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Q. Is it a sin or inappropriate to participate in sexual activity during the time when a woman is in her period? Also, is it a sin to engage in anal sex?

A. During the monthly menses, a woman was considered "unclean" ceremonially under the Old Covenant. Sexual relations during this time were forbidden:

" Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness of her monthly period. " ( Leviticus 18:19, NIV)

If you do a little research, you will find there are quite a few contemporary researchers who have found that there are many, sound medical reasons for abstaining from sex during the time of menstrual flow.

As to anal sex, the Bible does not specifically mention this activity other than to forbid any kind of sexual relationship between two men:

"Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." ( Leviticus 18:22, NIV)

However, one can extrapolate Biblical principles to show that it would have been considered just as detestable as sexual activity during menses. Contemporary sexual studies have shown that anal sex quite often expedites the transmission of diseases such as AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases as well as infections from bacteria normally found in the digestive tract such as e-coli.