10 of Men’s Most Daring Question About Periods (Answered by an Expert)
Key takeaways:
Even though men don’t get periods, they’re still affected by them. It helps to understand some key facts about menstruation for the important relationships in your life.
It’s OK to have sex when a woman is on her period. But there’s still a risk of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy.
It’s normal for a woman to have a shift in her mood and behavior around the time of her period. There are ways for partners to be supportive and make the process a little easier for both.
Table of contents
Periods can be intimidating, especially if you’ve never had one yourself. And the menstrual cycle isn’t the most straightforward process. But the truth of the matter is that periods affect more than just girls and women. The emotional and physical changes that come about once every month have an impact on the men in their lives, too. So we gathered some of the most common and honest questions that men have about periods. We’ll provide you with the facts that can help you understand periods — and women — a little bit better.
1. Do men have periods?
The answer to this question may seem obvious to people. But it’s a common one. And a good one.
Men (and anyone who was born with male reproductive organs) don’t get periods. This is because you need to have a uterus and ovaries to have a period.
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A period happens when the uterus sheds its lining. About once every month, women experience hormonal changes that cause the lining of their uterus to thicken. This is so that they can support a potential pregnancy.
At some point during this monthly cycle, an egg is released from one of their ovaries. The ovaries sit right above the uterus. That egg then travels down the fallopian tubes to the uterus. There, it can either be fertilized by a sperm, or not. If it’s fertilized, it will try and make a bed for itself in that thick lining and develop into a fetus. If the egg isn’t fertilized, the uterus can tell. So it sheds the lining that’s no longer needed. And then the process begins again.
2. When do women get their periods?
Periods usually start when a girl is in puberty — around 12 years old. Some girls may get their period earlier than that, and some may develop it later. But most girls will get their periods by the age of 16.
Women continue to get their periods until they go through menopause later in life. Menopause is a drawn-out process that lasts several years, but most women complete the process at some point in their 50s.
During the decades when a woman is getting her period, menstruation usually happens around every 28 days — so, about once a month. But the time between periods can range anywhere from 21 to 35 days. Each period lasts anywhere from 2 to 7 days. For some women, periods can last even longer.
3. Is period blood actually blood?
Yes, period blood is actually blood. To be more precise, it’s a mixture of blood, cells from the uterus, and fluid that’s naturally produced by the vagina.
Period blood can look different from day to day when a woman has her period. For example, many women have much heavier bleeding on the first or second day of their period. In this case, it often looks bright red — and it can have some blood clots mixed in. On the last day, she might just have some light spotting. And the blood can look more brown, since it’s drier.
4. How much blood does a woman lose on her period?
On average, women will lose around 30 mL to 40 mL of blood during their period. This is about 6 to 8 teaspoons. But many women will experience heavier periods. They may lose more than 80 mL (about 16 teaspoons) of blood.
5. Is it OK to have sex when a woman is on her period?
Yes, it’s OK to have sex when a woman is on her period. But it’s important to remember that her period doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You should still use condoms during sex for protection against STIs. And she can still get pregnant on her period, which we cover next.
6. Can a woman get pregnant while on her period?
Yes, a woman can get pregnant while on her period.
If you and your partner are using birth control effectively, then it’s unlikely a woman will get pregnant. Even if you’re not using birth control, the chances of pregnancy are lower when a woman has her period.
But keep in mind that condoms can still protect against STIs — and help prevent pregnancy, even if it’s less likely.
7. Does a woman still get her period when she’s pregnant?
No, when a woman is pregnant, she no longer gets her period. Pregnancy can still lead to spotting (small amounts of blood loss), but this is usually significantly less blood than a period. So if a woman has her period, it’s a likely sign that she isn’t pregnant.
8. Can a man get an infection from period blood?
Yes, a man can get an infection from period blood.
Some viruses — like HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and hepatitis — live in the blood. So, men can get these types of infections from period blood. And other STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea may travel in period blood, too.
The safest way to prevent STIs during period sex is to use a barrier method. These include condoms, female (internal) condoms, or dental dams.
9. Does period sex make you more attached?
There are no studies showing that sex during a woman’s period makes either person feel more attached.
That being said, a woman may have a different response to sex while she has her period. For example, it may lead to a more intense orgasm. One study shows that women experience increased arousal during their menstrual cycle, and that this may lead to stronger feelings of connection.
Women and/or men may be less interested in having sex when the woman has her period. For women, this is usually due to unpleasant symptoms that are common before and during her period that can affect her libido. And some men may be turned off by the sight or smell of period blood.
10. How should a partner treat a woman coping with cramps or PMS?
Cramps and symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) can be painful and stressful for any woman. And if you’re her partner, you may feel the effects of this, too. But there are ways you can help and be supportive during this time. The following tips may make things a little easier for both you and her:
Stay patient. Before or during a period, a woman may experience more extreme emotions. Try to be patient and avoid judgements or arguments, which may make her feel worse.
Pitch in. Whether it’s putting in a load of laundry, emptying the trash, or picking up groceries, try to take something off her to-do list. This will likely help ease her mind.
Show extra affection. It may feel natural to want to stay away from your partner while she seems emotional or unhappy. But extra affection may help her feel better. And don’t be afraid to ask if she wants this. Sometimes a woman may not want to be touched or may only want to be touched in a particular way when she has her period.
Actively listen. Your partner likely wants to be heard, especially if they’re experiencing bigger emotions than usual around the time of their period. Make an effort to turn off the television or put your phone down when they’re speaking to you. Repeat back to them what you’ve heard to make sure they know you’re listening.
And remember, periods are over after 1 week. So, if you’re having a hard time, remember that it’s only temporary.
The bottom line
Menstruation isn’t a topic that many people enjoy talking about, especially men. But when you have conversations about periods with the women in your life you care about, it can help make the topic feel less taboo. Know that it’s OK to ask questions like the ones here. The answers have implications for your physical and mental health, too. And it can help smooth over any waves in the relationship that happen around that time.
Why trust our experts?
References
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (2017). About menstruation.
Kaunitz, A. M. (2022). Patient education: Barrier and pericoital methods of birth control (beyond the basics). UpToDate.
Kendall. (2024). Can you get pregnant if you have sex during your period? Planned Parenthood.
Lacroix, A. E., et al. (2023). Physiology, menarche. StatPearls.
Mazokopakis, E. E., et al. (2018). Is vaginal sexual intercourse permitted during menstruation? A biblical (Christian) and medical approach. Maedica.
National Health Service. (2023). Periods.
Planned Parenthood. (n.d.). Menstruation.
Slob, A. K., et al. (1996). Sexual arousability and the menstrual cycle. Psychoneuroendocrinology.
Taylor, A. (2019). Can I have sex during my period? Can I get pregnant during my period? Planned Parenthood.
Taylor, A. (2020). If you get your period, does that mean you’re not pregnant? Planned Parenthood.
Upson, K., et al. (2022). An epidemiologic review of menstrual blood loss as an excretion route for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Current Environmental Health Reports.
Yang, H., et al. (2012). Proteomic analysis of menstrual blood. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics.
