# Sex eases menstrual cramps? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 17, 2007, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799 "2007-11-17T02:51:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/1 "2007-11-17T02:51:47Z")
Another thread, for some strange reason, reminded me of this. My ex-wife and two other women that I can think of claimed that it does. I cannot think of one who said that it doesn’t, but the question didn’t always come up. The “yuck” factor, I suspect. Any opinions from those who _have_ experienced sex during the menstrual cycle? Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/2 "2007-11-17T03:09:55Z")
Yes, it does. No, you don’t want further details. It’s also one heck of a distraction from them. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/3 "2007-11-17T03:11:30Z")
IME, orgasms help ease the cramps, yes. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/4 "2007-11-17T03:20:01Z")
[QUOTE=Siege] Yes, it does. No, you don’t want further details. It’s also one heck of a distraction from them. [/QUOTE] I’ve probably heard the details. I was always happy to be of service, and not at all bothered by the ickness. In fact, the slight increase in warmth is quite pleasant, imo. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/5 "2007-11-17T03:27:46Z")
Yep, I find it does. So does childbirth, actually - both times I’ve been pregnant, my menstrual cramps for the first year of resumed menses are much lighter. My WAG is that a painful cramp is the muscle fibers of the uterus and perhaps pelvic floor contracting spasmodically, but not really rhythmically. That’s what it feels like, anyway, and just like a charlie horse, it hurts. Orgasm, on the other hand, makes the uterus contract smoothly and rhythmically, which doesn’t hurt - just like a healthy quad doesn’t hurt while gently running. The effect is only temporary, unfortunately. Sooner or later the ouchy spasmy cramping takes over again. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/6 "2007-11-17T03:32:29Z")
rats. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/7 "2007-11-17T03:38:07Z")
My favorite ex-boyfriend was also always happy to help out at that time of the month, but at a price: I had to endure him admiring his abdomen afterward and happliy exclaiming “I’ve been shot!” It was worth it, though—I always felt better after. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/8 "2007-11-17T03:41:16Z")
[QUOTE=Ms. Pumpkin] IME, orgasms help ease the cramps, yes. [/QUOTE] Yeah, it’s the orgasm, not the actual sex. We have sex when I have my period, and it’s not messy, really. The clean up is a bit, but during, the ‘flow’ stops. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/9 "2007-11-17T03:42:36Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] Yep, I find it does. So does childbirth, actually - both times I’ve been pregnant, my menstrual cramps for the first year of resumed menses are much lighter. My WAG is that a painful cramp is the muscle fibers of the uterus and perhaps pelvic floor contracting spasmodically, but not really rhythmically. That’s what it feels like, anyway, and just like a charlie horse, it hurts. Orgasm, on the other hand, makes the uterus contract smoothly and rhythmically, which doesn’t hurt - just like a healthy quad doesn’t hurt while gently running. The effect is only temporary, unfortunately. Sooner or later the ouchy spasmy cramping takes over again. [/QUOTE] Once, while my ex and I were being still during a tender moment, she asked "did you _feel_ that?’ I did. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/10 "2007-11-17T03:43:56Z")
I should also add that it is kind of hard to get ‘motivated’ if I have bad cramps. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/11 "2007-11-17T04:24:30Z")
[QUOTE=EmAnJ] I should also add that it is kind of hard to get ‘motivated’ if I have bad cramps. [/QUOTE] Yeah. I don’t feel pretty, and I usually don’t feel sexy. Alas. ---
**Author:** ![BrknButterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@BrknButterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrknButterfly)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/12 "2007-11-17T04:34:23Z")
Hmm. Interesting. I have never actually done it during that “week”. Ever. Isn’t like I’m not in the mood, just don’t feel all that attractive… plus the mess… I tend to just suffer through the week… ---
**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:** [November 17, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/13 "2007-11-17T04:38:18Z")
[QUOTE=EmAnJ] I should also add that it is kind of hard to get ‘motivated’ if I have bad cramps. [/QUOTE] Same here…though sometimes I get horny and masturbate a lot on the rag. I do find that exercise helps a lot if I can get motivated. Or if I’ve been working out a lot right before or even in general, the cramps aren’t so bad. After I started running, the cramps were never too bad. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/14 "2007-11-17T05:11:33Z")
Oh yes, lots of regular exercise has made a huge difference. So, how many guys feel ok about doing it during the tomato wagon? ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/15 "2007-11-17T05:28:34Z")
It doesn’t bother me in the slightest, and it’s helped my wife in the past. Going to draw the line at oral, though. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/16 "2007-11-17T05:34:15Z")
Ugh. Red wings. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/17 "2007-11-17T08:37:54Z")
[QUOTE=EmAnJ] Oh yes, lots of regular exercise has made a huge difference. So, how many guys feel ok about doing it during the tomato wagon? [/QUOTE] I don’t mind. Currently my mattress looks like a crime scene for that very reason. OK maybe that was TMI. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/18 "2007-11-17T14:16:24Z")
It’s the orgasm that does it – so you don’t necessarily need to have sex with a partner – or even take out your tampon – to obtain this particular form of relief. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/19 "2007-11-17T15:19:50Z")
Hu. It’s never helped me, but I’ve never had bad periods, so what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799/20 "2007-11-17T15:25:36Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] It’s the orgasm that does it – so you don’t necessarily need to have sex with a partner – or even take out your tampon – to obtain this particular form of relief. Just sayin’. [/QUOTE] Hush. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-eases-menstrual-cramps/426799.md?page=2)