I enjoy having period sex. It's helped my overall health and my relationship with my body.

• I got my first period when I was 11, and ever since they've been very heavy.
• I'm 24 now, and my period lasts about eight to 10 days.

I've suffered from heavy periods, or menorrhagia, for the majority of my life.

At 11, I managed to get my first period on the Fourth of July. I remember freaking out from the pain, the grossness of a new fluid, and the foreign pad tucked in my underwear to avoid making a mess at the family barbecue. Now I'm 24, and my period makes an attentive monthly visit, causing me to become the Hormone Monstress for about eight to 10 days.

I've always managed to get the worst of the side effects: heavy blood loss and clots, cramping to the point of vomiting; extreme bloating that results in temporary, drastic weight gain; and additional hindrance to my already challenging mental health.

I also experience similar conditions from premenstrual dysphoric disorder for 10 days before menstruating, meaning my period symptoms actually last more than half the month.

My period was also affecting my sex life until I decided to try period sex. Having period sex has helped me relieve my severe symptoms and work on my relationship with my body, all while achieving mind-blowing orgasms.

How period sex has helped

I enjoy having casual sex regularly, so I started to deeply hate having such a heavy flow for more than a week at a time. It felt as if by the time my period ended, the countdown for my next menstruation episode was quickly approaching, while I was simultaneously dealing with the challenges of an increased sex drive.

So I decided to start having period sex, and I haven't gone back. While I'd done it sparingly in the past, I felt so much shame and fear of judgment. But I changed gears and allowed myself not to care about differing opinions but to simply have fun doing as I pleased.

It was daunting at first, explaining to sexual partners that I intended to explore myself during a time I'd previously felt was forbidden. But with proper communication and handling of certain sex positions, and the unfortunate demise of several towels, I can wholeheartedly say I enjoy period sex just as much as non-period sex.

My cramps disappear when I have an orgasm

I've realized there are so many benefits to having sex while on my flow. My most recent period was a day shorter than my average. My cramps vanished for a few hours post-climax. My overall thinking was much clearer. And because of the natural lubrication and heightened sensitivity from increased blood flow to my genitalia, my orgasms felt much stronger than in my regular sex routines.

I prefer to receive vaginal penetration while having period sex, but if that's too messy, I recommend trying other forms of period sexual activity, whether that's oral or foreplay; you can use a period cup or even a tampon and still achieve the same orgasmic ending. There's also the opportunity to try anal stimulation.

People can judge me as much as they want for choosing to have sex while I menstruate. Period blood is just another bodily fluid that naturally secretes from people with uteruses and ovaries, whether people like it or not.

Having sex while on my period has helped remind me that there's no reason not to feel confident in my body while it goes through its natural changes throughout my cycle.