Chocolate and comfy sweatpants are your go-to during your period, but you might want to add a masturbation session as well. Are you looking for an answer to if we can masturbate during periods? Well, sex makes you feel good, right? Hormones like dopamine and oxytocin are released when you masturbate, making you feel satisfied. So, sex with yourself can improve your mood too.
Masturbation—touching oneself for sex—is a normal, enjoyable act that can induce orgasm. It's common for women to feel more aroused during their period, and masturbating at this time is okay.
Benefits of Masturbation During Periods
As per a study, masturbation is an essential part of sexuality with no risks of pregnancy and may benefit the overall sexual and emotional health. The multiple benefits of masturbation during periods are:
1. Pain Alleviation
Masturbation is beneficial in alleviating pain by releasing hormones called endorphins. Endorphins, the hormones are known to reduce pain and stress, are secreted when the body reaches orgasm.
2. Mood Booster
During menstruation, women go through mood swings. As per research, reaching orgasm while masturbating results in the secretion of mood booster hormones called dopamine and serotonin.
3. Improved Sleep Quality
As per a study, masturbation improves the quality of sleep. During periods, pain, cramping, and discomfort in the body disturb sleep. Masturbation may reduce discomfort and enable deep, refreshing sleep.
4. Natural Lubricant
Blood during menstruation acts as a natural lubricant, reducing friction while inserting fingers or any sex toys.
How to Masturbate While on a Period?
While on a period, you will want to have mess-free masturbation. There are several ways to enjoy masturbation during menstruation. Masturbation during periods must be done as per your desire and the way you like it. You may try clitoral stimulation without penetration of your fingers or sex toys. You may also masturbate in the shower or on the bed with dark-coloured cloth spread to avoid bloodstains.
How to Masturbate with a Tampon or a Menstrual Cup Inside?
Using a tampon or a menstrual cup does not preclude you from masturbating during periods. You can still have an orgasm with clitoral stimulation, and the tampon or cup will make cleanup easier.
Although menstrual blood can serve as a lubricant, this won't be the case if you use a tampon or cup. These gadgets can absorb your natural lubricant and result in dryness in the vagina. To avoid irritation in these situations, try adding an extra lubricant. After masturbating, you should also check the position of your menstrual cup because orgasmic contractions can move it. Now that you know whether it is okay to masturbate during periods, you can try it!
How to Avoid Mess While Masturbating?
If you want to masturbate but are concerned about the mess that the menstrual blood will create, then follow the following tips to avoid the mess while masturbating:
- Menstrual cups: Blocks the blood from flowing down where the fingers will go
- Tampons: Wearing tampons while having external stimulation prevents the mess. It is important to note that the tampons must be removed before penetration
- Clitoral stimulation and no penetration: If you do not want any mess, masturbate by stimulating the external erogenous zones like the clitoris
- Period panties: You can enjoy mess-free masturbation after wearing the period panties
- Shower Masturbation: Masturbating in the shower washes away the blood and leaves no mess
- Wipes to clean: You must have wipes to clean up the blood during masturbation
- Dark coloured towels: If you are among those who enjoy masturbating on the bed or the couch, make sure to use a dark coloured towel underneath
How to Masturbate With Your Partner?
There are multiple ways to masturbate with your partner:
1. Mutual Masturbation
Either in the same room or miles apart, mutual masturbation can be tried on voice calls, video calls, or in the same room. While you touch yourself, ask your partner to stimulate their erogenous parts.
2. Oral Stimulation
If you have your partner’s consent to stimulate your clitoris during menstruation, oral sex will be a pleasurable experience. If the partner is concerned about blood entering the mouth, dental dams must be used or wear a menstrual cup.
3. Anal Sex
It is another way to have pleasurable sex, even during periods. However, for anal sex, you may require a lot of lubricants.
How to Keep Things Safe Masturbation During Periods?
