Does Period Sex Make You More Attached? Spiritual & Emotional Effects

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Learn all about period sex and how it can affect you
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The time immediately before and during menstruation can be an incredibly sensitive and emotional time. It's no wonder that many people believe having sex while on your period can result in forming an intense emotional connection with your partner. Is this an unbreakable bond, and is it good or bad? Read on to find out everything you need to know about having sex on your period.

Bonding Through Period Sex

If period sex makes you feel more vulnerable, you might feel intense emotional bonding. Through a spiritual lens, you might refer to this bond as a "soul tie." There's nothing inherently bad about this experience—in fact, period sex has a lot of benefits, including relief from cramps.

Section 1 of 6:

Do you form soul ties through period sex?

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  1. Others believe that it can create a more intense soul tie than regular sex. While there's not necessarily any scientific research on that specific point, there are some science-backed reasons you might feel more intensely connected to someone you have period sex with:
    • Being on your period can lead to more intense emotions and emotional experiences. [1]
    • Being on your period can make you more physically and emotionally sensitive. [2]
    • Shame or embarrassment due to cultural stigma about menstruation might make you feel especially vulnerable, which makes you more open to deeper emotional connection. [3]
    • Cooperating to clean up the mess afterward can bring you closer together and increase your sense of partnership. [4]
    • Having sex with someone triggers your brain to release feel-good hormones, including oxytocin, also known as the love hormone, which can make you feel more attached to the person you just had sex with. [5]
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Section 2 of 6:

Having Sex on Your Period

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  1. 1
    Use dark-colored sheets, blankets, or towels. Dark colors mean the stains are less obvious—it also keeps your bed from looking like a crime scene. A little leakage can look dramatically different on a white sheet. [6]
    • You might also consider laying down a towel anyway if your sheets or blankets aren't easy to wash—totally up to you and what makes you feel comfortable.
  2. 2
    Remove your tampon or menstrual cup. Neither tampons nor menstrual cups are safe to leave in while you're having sex—you could push them too far up into the vaginal canal and cause a medical emergency. But even before that point, it probably wouldn't be very comfortable for either of you. [7]
  3. 3
    Lie on your back to reduce leakage. A lot of people feel as though there is less blood when they're on their back and penetrated from above. Lying on your back can also help if you have lower back pain associated with PMS. [8]
    • If you find a different position that feels better for you, go for it! Generally, the less moving around the better.
    • Keep it simple and stick to one, maybe two positions tops for the entire encounter.
    • The average person only loses about 6-8 teaspoons (30-39 mLs) of blood over the course of their entire period, so it's really not going to be as much as you think it might be. [9]
  4. 4
    Take it slow and communicate openly. Changes in your body can mean that sex feels different than it does at other times. Things that used to be fine might be painful or uncomfortable. At the same time, you might find you enjoy other types of touch that normally don't do much for you. [10]
    • Expect to be a little more tender and a little more sensitive. It's best if your partner is gentle, especially if this is your first time trying period sex.
    • Talk to your partner openly every step of the way so that they know how things feel for you.
  5. 5
    Go pee and clean up immediately after. Peeing after sex is important to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) . [11] This also gives you the chance to clean yourself up a little. You might even want to go ahead and take a bath or shower if it would make you feel more comfortable.
    • You might also want to have wet wipes or a damp washcloth nearby so you can clean yourselves superficially before you head to the bathroom.
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Section 3 of 6:

Benefits of Having Sex on Your Period

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  1. Orgasms can help ease your menstrual cramps. Oxytocin and other endorphins released in your brain can also help soothe pain from cramping as well as headaches and other aches and pains associated with PMS. [12]
  2. 2
    Shorter periods When you orgasm, your uterus contracts, which helps push out the uterine lining you're shedding during your period. As a result, your period might end up being a day or two shorter. [13]
  3. 3
    More intense orgasms Some people report that they have more intense orgasms on their period. You might also find that you're able to reach orgasm more quickly because you're more sensitive to stimulation. [14]
    • Some people might also describe this as feeling more turned on or having more sexual desire. [15]
  4. 4
    Less need for lubrication The blood acts as a natural lubricant, which can make sex easier and more enjoyable for both of you. It also means you don't have to worry about drying up midway through intercourse. [16]
  5. 5
    Increased bonding and attachment Having sex is already an incredibly intimate experience, but it can be even more intimate when you're on your period. The act of coming together and appreciating each other's bodies at a time when your body might not be looking or feeling its best is tremendously powerful. [17]
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Section 4 of 6:

