Talking about sexuality during your period remains, for many, a delicate exercise. Between embarrassment, preconceived ideas and invisible injunctions, this subject remains largely relegated to the intimate sphere. However, the figures from Adam & Eve’s SexReport 2026, unveiled on the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, tell a more nuanced reality.
Between abstinence and continuity: an intimacy that does not disappear with the rules
Periods continue to influence the intimate lives of many people. But contrary to widespread belief, they do not systematically mean a parenthesis in sexuality.
According to the SexReport 2026, 68% of respondents say they will abstain from sexual intercourse during this period. A clear majority, which could suggest an implicit norm: that of stopping sexual relations during menstruation.
However, behind this figure lies a more complex reality. Because almost a third of those questioned – 32% – maintain sexual activity during their periods. Among them, 21% have sex with penetration, while 10% favor practices without penetration.
Figures which remind us of something often forgotten: intimacy cannot be reduced to a single practice, nor to a single way of experiencing its cycle. She sometimes reinvents herself, often adapts.
But if some people continue their sex life without interruption, others give it up. Not always because of a lack of desire, but because other obstacles enter the equation.
“Not clean”, “not comfortable”: when periods remain associated with embarrassment
The study reveals a striking observation: the reasons given for abstaining differ greatly depending on gender.
First obstacle cited: the feeling of lack of hygiene. Nearly one in two people evoke this perception. But this feeling is much more pronounced among women: 58% of them mention this reason, compared to 33% of men.
Emotional comfort follows the same trend. In total, 42% of respondents say they do not feel comfortable during their period. Here again, the gap is significant: 52% of women express this discomfort, compared to 28% of men.
Finally, 22% explain their abstinence by the partner’s supposed or real discomfort. A concern expressed more by men: 33% of them cite this reason, compared to 15% of women.
Behind these figures lies a discreet but persistent mental load: anticipating stains, removing menstrual protection, adapting the space, managing the gaze of others. So many invisible gestures that can transform a moment of intimacy into a source of vigilance.
Azur Lebas, Brand Manager at Adam & Eve, sees this as a reflection of representations that are still very anchored: “These results show that sexuality during periods remains surrounded by very stigmatizing and internalized representations by women, particularly linked to vague notions of ‘hygiene’ or even comfort (removing a cup, placing a towel on the bed to avoid stains, etc.)“.
Desire at the rhythm of the cycle: better understanding to better experience your sexuality
Beyond practices, the study highlights another aspect that is often little discussed: the impact of the menstrual cycle on desire.
Among the women questioned, 43% say that their cycle clearly influences their sexuality. Conversely, 24% say they do not feel this effect, while 17% say they do not know.
These results remind us how female sexuality is closely linked to hormonal and physiological variations. For some, desire may intensify at certain phases of the cycle; for others, it fluctuates little or differently. No experience seems truly universal.
This is precisely what Azur Lebas emphasizes: “These figures reveal that there is no uniform standard: each person and each couple can adapt their practices according to their desires and preferences. We encourage people to have this topic as a real discussion, without prejudice or judgment“.
At a time when people are gradually becoming more vocal about menstruation, these data remind us of an essential thing: talking about periods also means talking about the body, desire and intimacy. And perhaps, above all, give everyone the opportunity to define their own benchmarks, far from inherited injunctions and silences.