The generations of women before us were powerful. They got us the right to vote, and they paved the way for women to be high-ranked employees in their careers. But our generation is doing something good too. We’re slowly getting men to have period sex.

Some people flinch at the idea of period sex. I don’t. There’s nothing wrong with it.  Yes it’s messy, and yes it’s bloody. But so what? My boyfriend has seen me puke up pizza and breadsticks while I’ve been drunk, he can handle a little blood.

Speaking of boyfriends, period sex is probably only a good idea with your boyfriend. But he probably should be your boyfriend of at least six months. When you first get together with a guy, he doesn’t even want to think about your periods or anything else gross, so I would wait until you’re pretty comfortable with each other. You should be at the stage where he can see you without makeup, and at least one of you has seen the other one pee.

So why period sex? Why can’t I just wait four days until my period is over? Because it feels good, just like at any other time of the month. If women have to give guys blow jobs first thing in the morning because guys are bags of testosterone at that time, then we can get some period sex, thank you very much. I haven’t even had my pancakes yet, and I’m supposed to put your penis in my mouth? No way.

But period sex sounds so messy, you say. It doesn’t have to be, I would just not advise to have sex on day two or three (whichever your heaviest day is, you don’t want your bed to look like a scene from Dexter). So in order to cut down on some of the mess, combine your guy’s fantasy of shower sex with your desire for period sex, and viola! No mess. If that’s not your thing, you can always put a towel down on your bed, and then you won’t risk ruining your sheets.

I think you’ll be surprised to find that if you just ask your guy to have sex with you while you’re on your period, he won’t mind. He’s a guy. He gets to have sex. Once you’re mid-sex, he won’t even know that his penis is covered in uterine lining. So let’s keep getting men to have period sex with us, and maybe the next generation will get guys to have oral sex with Aunt Flo.

So, I had my period last week, which meant my ladybusiness was closed for normal sexual operations until further notice. I feel completely and utterly unsexy when my uterine lining is shedding and I have stuff a wad of dried, bleached cotton up there to keep it under control. Not only that, but I have this ongoing sense of anxiety, dread and leftover irritability from PMSing. Essentially, I am not in my finest form.

That said, it doesn’t stop me from thinking about period sex in theory. I know that if I threw down a red towel, handed my boyfriend a condom, and said “proceed carefully,” he would totally be game (in fact, when we were first dating and I was completely insatiable, we did it a few times). I know plenty of women who say that they find themselves even more horny on their period than at any other time of the month. And yet, period sex is still something that seems kind of taboo. I’m sure part of it stems from our (as ladies) discomfort and overall icky feeling. But I also feel like a lot of it is because dudes, in general, are completely repulsed.

Considering that menstruation is a normal bodily occurrence that affects over half of the population, you’d think the stigma and weirdness surrounding periods would be a lot less omnipresent. But our society still treats it like it’s  really gross and shameful. I have friends whose moms refused to have conversations about periods with them. It wasn’t until this year that an ad for sanitary napkins actually featured “blood.” Religions all around the world have questionable perceptions of menstruation.  It’s no wonder that many of us, as females, become pretty icked  out by our own bodies from anywhere from 15-25% of each month. So naturally, guys aren’t exactly going to be super enlightened and progressive about periods either. My boyfriend didn’t know what a tampon looked like before he met me, and was utterly fascinated. Guys balk at the idea of buying tampons or pads for their girlfriends (like the cashier is going to think they’re the ones bleeding…) But, really, periods are such a non-entity in the grand scheme of things. They may be bloody and inconvenient, but they’re natural,  healthy, not embarrassing and a confirmation that you’re not knocked up.

When even AskMen is publishing articles on engaging in period sex, perhaps it’s time to be a little less skeeved out about the idea of sexy time during shark week. If period sex truly is unappealing to you, of course you shouldn’t engage in it. But if it’s something that you would be into, don’t be afraid to bring it up to your partner. A good partner, even if they’re not into the idea, is not going to make you feel disgusting or unreasonable for wanting it. There’s no reason to forgo sex every time you bleed (especially since the average woman spends 3500 days menstruating).

The October issue of Cosmopolitan is hot on the shelves, people. It’s time to talk about sex, exercising using sex, words to use during sex, shocking celebrity secrets about sex and things you should never stop doing during sex.

Sex, sex, sex, sex, sex! That’s right–if you’re looking for a recipe or a new color to paint your living room, you best move on.

So let’s get started, shall we? If you just had sex with a guy and he’s bee-lining out your front door the next morning, Cosmo wants to help you decode his goodbye.  The full-frontal goodbye tells you that he’s fully confident while the finger point may mean he’s totally into you (but only if that finger is pointing directly at you). The head nod obviously means he’s mysterious and all that. BUT-what if he does a double cartwheel and clicks his heels? If Cosmo makes us sex goddesses, this is the kind of parting we should be receiving from all men. Am I right?

