Is it okay to use a condom occasionally on the fourth day of the menstrual cycle?
I couldn't help myself and had sex with my boyfriend the other day. Today is the fourth day of my menstrual period, and we used a condom. It was just this one time; could it have any effect on my health?
Doctor's answer (1)
Menstrual period refers to the time when a woman has her period. "Occasional sex with a condom" means having sex occasionally while using a condom. Generally speaking, it is not recommended to have occasional sex with a condom on the fourth day of the menstrual period.
During a woman's period, the uterine lining is shedding and being expelled from the body as menstrual blood. This process causes the cervix to remain relatively open, increasing the risk of bacteria and other pathogens entering the uterus and pelvic cavity, which could lead to infections such as endometritis or pelvic inflammatory disease.
The primary function of condoms is to prevent the direct exchange of semen and certain pathogens, thereby reducing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases to some extent. However, condoms cannot completely prevent all bacterial or pathogen invasion, especially during menstruation when the female reproductive tract is more vulnerable and exposed. Therefore, engaging in sexual activity during menstruation—even with condom use—does not completely eliminate the risk of infection, and thus sexual activity is not recommended at this time.
During menstruation, women should also maintain good genital hygiene, changing sanitary pads frequently, to help reduce the risk of infection.
