Is it okay to have sex the day before menstruation starts?

Jul 14, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
You can have sex the day before your period starts, provided your body is free of discomfort and you maintain good hygiene. If there are no signs of vaginal inflammation, abdominal pain, or other discomfort, you can have sex. It is important to clean the vulva before and after intercourse to reduce the risk of bacterial infection. Under these circumstances, the cervix is not open and your body's resistance is normal, so appropriate sexual activity generally does not have a significant impact on your health.

Generally, it is acceptable to have sexual intercourse the day before menstruation starts, provided the body has no discomfort and proper hygiene is maintained. However, sexual intercourse should be avoided if there is existing gynecological inflammation or signs of impending menstruation, such as slight vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain. If abnormalities occur, prompt medical attention is recommended. Detailed explanations are as follows:

If there are no discomforts such as vaginal inflammation or abdominal pain, and the external genital area is cleaned before and after sexual intercourse to reduce the risk of bacterial infection, then sexual activity may be acceptable. In this situation, the cervix is not open and the body's immunity is normal, so appropriate sexual intercourse generally does not significantly affect health.

If a woman suffers from gynecological inflammations such as vaginitis or cervicitis, or experiences signs of impending menstruation like light vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain, sexual intercourse should be avoided. Having sex while inflamed may worsen the infection. Before menstruation begins, the cervix starts to relax, allowing bacteria to ascend and potentially cause pelvic infections. Sexual activity during bleeding may also increase physical discomfort.

If symptoms such as vaginal itching or abdominal pain occur after sexual intercourse, timely medical evaluation is advised. It is important to regularly monitor bodily changes and avoid sexual activity when experiencing discomfort.

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