In the naughty sex tips section of the magazine, Cosmo gets all lusty and Cosmo Sex Ninja status on us. In my opinion though, Cosmo is getting all have-sex-in-the-most-difficult-place-possible on us. In the article Naughty Sex Tips, they tell readers to do it in a teeny, tiny space. And sneak a silent quickie in a crowded house. And to defy gravity in the wildest way possible. And to be an x-rated multi-tasker. And to vamp up the view by sitting on a window ledge. Good LORD Cosmo, I’m not bionic. Sex is difficult and awkward as it is, let’s leave the closet, a world class view of the ocean and banging while doing a headstand out of this.

Alright, I’ve had enough sex advice for one day. Now I want to talk about relationships. Cosmo‘s article; 50 Things You Should Never Stop Doing in a Relationship pretty much covers everything we need to know. Or never wanted to know.

Cosmo Says: Screening his call and waiting 10 minutes before returning it. Then be all mysterious about where you were when he asks why you didn’t pick up.

Brittany Says: Ugh Desperado, just be honest. Chances are he will call you while you’re on the john and you won’t answer. No intentional screening involved. How’s that for mystery?

Cosmo Says: Having sex during your period. Remember when you were so horny you just didn’t give a shiz?

Brittany Says: Remember when things got extremely awkward when sex came before self control, common sense and cleanliness?

Cosmo Says: Making sure that vegging out on the couch and eating a jar of peanut butter with a spoon always, always remains a solo activity.

Brittany Says: WHAT? This is absurd. Cosmo actually thinks eating peanut butter with a spoon is more disgusting than doing the deed on your period? Clearly, Cosmo believes woman are more horny than they are hungry. Lies.

I think I can say with 100% certainty that nothing raises eyebrows (and elicits “EW. OMG. WTF. Nooooo.”) more than period sex. Seriously, just writing the words “period” and “sex” in the same article made me cringe a little.

And for very, very good reason. Beyond the fact that a woman riding the crimson wave is bleeding down there, right where all the happy business is going on, being on your period comes with a whole host of other issues. I mean, I think most women would agree that we’re far from our sexiest selves when we’re bloated, cramping, cranky and feeling generally dirty for 6 days in a row.

But once you get past all that, and you should, having sex when Aunt Flo is in town is just like sex any other day of the month. Actually, it’s better. Why? Because Mother Nature has this nasty habit of pumping up our hormones during that time of the month, making many of us want/crave/NEED sex more than ever.

So I say go for it. Ignore your insecurities and preconceived ickiness notions. As long as you and your man have discussed it in advance and he’s game, why not take advantage of your hormones when they peak?

Look, just like the beautiful act of gettin’ freaky, surfing the crimson wave is natural. It does NOT make you some ruined woman where all romance goes out the window. The week your on your period doesn’t have to be off limits as long as you and your guy are on the same page. OK, so he might not be up for the usual foreplay, but so what? It’s not you and just because he doesn’t want to get up close and personal (literally) with your monthly gift doesn’t mean he doesn’t find you sexy and doesn’t want to get all freaky deeky with you.

Plus, rumor has it that sex relieves menstrual cramps, and you know that ish is way more fun than a heating pad.

I know that Period Week is one full of cramps, Midol, chocolate and your fat jeans but you’re still you and if your guy cant help but want you, don’t let your inhibitions get in the way of some good lovin’.  Just remember to gear up with two kinds of protective gear: condoms are a necessity as the opening to your cervix is wider during your period, putting you at higher risk for pelvic infections, and you’ll want to throw down some towels and stick to positions where your body isn’t upright to minimize potential mess. Then do your thang, girl.

Want to see what he said? Check out the male response at COEDmagazine.com

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Just to start off – I’m not bashing sex. If you’re a regular reader then you know that for many of us sex and college go together like Uggs and snow — you can’t have one without the other. I’m all for sex, but I believe making out is hotter. After all, there is a reason bumping uglies is a euphemism for sex.

While you can’t really have sex without making out first, you can totes make out without having sex. Which makes making out hot no matter what time of the month it is. I don’t know about you, but there’s very few firsts in any sort of relationship (be it one that goes long-term or just the random boy you meet at the bar) that are more memorable than that first hot makeout session. Here’s why:

-You can’t get pregnant from making out. So, no pill or condom necessary!

-You can do it any time of the month. Without a gross mess.

-Your chance of getting an STD is a lot lower.

-It can last a lot longer than sex. Especially with a college guy.

-Getting caught making out with someone is a lot less embarrassing than getting caught doing the nasty. Especially if you live at home with your parents.

-Likewise, making out in a public place still has the thrill, without the risk of getting caught. And you don’t need to wear a skirt

-You don’t have to worry about your  “number.”  Because who really cares how many people you’ve made out with?

-There is no clean up after, no evidence to dispose of, and no wet spot to avoid sleeping on

-If you’re just making out, this can’t happen.

Why do you prefer a hot makeout sesh?