Australia's healthdirect service gives one very practical tip in its guide to periods: if you have sex, take your tampon out beforehand. It is a small detail, but it sums up what preparing to have period sex mostly involves, which is a few minutes of planning so you can both relax.
Here's how to get ready, stay protected and clean up without fuss.
Quick answer: To have period sex, make sure you both want to, lay down a dark towel, take out your tampon or period cup before penetrative sex and keep condoms close. Jean Hailes says water-based lube is safe with condoms and lowers the risk of them breaking. Clean up with a shower and a quick wash of the towel.
How do you get ready for period sex?
Set things up before you start so nobody is hunting for a towel halfway through:
- Talk first and agree together; either of you can change your mind at any point. Our guide on how to talk to your partner about period sex may help.
- Choose a time that suits you, such as a lighter-flow day.
- Put down a dark towel and keep tissues or a damp face washer nearby.
- Remove your tampon or period cup.
- Have condoms and, if you like, water-based lube within reach.
Lunette Lube 100 ml is in our range too; check the label to make sure it suits your condoms.
Do you need protection for sex on your period?
Yes. The Jean Hailes guide to safer sex says it is important to practise safer sex even when you have your period. It recommends condoms to prevent STIs, dental dams for oral sex, and a new barrier whenever you swap partners or move between vaginal, anal and oral sex. Water-based lubes are safe with condoms and sex toys, and lube also reduces the chance of a condom breaking. If pregnancy isn't on the cards, use contraception as well.
Do you need to remove your period cup or tampon?
Yes, both should come out before any penetration. Healthdirect says to take a tampon out before sex, and a 2026 paper in Frontiers in Reproductive Health notes that a menstrual disc can be left in during sex, unlike a standard menstrual cup. Empty your period cup, rinse it and keep it somewhere clean until you reinsert it.
What's the easiest way to clean up?
A towel and a shower do most of the work. Put the towel straight in the wash, rinse off with water, and wash any toys you used following their instructions before storing them. Then put your period cup back in, or use a pad or period undies, for the rest of the day.
When to see a doctor
See your GP or a sexual health clinic if:
- you bleed between periods or after sex;
- your periods are heavier than usual or last more than 8 days;
- severe period pain disrupts your daily activities;
- you want an STI check, or advice on how often you should have one.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of lube is best for period sex?
If you're using condoms, choose a water-based lube. Jean Hailes says water-based lubes are safe with condoms and sex toys and help lower the risk of a condom breaking. Whether you use lube at all is a personal preference rather than a must, so go with what feels comfortable.
Is shower sex easier during your period?
For clean-up, often yes, because blood rinses straight down the drain and there's no towel or sheet to wash. Wet tiles can be slippery, so take it slowly and use a non-slip mat. Running water doesn't replace condoms if you want protection from pregnancy or STIs.
How do I put my period cup back in afterwards?
Wash your hands, rinse or wash the cup, then insert it as you normally would. Healthdirect advises following the product instructions for removing a menstrual cup to help prevent toxic shock syndrome, so take the same care each time you take your cup out around sex.
Looking for a reusable option you can take out before sex and reinsert later? The Lunette period cup is made from 100% medical-grade silicone and comes in Size 1 and Size 2. Our guide on how to clean a period cup covers washing it between uses.
This information is general in nature and isn't medical advice; talk to your GP or a sexual health clinic about your own situation.
