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20 May 2010

Sexual practices during menstruation

KATHMANDU, May 19: Dipika Shrestha, 22, thought that establishing sexual relationship with her partner during her menstruation cycle was the safest way to go intimate with her partner. She had no clue then that having sex during the monthly period cycle could get her uterus infection.

“I was pretty confident that indulging in sex during the menses was the safest way to practice sex, without using any sort protection. And because my partner doesn’t like using condoms, we often used to make love during my menstruation cycle. Both of us were proved wrong when I suffered from uterus infection,” she unveiled to Republica and refused to disclose the infection she suffered.

Likewise, Sushila Bhandari, 23, went through an abortion a year ago. She thought that indulging in sex without any contraceptives during the 12th day of menstruation cycle was safe. Bhandari never thought that her miscalculation would bring her unwanted pregnancy.

“Thank God, it wasn’t too late. I know abortion is a crime; it’s killing a life. But I had to think practically,” she weakened as she disclosed.

While indulging in sexual practices is still a taboo in our society, many teenagers and adults however enjoy having the forbidden fruit. Many in the society try avoiding sexual intercourses during the menstruation, mostly because they find it unclean and unhygienic. In the meantime, the population of people practicing sex during the menses is no less.

Some involve in it simply because of the fact that it has been restricted by our society while some believe that it’s the most suitable time to practice safe sex.

While there are no accurate researches to claim that sexual intercourse during the menstruation cycle is hundred percent safe, people however believe that there is no harm in making love during these days. What also has been a troublesome issue for both men and women is calculating the safe period cycle to practice sexual relationship. And because menstruation cycle varies from one woman to the other, and many don’t follow the same routine, it’s even debatable to say whether one’s period calculation suits the other.

Dr Kundu Yonzan, senior gynecologist at Patan Hospital and Norvic Hospital, said, “It’s not that you can’t indulge in sex during the menses. But yes, the chances of being infected are high. Because the mouth of the uterus is often wide during the period, there is high risk of being contaminated with different kinds of uterus infections. It’s better to avoid contact.”

According to Dr Hema Pradhan, senior gynecologist at Kathmandu Model Hospital, the pelvic tissues of women are extraordinarily soft during their menstruation cycle, and a physical intercourse could cause injuries to women’s vagina, resulting in infections.

“It’s not that you can’t go for sex during menstruation. However, many try to avoid these days because in our society a girl is taught since her childhood that the blood, which comes out during her cycle, is impure and dirty. But there’s no harm in practicing sexual intercourse during the time, provided the couple is careful and is protected,” Dr Pradhan explained.

Sexual intercourse during menstruation can invite diseases like Gonorrhea and Hepatitis B.

What about the safe cycle days? Is there anything as safe period for sexual intercourse without having to use condoms?

Pradhan answered, “There certainly is a safe-sex period when one can go intimate without using condoms. If a girl is following a regular menstruation cycle – that is of 28 days, every month – the first ten days of menses cycle is considered relatively safe.”

She elaborated, “If a girl went through her menstruation on the 28th day of a month, she should understand that she produced ovum on the 14th day of the month and was ready to conceive then. After the first 10 ten days, she will again start to produce ovum, and this period will be unsafe to make love without using condoms.”

But even this is not a fully guaranteed procedure to apply for everyone because not everyone follows the 28 days cycle a month. While some start to bleed earlier, some often face it late. This calculation is only applicable to those who strictly go through regular routine of menstruation.

Though Dr Pradhan said that one can avoid unwanted pregnancy if s/he follows the menstruation cycle calendar, she however emphasized that there’s no other alternative to using contraceptives to avoid pregnancy and other infections.

But Dr Bhola Rijal, senior gynecologist at Om Hospital, said it would not be wise to take chances and regret later.

“Many may not know that there are chances of pregnancy even during the first or second day of menstruation. Forget about being happy for the ten days you have, nothing is guaranteed in this process. Even while one is bleeding, one can still go through ovulation,” said Dr Rijal and added, “Yes, we recommend our patients to follow the menstruation chart but we also tell them that nothing is safer than using contraceptives.”

Rijal further made it clear that there are high chances of getting STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) while indulging in sex during menstruation.

He made it easy to understand: “It’s nowhere written that STDs are spread only through infected partners. Because the cervical tissues become very sensitive during women’s menstruation, even small dirt particles in the air and the pollution around one can invite STDs.” Rijal added that an egg in women can survive for more than a day, and any direct contact of sperm to it can fertilize it, resulting in pregnancy.

“Using condoms are safer than counting days,” he concluded.

Courtesy : myrepublica

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