Can You Masturbate On Your Period? Benefits, Tips, And Safety

Maybe your like

Medical News TodaySubscribeCan you masturbate on your period?

Medically reviewed by Stacy A. Henigsman, DO — Written by Louise Morales-Brown — Updated on June 2, 2025

Is it OK?
Benefits
Methods
Other ways to have sex
Cleaning up
Are there any risks?
Summary

A person can masturbate while on their period. However, it may require some additional preparation and cleanup.

Masturbating during a period is natural and may have some health benefits, including improving mood and pain relief.

This article will explore masturbation during menstruation in more detail, including the benefits, how to do it, and some tips for cleaning up.

Is it OK to masturbate on your period?

An image of a female to accompany an article about whether or not it is ok to masturbate on your period. — Getty Images

Masturbation involves someone stimulating their own genitals or erogenous zones. Some people may choose to do this with their fingers or a sex toy, such as a vibrator.

Being on a period does not mean a person cannot masturbate, and there are no negative side effects to doing so.

Some people assume that period blood is unsanitary, and in some cultures, there is social stigma surrounding menstruation. However, it is a myth that menstrual blood is dirty or harmful. Unless a person has a bloodborne illness, menstrual blood is not dangerous.

Some people also believe that masturbating is morally wrong for religious or cultural reasons. This may make some people feel ashamed for doing it.

However, in terms of physical health, masturbation is the safest way to have sex. With self-stimulation, there is no chance of unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

»Learn more:About sexual health

Potential health benefits

There is some evidence to suggest that masturbating during a period could be beneficial. Some of the potential advantages include:

Pain relief

When a person reaches orgasm, their body releases endorphins. These are hormones that can alleviate pain, which may be helpful for people who experience abdominal cramping during menstruation.

Boost in mood

If a person often feels down while on their period, having an orgasm may help.

During an orgasm, the body releases chemicals, such as dopamine and serotonin, that may affect a person’s mood. If a person has low serotonin, this may improve their mood.

Masturbating is also an enjoyable experience for many people, and some even report that it improves their self-esteem.

»Learn more:Masturbation's effect on the brain

Improved sleep

One 2019 study suggests that orgasms can improve a person’s sleep quality, particularly orgasms that are the result of masturbation. Participants in the study reported the most favorable outcomes in sleep after self-stimulation.

As some people feel tired or experience sleep disturbances during their period, this may mean that masturbation helps them get more refreshing sleep.

Better lubrication

During menstruation, the inside of the vagina is coated with blood. This offers a lot of lubrication, which can reduce friction when inserting fingers or sex toys.

»Learn more:Side effects of masturbation

How to masturbate while on a period

There is no right or wrong way to masturbate while on a period, as everyone has their own preferences, desires, limits, and boundaries.

Some people may prefer to masturbate in a way that requires little cleanup afterward. However, some people may prefer to forget about this and just enjoy the experience.

The following tips may be useful for people who want to masturbate with minimal mess.

Masturbate in the shower or bath

Masturbating in the shower or bath minimizes mess and makes cleaning up afterward easy. The water from the shower or bath will wash away any blood.

If using a sex toy, make sure that it is waterproof before bringing into the bath or shower.

Try clitoral and external stimulation

If a person does not want to insert their fingers or a sex toy into their vagina while on their period, they can try stimulating their clitoris and other external erogenous zones instead.

This will create less mess than penetrative methods, and if someone is wearing a menstrual cup or tampon, they will not need to remove it.

Use toys

If a person wants to use a toy for penetrative masturbation, there are a few things they can do to keep it clean. For example, they could put a condom over phallic-shaped toys. This will mean that they can remove the condom and throw it away after masturbating.

A person can also keep sex toy cleansing wipes within reach. This will allow a person to masturbate and then clean the toy immediately after.

Other ways to have sex during a period

It is also safe to have sex with others during a period, as long as people take precautions against unintended pregnancy and STIs.

Some of the following methods allow someone to continue wearing a tampon or menstrual cup if they would prefer this. However, some may prefer not to. Before engaging in penetrative vaginal sex, remember to remove any menstrual products from the vagina.