Risks of Having Sex on Your Period

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  1. 1
    You actually can still get pregnant. The chances are pretty slim, but they're not zero. It's a little more likely if you have really long or really short periods that overlap with your ovulation window. But the only way you can be 100% sure is if you track your cycle consistently and have been for at least 6 months. [18]
  2. 2
    You might experience vaginal dryness. It's true that one of the benefits of period sex is that the blood acts as lubrication. But if you use tampons, it's possible that the tampon absorbed too much moisture from your vagina. No big deal, just means you might want to use a little lubrication at first to get things started.
  3. 3
    You can still catch a sexually transmitted infection (STI). In fact, studies show you might be at a slightly greater risk of contracting an STI if you have unprotected sex on your period. [19] It's best to use barrier protection, even while you're on your period, unless both you and your partner have recently been tested for STIs and neither of you engage in sexual activity with anyone else.
  4. 4
    You might have a mess to clean up. Even if you do everything you can to prepare, you might end up getting blood somewhere that you didn't anticipate. You might have a hard time getting the stain out , especially if you have lighter-colored sheets or blankets.
  5. 5
    You may increase your risk of developing endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition that can cause pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, and infertility. Some studies have shown women were twice as likely to develop endometriosis if they had period sex as if they didn't—but the disease still only affects around 10% of people who have periods. [20]
    • Other studies contradict those findings, so unless you already know that you're at an increased risk for developing endometriosis, this isn't something you need to worry about too much.
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Section 5 of 6:

FAQs about Sexual Soul Ties

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  1. The term "soul tie" is used to describe an intense emotional and spiritual connection that two people have with each other. These soul ties are formed in various ways, most commonly through sex . [21] Many of these ways correspond with the scientific understanding of how people develop deep emotional bonds.
    • A lot of soul ties theory generally is a modern understanding of psychology and interpersonal relationships with a spiritual gloss.
    • You can choose to look at these experiences from a spiritual perspective, a scientific perspective, or both—the underlying truth is the same, for the most part.
  2. 2
    Are soul ties good or bad? When you're asking this, you're essentially asking if it's good or bad to have a deep emotional connection with someone else. If that other person is a good person who cares about you and the two of you have a healthy relationship, you might say you have a good soul tie. Soul ties can also be characterized as "ungodly" or "bad." [22] Ungodly soul ties are similar to the popular psychology understanding of toxic relationships. [23]
    • For example, unhealthy or nonexistent boundaries is a sign of ungodly soul ties. Toxic relationships are those where boundaries are blurred or erased. [24]
    • Some believe that the soul ties formed through period sex are bad. This might be tied to religious traditions that view period sex as unclean or inappropriate. [25]
    • Some also believe that the ungodly soul tie formed by period sex causes the man to become obsessed with the woman. Science recognizes obsessions as intrusive thoughts that are often associated with psychological conditions—and generally not enjoyable for the person having them. [26]
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Section 6 of 6:

The Bottom Line

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  1. It's perfectly healthy to have sex on your period—in fact, there are some physical benefits to it. Despite historical and religious views, there's nothing dirty or inappropriate about having sex on your period.
    • The vulnerability that comes from being on your period can produce intense emotional bonds following a pleasurable sexual experience.
    • Being on your period can also make the whole experience feel more intimate, which also brings you emotionally closer.

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/bbcthree/article/7d820559-c421-488a-af53-4027965341fb
      2. ↑ https://womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/premenstrual-syndrome
      3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happy-healthy-relationships/202203/the-importance-of-vulnerability-in-healthy-relationships
      4. ↑ https://www.newleafresources.org/editoruploads/files/Building%20Partnership%20in%20Relationship.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/oxytocin-the-love-hormone
      6. ↑ https://sh24.org.uk/help-centre/can-i-have-sex-on-my-period
      7. ↑ https://sh24.org.uk/help-centre/can-i-have-sex-on-my-period
      8. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/bbcthree/article/7d820559-c421-488a-af53-4027965341fb
      9. ↑ https://www.ippf.org/blogs/period-sex
      1. ↑ https://sh24.org.uk/help-centre/can-i-have-sex-on-my-period
      2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/peeing-after-sex
      3. ↑ https://sh24.org.uk/help-centre/can-i-have-sex-on-my-period
      4. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6290188/
      5. ↑ https://www.ippf.org/blogs/period-sex
      6. ↑ https://sh24.org.uk/help-centre/can-i-have-sex-on-my-period
      7. ↑ https://www.ippf.org/blogs/period-sex
      8. ↑ https://sh24.org.uk/help-centre/can-i-have-sex-on-my-period
      9. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-you-get-pregnant-on-your-period
      10. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8885071/
      11. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6290188/
      12. ↑ https://restoringthefoundations.org/podcast/ungodly-soul-ties/
      13. ↑ https://restoringthefoundations.org/podcast/ungodly-soul-ties/
      14. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/addiction-and-recovery/202103/what-is-a-toxic-relationship
      15. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-flux/201609/toxic-people
      16. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7139224/
      17. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/obsession

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