# Riding the tide - sex during menstruation
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 17, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846 "2001-07-17T21:24:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/1 "2001-07-17T21:24:11Z")
Well, Aunt Flo made her visit today. Such is life. I mentioned this to my boyfriend, who replied that is was particularly inopportune because we were planning on celebrating our two-year anniversary in a carnal way. I mentioned that not every guy balks at the idea of doing the forbidden monkey dance when his partner is having her period, and that I know this from personal experience… ahem. He thinks I’m full of it - that “most guys” don’t want to see chunky blood on their penises. I said he’s unqualified to speak on behalf of all or even most men, and he said, “Poll! Ask the Teeming Millions!” So here I am. I realize this poll won’t be statistically significant, but my boyfriend accepts this flaw (and he’s a statistician!).
In short: if your girlfriend/wife/whatever is riding the cotton pony, does this hinder your amorous advances at all? Or do you just pop the cork and go for it?
Ah, and lesbians, please do chime in. I had a four-month long semi-relationship with a woman, so we visited this issue a few times. We agreed that digital sex was workable, but oral sex…no thanks.
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### Author:  [@Pstarr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pstarr)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/2 "2001-07-17T21:32:54Z")
Count me in as a member of the Red Water Rafting Society. It has always been up to the girl for me. If she is comfortable with it (most have not been) then away we go. I mean it’s just bodily fluid, right?
My only complaint is that I can’t go down on her during this time. I don’t feel complete unless I get to eat her out at least once during lovemaking.
P(TMI)Starr
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### Author:  [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2001, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/3 "2001-07-17T21:54:00Z")
Damn **Pstarr** set the bar so high with his clever little “Red Water Rafting Society” remark that I almost didn’t reply, as I knew I’d never be able to come with a euphemism as good as that.
Then, I realized: screw **Pstarr**! Who cares if I’m not clever?
I don’t mind sex during the period, although on the heavy flow day, I find it slightly distasteful. (The fiancee usually only has one really heavy day, so we can usually wait one day. If we can’t, we do it in the shower.)
[sub]still giggling over Red Water Rafting Society, btw…[/sub]
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### Author:  [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2001, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/4 "2001-07-17T21:57:37Z")
Pop the cork, I say. From my own experience, it’s usually the gal who’s far more uncomfortable than I. One very loved lady swore by orgasms to help her cramps, too; of course I couldn’t really evaluate that, but I didn’t need much of an excuse to help her get some. It might help some of you ladies guilt the more squeamish guys in your life into action.
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### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2001, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/5 "2001-07-17T22:58:40Z")
I’ve heard the cramp easing thing as well from a previous girlfriend. She was cool with sex during menstration, so it didn’t bother me much. Used a condom so I didn’t get especially icky and that was about that.
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### Author:  [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2001, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/6 "2001-07-17T23:17:26Z")
My wife calls me a vampire…our favorite time of the month.
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### Author:  [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2001, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/7 "2001-07-17T23:33:42Z")
I’ve never had a problem with it. Well, except for when the flow starts while you’re inside her, and the first thing that runs thru your mind is “Oh damn, I done broke da pussy!” Then a split second later you remember the schedule. This seems to be happening a lot with **lady bug**. She gets rather insatiable right before the flow starts.
The only other real problem is the stained sheets. No matter what you put down, it gets on the sheets. The **lady bug** has a special set of sheets for these days. The shower advice is a good one… just don’t use soap or shampoo as a lube. (Conditioner works ok, though!)
As for cunnilingus, you can still do it! I mean, you shouldn’t go around lapping at random menstruating women on the street, but if you’re sharing bodily fluids already, there’s no added risk in getting a little blood in your mouth. Gross? Well, life’s not always a bowl of cherries, baby. At face value, applying suction to your member ain’t pleasant either. The giving is its own reward. If you’re that averse to it, just don’t stick your whole face in there, **Pstarr** , and watch hers instead! 😉
And finally, the first time I had sex with a woman on her menses, I found it rather spiritual. I remember it better than I do losing my virginity to her. I got the same feeling that I get when I see other marvelous wonders of nature, like nebulae, the anatomy of the cochlea, coral reefs, that sort of thing.