If a person or their partner wants to try these options on a bed, it can be helpful to put down some old towels or sheets to avoid staining other fabrics.

Mutual masturbation

Mutual masturbation involves two or more people masturbating at the same time. This option prevents a person from needing to remove a menstrual cup or tampon during a period.

Oral sex

Receiving oral sex from a consenting partner during menstruation may be another option.

If a person wants to try this but is unsure about blood entering their mouth, they can try a dental dam. Dental dams are devices that protect the mouth from direct contact with the genitals during oral sex.

Alternatively, a person can wear a menstrual cup or tampon while their partner stimulates their clitoris externally.

Anal sex

Anal stimulation or penetration is another way to have sex during a period. A person can receive anal sex while on their period, or, alternatively, they can give it to others by using a strap-on toy.

How to clean up afterward

In general, cleaning up after period masturbation or sex follows a similar process as cleaning up after sex when not menstruating.

First, a person should wash their vulva with warm water. If a partner or partners took part, they should also wash their genitals in the same way. If a sex toy is part of the experience, a person should wash it as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

If blood gets on clothing or bed sheets, a person can rinse the stain through with cold water as soon as is convenient. This will make it easier to remove. Do not use hot water.

Scrape off any excess with a blunt knife, and wash the fabric in lukewarm water with laundry detergent. An enzyme-based stain remover may also help.

Are there any risks?

There are no health risks specific to masturbating while menstruating. However, as when masturbating at other times, a person should follow some basic hygiene practices.

For example, it is important to wash the hands before and after touching the genitals and to clean any sex toys after use.

If a person has vaginal intercourse during their period, they will still need to use birth control. It is possible to become pregnant after having sex without a barrier method while menstruating.

Additionally, a barrier method such as a condom is necessary to prevent STIs. During oral sex, dental dams can protect against STIs.

»Learn more:Can you have sex on your period?

Summary

People can masturbate on their period. There are no health risks associated with doing so, and masturbating during a period may help alleviate menstrual cramps, difficulty sleeping, or a low mood.

People can masturbate in the shower or bath, or by focusing on external stimulation, if they want to avoid mess. If having sex with a partner or partners during a period, it is still necessary to use birth control.

Sexual Health / STDs
Women's Health / Gynecology

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Lakhassi L, et al. (2022). The influence of sexual arousal on subjective pain intensity during a cold pressor test in women.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9534408/
Lastella, M., et al. (2019). Sex and sleep: Perceptions of sex as a sleep promoting behavior in the general adult population.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6409294/
Pfaus JG, et al. (2025). Orgasms, sexual pleasure, and opioid reward mechanisms.https://academic.oup.com/smr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/sxmrev/qeaf023/8127191

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Stacy A. Henigsman, DO — Written by Louise Morales-Brown — Updated on June 2, 2025

Latest news

Is sleep the missing piece in mental health?
Is this why dementia affects more women? How menopause alters the brain
Low dose aspirin does not reduce cancer risk in older adults, long-term study finds
Can treating rheumatoid arthritis before it sets in help delay its onset?
Night owls may have a higher cardiovascular risk: Here's why

Related Coverage

Are there side effects to masturbation?
Masturbation is a natural and healthy sexual activity. Read about some myths about masturbation, its side effects, and its potential health benefits…
READ MORE
Can you get pregnant on your period?
A person can get pregnant at any point in their menstrual cycle, but it is much less likely during their period.
READ MORE
What to know about female multiple orgasms
How many times can a female orgasm in a row? Read on to discover what research says, and different techniques to try and achieve multiple orgasms.
READ MORE
Why do I have no sex drive? Causes in femalesMedically reviewed by Jennifer Litner, PhD, LMFT, CST
There are many reasons why a female could have no sex drive, ranging from relationship problems to stress or physical health conditions.
READ MORE
Female ejaculation: Types, benefits, and current understanding
Female ejaculation is when a female’s urethra expels fluid during sex, but there is not necessarily an association with having an orgasm. Learn more…
READ MORE

Tag » How To Masturbate On Period

Health Conditions

Health Products

News

Original Series

Podcasts

General Health

Health Tools

Quizzes

About Medical News Today

Find Community

Follow Us