However, without a condom, there is indeed a slightly elevated risk during menstruation of transferring any sexually transmissible diseases due to the “raw”, or more permeable, nature of the female’s tissues, and the last time I checked, there was no real cure for H.I.V./A.I.D.S., genital herpes, or even for human papillomavirus, according to some experts.

Besides being incurable, another good reason to avoid HPV and herpes simplex virus, is that HIV tends to piggyback on them.

Needless to say, oral sex is also a greater risk to both parties during the woman’s period, if her partner has gum disease.

It should be noted that gum disease is considered to be the second most common disease on the planet, and that probably every other person in the United States has it, at least to some degree, though they may not know it!

And BJK, I hear ya … and would only add, “Respect each other’s feelings.”

You have to respect that as a man. And not take it personally or read too much into it. Or jump on her every time she’s bleeding just to prove something (mostly to yourself). Respect her feelings, above all else.

A literary note: In one of Erica Jong’s sequels to Fear of Flying, her lover pulls her tampon out with his teeth [which I've done], then proceeds to chew it so the blood runs down his chin [which I haven't, but if I thought it would turn my wife on...]