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### Author:  [@MrO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrO)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2001, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/8 "2001-07-17T23:34:13Z")
Never bothered me, though it can make a mess of the sheets. Even going down is not precluded; you just limit your attentions to the magic button.
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### Author:  [@xcheopis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xcheopis)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2001, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/9 "2001-07-17T23:56:57Z")
My boyfriend doesn’t post here but he has no trouble at all with having sex when I’m menstruating. We just use an old towel to protect the sheets and take a quick shower afterwards.
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### Author:  [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/10 "2001-07-18T00:27:41Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by MrO \*
> \*\*Even going down is not precluded; you just limit your attentions to the magic button. \*\*
Nothing wrong with leaving a tampon in until you actually _have_ to remove it.
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### Author:  [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2001, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/11 "2001-07-18T00:44:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bughunter \*
>
> I mean, you shouldn’t go around lapping at random menstruating women on the street
Holy smokes! Talk about words to live by!
jarbaby
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### Author:  [@Jeannie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeannie)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2001, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/12 "2001-07-18T01:01:48Z")
My husband has never had a problem with it. Like a lot of people here have said, I have more of a problem with it than he does. This isn’t due to the mess. I usually just get so sick and sore that sex is the farthest thing from my mind. But when I am in the mood, he never fails to, er…rise to the occasion 🙂
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### Author:  [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2001, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/13 "2001-07-18T01:16:04Z")
It never stopped me, in fact I like the thought of not having to worry about getting her pregnant. An old towel on the bed and a shower together afterwards.
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### Author:  [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/14 "2001-07-18T01:54:20Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I mean, you shouldn’t go around lapping at random menstruating women on the street
But women who _aren’t_ are a different story, right? Logically, If X equals true than !X also equals true, right?
Hmm. I suppose this could explain some problems I keep having with police.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2001, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/15 "2001-07-18T02:06:14Z")
Zero perspiration, my young friends. Just take a shower afterward.
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### Author:  [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2001, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/16 "2001-07-18T02:16:09Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Jeannie \*
> This isn’t due to the mess. I usually just get so sick and sore that sex is the farthest thing from my mind.
Thank you Jeannie. I have no problem with bodily fluids. But I gotta tell you guys, if I can’t even fit into my ‘big girl pants’ and I’m crying at the Sensory Deprivation episode of the Simpsons while curled up under an afghan physically punching my own uterus, begging it to die…
you ain’t getting laid anytime soon.
jarbaby
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### Author:  [@Tyklfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyklfe)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2001, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/17 "2001-07-18T02:41:48Z")
I’m a guy and I’m proud to say that I’ve earned my redwings!
Truthfully, it was a fantastic experience! It seems that women who do enjoy sex while menstruating enjoy sex more at that time of the month than anyother (but I’m a guy so watta I know?)
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### Author:  [@Medea\_s\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medea_s_Child)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2001, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/18 "2001-07-18T02:46:03Z")
My periods (before I was drugging myself out of them) ran about three days.
1. cramps, pain, emotional roller coaster, mental issues. No. no sex. None. Hold me. Only not like that you bastard! Fuck you! I’m going to soak in the hot tub at the gym! I hope you die! Oh, sorry, honey. _weeps_
2. Bleed like a stuck pig. Apologise for anything I can remember from the day before. Mmmm…sex in the shower…
3. just about normal. Lots of sex if at all possible. (Okay, that part of it is normal.)
So my basic answer is Yup! Its exchange of bodily fluids. This is new and different how? I swallow. Thus I better get sex on demand.
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### Author:  [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2001, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/19 "2001-07-18T02:51:09Z")
The ex didn’t have a problem with it at all, and he was the first person I ever did that with. Old towel kept handily by the bed for about a week each month.
I will admit to being a little more - uh - amorous at that time of the month. However, no red wings on my man. Ever. That just won’t work for me.
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### Author:  [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2001, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-tide-sex-during-menstruation/72846/20 "2001-07-18T03:13:22Z")
Blood makes hair stick together.
My boyfriend and I found this out the hard (and painful) way.
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