglas (one of the original pioneers of the FBI’s criminal behavior profiling system) book _Obsession_ Apparantly, a victim often tells her rapist she is menstruating and a lot of the times it thwarts the vaginal rape. However, often times they’ll just end up raping you orally or anally. But if you were looking for this subject written down somewhere, its in that book. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/9 "2007-09-13T19:23:12Z")
Always remember that the vaginal walls are stretchy enough to pass a child through. 10 cm - about four inches - diameter of a rough circle, that’s \*at least \*how wide is can stretch. Not comfortably, mind you, but then again, a rapist isn’t often concerned with his victim’s comfort. So a 1/2 inch diameter cotton wad and a two inch diameter penis are well within the specs for vaginal containment. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/10 "2007-09-13T19:51:53Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] True crime reader here. This came up a few times in John Douglas (one of the original pioneers of the FBI’s criminal behavior profiling system) book _Obsession_ Apparantly, a victim often tells her rapist she is menstruating and a lot of the times it thwarts the vaginal rape. However, often times they’ll just end up raping you orally or anally. But if you were looking for this subject written down somewhere, its in that book. [/QUOTE] I will never tell a rapist I am menstruating! Geez! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/11 "2007-09-13T20:09:09Z")
Can I tack on a question? What if you told a rapist you had some STD? I wouldn’t say AIDS because that might really escalate the situation, but what about syphilis or gonorea (these are hard diseases to spell, sorry) or maybe even herpes? Or crabs? What do you think would happen then? ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/12 "2007-09-13T20:19:04Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Can I tack on a question? What if you told a rapist you had some STD? I wouldn’t say AIDS because that might really escalate the situation, but what about syphilis or gonorea (these are hard diseases to spell, sorry) or maybe even herpes? Or crabs? What do you think would happen then? [/QUOTE] Good question, I’ve wondered this too. I always thought it would lead to a good beating out of frusteration (on the rapists part). ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/13 "2007-09-13T20:21:18Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Can I tack on a question? What if you told a rapist you had some STD? I wouldn’t say AIDS because that might really escalate the situation, but what about syphilis or gonorea (these are hard diseases to spell, sorry) or maybe even herpes? Or crabs? What do you think would happen then? [/QUOTE] I’ve always wondered that, too. Actually, the first thing that came to my mind a while ago, for no real reason, was, “What if I tell him I’m HIV positive–will he leave me alone?” Would he believe me/even care? ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/14 "2007-09-13T21:23:05Z")
Henry Lee Lucas had sex with his “girlfriend” (I cannot recall if this is before or after he killed her and cut her limbs off…). She was on her period at the time, and she neglected to remove the tampon first. He commented that “something didn’t feel quite right”. This is taken from my memory, citing the book “Henry”. ---
**Author:** ![RedRosesForMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RedRosesForMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedRosesForMe)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/15 "2007-09-13T23:44:14Z")
I recall reading about a rape survivor who’d told her rapist she had AIDS… So he raped her with a table leg. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/16 "2007-09-14T13:17:59Z")
It happens: > [@](#): > > After he obtained an erection, Jones penetrated Robinson vaginally. Unable to ejaculate, at least in part because Robinson had a tampon in her vagina, Jones withdrew. He forcibly removed the tampon and, having lost his erection, again forced Robinson to perform oral sex. He again attempted and perhaps achieved vaginal penetration. Jones contended at trial that all the sexual contact was consensual. [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=oh&vol=951884&invol=1](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=oh&vol=951884&invol=1) > [@](#): > > Desio testified that on April 3rd, she was awakened by Dunham’s penis hitting her tampon. She stated that the pain had “jogged” her awake and that she scratched Dunham’s back while he was inside her. She stated that after Dunham ejaculated, he left her apartment. Desio testified that after Dunham left, she placed her panties between her legs to preserve his semen. She then called 911. [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=2nd&navby=docket&no=012779](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=2nd&navby=docket&no=012779) That’s probably more than enough. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/17 "2007-09-14T14:19:30Z")
[QUOTE=EmAnJ] I wonder if a potential rapist has ever been so grossed out by the blood that he stopped what he was doing? [/QUOTE] I’m sure it has happened (I know I read a case at one point in which it did). > [@](#): > > The observed frequencies of rape were as follows: 15 ovulatory phase > cases, 33 para-menstrual phase cases, and 51 ‘other days’ cases . > **[DANIEL M.T. FESSLER | Evolutionary Anthropology/Evolutionary Psychology](https://danielmtfessler.com/)** Pee Wee Gaskins, in his autobiography, Final Truth: [Final Truth: The Autobiography of Mass Murderer/Serial Killer Donald 'Pee Wee' Gaskins: Gaskins, Donald H., Earle, Wilton: 9780963242204: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Final-Truth-Autobiography-Serial-Killer/dp/0963242202) talks about a statutory rape he committed (IIRC it was one of his first) in which the girl was on her “rag-time” and a few more rape-murders that involved menstruating women. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/18 "2007-09-15T03:46:06Z")
[QUOTE=EmAnJ] I wonder if a potential rapist has ever been so grossed out by the blood that he stopped what he was doing? Gross and morbid, I know, but I’ve often wondered about this. [/QUOTE] I don’t have a cite but I knew a girl in college that drank too much at a friend’s party. He took her to his room so she could lay down. Hours later she wakes up completely naked, but she’s confident “nothing really happened” because her tampon was still there. “Nothing really happened” isn’t really my analysis of the situation but whatever. ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/19 "2007-09-15T05:19:21Z")
[QUOTE=RedRosesForMe] I recall reading about a rape survivor who’d told her rapist she had AIDS… So he raped her with a table leg. [/QUOTE] wow I can literally not think of anything worse ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074/20 "2007-09-15T20:46:57Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] wow I can literally not think of anything worse [/QUOTE] Table leg, wrapped with barbed wire? Sorry. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstruating-women-and-rape-a-bit-gross/419074.md?page=2)