Is it safe to masturbate during periods? Masturbation during periods is safe, but a few precautions need to be taken:
1. Use Sex Toys Made Out of Nonporous Materials
Sex toys made of nonporous materials such as the following should be used as they are easy to clean and prevents bacterial accumulation:
- Glass
- Silicone
- Metal
- ABS hard plastic
2. Avoid Rubber Material Sex Toys
Sex toys made out of rubber and similar porous materials may cause bacterial accumulation that may lead to the infection of the reproductive parts.
3. Avoid the Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Blood during periods may transmit STIs or HIV to your partner or you from your partner. Also, during periods, the vagina becomes less acidic, allowing the bacterial infection to invade easily. It is better to have your sexual health checkups frequently.
How to Clean Up Afterward?
Cleaning after masturbation is similar to cleaning after sex. Follow the below-mentioned tips to clean after masturbation:
- Use warm water to clean your vulva.
- Ask your partner to wash their genitals if they participated in masturbation.
- Clean your sex toys as per the instructions mentioned on the label from the manufacturer.
- Clean the bloodstains, if any, on the bedsheet.
- You may dump all your clothes in the washing machine for cleaning and make sure to clean the machine afterwards.
Risks of Masturbating During Period
Is it okay to masturbate during periods? Can we masturbate during periods without any risks? There are no risks of masturbation during periods. As per scientific studies, masturbation is the safest form of sex without the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, Hepatitis, or HIV and without the risk of pregnancy. However, precautions such as condoms, menstrual cups, and dental dams must be used while masturbating with your partner.
Ways to Have Sex During a Period
Many women ask if it is safe to masturbate during periods. Well, yes, and it's also safe to indulge in some sex and feel better.
Remember, as long as you're secure and include birth control and STI prevention in a consenting situation, there is no wrong way to do anything. Keep these things in mind:
1. Keep Birth Control and Sti Prevention in Mind
Always play it safe. A virus like HIV may be spread more easily through menstrual blood. In other words, just like any additional time, protection is essential during period sex.
2. Before You Start, Remove Your Menstrual Cup or Tampon
Make sure to take off any tampons or menstrual cups you may be wearing. To avoid forgetting, remove your feminine product before doing anything.
3. Talk to Your Partner
Communication is essential in relationships, as in everything else. Before starting anything, be sure you and your partner are on the same page.
4. Grab a Towel
To avoid a mess on your sheets, use a towel that is a dark colour. Just be sure to have one available before you begin.
5. Enjoy the Journey
Sex during a period produces a long and satisfying climax. It is worthless if you don't relish it.
Precautionary Measures to Follow
As long as you are following the above precautionary measures, you could try having sex during your periods in the following ways:
1. Mutual Stimulation & Masturbation
Masturbating at the same time together with your partner. This prevents the need to remove your menstrual cup or tampon during the act.
2. Oral Sex
If your partner is willing to perform oral sex during your period, it is another option to have sex during your period. Ensure that your partner uses a dental dam to protect their mouth from direct contact with the genitals during the act. Your partner could also stimulate the clitoris externally while you wear your menstrual cup or tampon.
3. Anal Sex
Anal penetration or anal stimulation is possible during your period.
Does Masturbation Help Relieve Period Cramps?
The good news is that orgasms can ease menstruation cramps. Your body releases chemicals during an orgasm, such as oxytocin and dopamine, which have analgesic properties and relieve menstruation cramps. As you orgasm, blood rushes to the uterus, lessening cramping. Additionally, it assists you in reducing stress and releases endorphins into the body, which improves feelings of relaxation and sleep.
References
Genaro A. Coria-Avila, Deissy Herrera-Covarrubias, October 2016; The role of orgasm in the development and shaping of partner preferences - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5087697/
Cynthia L. Robbins, Vanessa Schick, December 2011; Prevalence, Frequency, and Associations of Masturbation With Partnered Sexual Behaviors Among US Adolescents - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/1107656
