Blood

Shannee at Green Rootsdown posted a story about menstrual sex. It started me thinking, and I thought I would do my thinking aloud, here. Ever since I began menstruating, That time of the month always did something to my libido. Shortly before, and definitely during my period, I become extremely lustful. Not that my libido seems to suffer at other times, but at that time I become obsessed with sex. Most of my life, I always harbored the thought of "Great, now that I can't have sex, I really want it more than ever." It never occurred to me that people actually do that during that time. There have been a few times, over the years, that I have had a partner that suggested it. My response has been...we can't! I never considered it and I never understood it.

Then a few years ago, a friend of mine was discussing, what she referred to as, crime scene sex. She talked about how great it was. She talked about her increased desire, not having to worry about getting pregnant, and generally how much better it was. I listened in disgust. Probably, because I find myself disgusting when I am on my period. I suppose I believe that a sex partner would find me just as disgusting. During that week, all of my senses are heightened (which may actually make sex better) or at least different. I feel a bit like I did in the early stages of pregnancy, when everything made me nauseous. Smells in particular make me gag, especially the smell of my own blood. Add in the cranky, cramping, bloated factor and it just squicks me even more. Of course, there's the whole Leviticus...unclean...thing, which would not have any influence on me, except given my own feelings, it just seems that unclean describes how I feel.

Over the past year, since I have been with J, I have worried a few times. Since our relationship is a long distance one, there have been times when a scheduled visit of His has sent me to the calender to count days. I have sometimes fretted that my cycle might be off, especially if the dates might fall close. He and I have never discussed this, it has never come up, and thankfully, has never been an issue. But it has not stopped me from counting days and checking calenders, I would never want to have to reschedule.

I don't really know how most men feel about menstrual sex. I think most women are grossed out by it. Though, Shannee's post was not the first one I have read about it. I have read other accounts on other blogs as well. The posts that I have read, have made it sound very sensual. The women writing them seemed to embrace their own sexuality, their own femaleness. Shannee's commenters seem to be fine with it as well. I have been intrigued, but repelled at the same time. Part of me says, "Wow, good for her," but another part says, "yuck."That brings me back to my own feelings. I sometimes assume that if I find something disturbing or distasteful that others would too. But perhaps this is more common and accepted than I know. Perhaps it is just one of those things that isn't discussed. Though I have never considered myself a prude, maybe in this case I am.