The upcoming film “50 Shades of Grey” is sure to be packed with some steamy scenes, but there’s one moment from the book that was deemed too hot for the big screen.
In one particularly sensual scene, the protagonist of the “Twilight”-fan-fiction-turned-mommy-porn rejects the sexual advances of her Edward Cullen stand-in boyfriend because she’s on her period.
Christian Grey, the brooding dominant boyfriend of the story, ignores his girlfriend’s “no” and then proceeds to hike up her skirt and swap out her tampon for his penis. The two characters proceed to engage in non-consensual period sex, which Anastasia Steele (the all-grown-up Bella Swan) loves.
“50 Shades of Grey” is a terrible representation of the BDSM community, often describing sexual acts the protagonist did not consent to in a positive light — thus perpetuating rape culture ­— and is overall just terrible porn.
But this scene in particular does touch on something often not discussed when talking about intercourse — period sex, which is becoming more acceptable.
During his stand-up special “Hilarious,” comedian Louis C.K. discusses the phenomenon of men being hesitant to have sex with women on their periods.
“Young guys are afraid of women’s bodies,” he said.
“My girlfriend is on her period, what do I do?’” he asked, imitating a hesitant 20-something. “F— her in the period hole, you idiot. What’s the dilemma? I don’t give a s—!” he shouts, as the laughter of the women in the crowd overwhelms the men’s.
C.K. gets to the crux of why, in a society where many sexual taboos have mostly disappeared, period sex still makes people squeamish. Some young people — and young men in particular — don’t really understand periods. And, out of a fear of the unknown, they stay away from riding the crimson wave.
Another reason why sex during “shark week” seems forbidden to people is because periods are viewed by some as unsanitary. This misconception traces its roots back to biblical times.
Leviticus 15:19 reads, “When a woman has a discharge, and the discharge in her body is blood, she shall be in her menstrual impurity for seven days, and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening.”
The Bible goes on to specifically single out period sex in Leviticus 20:18.
“If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and uncovers her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people.”
These archaic views have embedded themselves in our puritanical culture. Though it has been proven there is nothing unsanitary about menstrual blood, the stigma attached to having sex while menstruating has unfortunately stuck around for the past 2,000 years.
According to SexInfo Online, a digital sexual education program run by the University of California, Santa Barbara, period sex has been proven not only to be sanitary and safe, but also to relieve cramps, stress and irritability in menstruating women. It’s like Midol, but infinitely more fun.
Period sex is not exactly like ordinary sex. Certain precautions should be taken by both partners, not only to ensure that the experience is both safe and comforting for both partners, but also so that your bed doesn’t end up looking like the elevator scene from “The Shining” when the deed is done.
Logan Anderson is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Houston, Texas. You can reach her on Twitter @LoganD_Anderson.

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