Nearly half of women who have sex on their period say it gives them a heightened sense of pleasure - but have been shamed for suggesting it, a study has revealed.
Research of 2,000 women found that only 15 per cent have had sex while menstruating, and 70 per cent have never even suggested it.
Nearly half (42 per cent) have been shamed for suggesting it, and 47 per cent have been shamed for starting their period during sex - suggesting there’s still a long way to go to relaxed attitudes towards period sex.
More than a fifth (22 per cent) have been labelled "gross" when talking about or having sex while on their period, while 18 per cent have been called "dirty" and 17 per cent have been called "disgusting".
Only seven per cent of women have been called beautiful for talking about or having sex on their period.
Conversations about sex during women’s periods may still be seen as one of the last taboos - but now a period pant brand has teamed up with a delicious new dessert range of sexy French waffles to "destigmatise" attitudes towards menstrual sex.
Championing empowerment while women are on their periods, carbon-neutral, reusable and leak-proof period underwear brand WUKA, has partnered with London’s iconic Zizi Factory to create the wicked waffles, which are available until 30th November.
The limited-edition waffles are available in two shapes - a penis and a vulva - and have been created to celebrate WUKA’s new Lace Collection, which are designed to empower women to feel sexy while on their periods.
Ruby Raut, co-founder and CEO of WUKA, said: "The new research makes for some shocking reading when it comes to outdated attitudes towards period sex and women’s own body image during menstruation.
"But on a positive note, females are realising the power of pain relief from period sex and masturbation.
"Just 11 per cent of women say they usually wear lacy pants while they’re on their period but 63 per cent say it makes them feel sexier."
An increasing number of women are discovering sex and masturbation helps with pain relief during menstruation.
Over a quarter (28 per cent) have found it helps with their period pains, while a quarter confess it helps with headaches, and 14 per cent say it’s an aid to dealing with muscular pains.
When it comes to how they feel during their period, more than half of women (54 per cent) feel bloated, while 48 per cent feel irritable and 43 per cent feel unattractive.
And 26 per cent go as far as to say they are left feeling dirty when they’re on their period.
Only six per cent of women feel happy and desirable during their period.
A towel is a girls’ best friend though, with 63 per cent using a towel to absorb the blood, while 31 per cent have sex in the shower instead of a bed during their periods.
The number one sex position for British women while they’re on their period is the missionary (43 per cent), while more than a quarter (27 per cent) say doggy style is their favourite, and one in five (20 per cent) prefer the cowgirl position.
But only 10 per cent of women enjoy receiving oral sex when they’re on their period, and 41 per cent admit they never do this while they’re menstruating.
Generation Z - 18-24-year-olds - have the most period sex out of any other age group, with 23 per cent saying they indulge, while more than half of them (51 per cent) masturbate during their period.
British males’ attitudes to women during their period has also uncovered some shocking views.
More than a third of men (39 per cent) said they would rather not have sex with a woman while she’s menstruating.
Two-thirds (67 per cent) have never performed oral sex on a woman while she’s on her period, and nearly half (46 per cent) have never masturbated a woman during that time.
A shocking 55 per cent of women say they dislike period sex as it’s messy, and nearly a quarter (24 per cent) went as far as confessing it’s a major turn-off.
But a third of men (33 per cent) believe women orgasm more easily when they’re on their period, and 40 per cent think they have a higher chance of getting pregnant.
Despite some outdated views, half of men (53 per cent) openly talk about periods with partners and female friends.
The two limited-edition waffles are available in two shapes, a penis and a vulva, the former being thicker and chewier and the latter being thinner and crispier.
The flavours include "Period Pleasure" - red and white chocolate with raspberry jam - and "Bloody Willy" - red and white chocolate with red sprinkles.