Dear Dr Milrod:

I wonder what activities are safe or off limits during “the monthly curse”.  Is sex with a condom any riskier if a woman is menstruating?  Is there a higher level of bacteria or other pathogens in menstrual blood than in regular vaginal lubrication or secretions? While cunnilingus might not be appealing at that moment, is it riskier at different times of the month?

Brett

Dear Brett:

There are so many myths around menstruation worldwide that to write about them all would consume more space than this board can handle. The terms “monthly curse” or “Aunt Flo” are also typical for a subject that seems difficult for some people to handle.

Suffice it to say that the blood, which really is the uterine lining being shed, is no different than any other blood inside a woman’s body. Now, having said that, if a woman is a carrier of an STD, then her menstrual blood will contain the STD whether it is the HIV virus or any other bacteria associated with a number of other STDs, including syphilis and chlamydia. Additionally, many women experience herpes outbreaks during their monthly periods, which may actually increase the risk of spreading this disease to a sexual partner. Clearly, when engaging in coitus, no matter what time of the month it is, it is necessary to wear a condom in order to prevent STD transmission unless you and your partner are monogamous.

Christine Milrod, Ph.D.