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Red alert! What to do if your period falls on Valentine’s Day

by Joyce Remo

PUBLISHED ON February 9, 2023

Editor’s note: This article is for medical and educational purposes.

FOR Filipino couples, Valentine’s Day is one of the most anticipated days to share intimacy.

They go on dates, watch a movie or concerts, stroll and watch the sunset, eat in restaurants and drink. For married couples and the less conservative, it’s also the best time for doing the deed.

But what if Valentine’s Day falls on a red day?

Cultural belief of period

As Catholics, Filipinos generally have a notion that menstruation is a period of “cleansing.”

The biblical indoctrination says that a woman is “unclean” for seven days during her period (Leviticus 15:19) and if a man has sexual contact with a woman during her monthlies, “he shall be unclean for seven days, and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.” (Leviticus 15:24)

While many no longer subscribe literally to this passage, Filipino women think having sex during their “monthly dalaw” is “unsanitary,” a survey by the US Agency for International Development said.

“Pare, bad trip. May red tide si misis!”

And in such cases, Filipino men often complain that “red tide” – their code for menstrual period – is such a party pooper for their elaborately planned romantic escapades.

But what is the science saying?

A little messy but safe

Contrary to popular belief, having sexual intercourse during menstruation is safe.

It could be a little messy because of all the blood, but couples do not need to worry about their safety as long as they use protection.

What are the benefits?

According to experts, having sex while menstruating has pretty exciting benefits. Aside from relieving menstrual cramps, lovemaking on red days could shorten period days as muscle contraction from female orgasm pushes out the uterine contents faster.

The menstrual blood and tissue that flows out from the uterus also serve as natural lubrication, allowing easier access and lesser discomfort during sex.

What are the possible downsides?

Although sexual intercourse during a woman’s period provide a wide array of benefits, it could also lead to several possible side effects.

Aside from the messy sheets you could get from doing the deed, there is also an increased risk in acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by having sex during period days. Some STIs that can be obtained are as follows:

The viruses that cause these STIs live in blood and can spread through contact with infected menstrual blood.

This is why it is crucial to always use contraceptives like condoms when planning to have sex during the menstrual cycle.

Can you get pregnant?

While the possibility of fertilization during a menstrual cycle is lesser, there is still a chance for women to conceive even when the deed is done during her period.

Typically, women get pregnant during ovulation, which happens 14 days prior to the start of their period. However, women with shorter cycles can experience higher pregnancy risks if they will have sexual intercourse during their period.

Suppose a woman has a 22-day cycle. She would usually ovulate sooner right after her period ends. Since a sperm can live inside a foreign body for up to seven days, there’s a chance that it will meet the newly-released egg cell during ovulation.