how did the tudors have sex

The Tudors had sex primarily within the strict confines set by the Church, which allowed sexual activity only within marriage and for the purpose of procreation. Their sexual practices were heavily influenced by religious and social rules that dictated when and how sex was permissible. For example, sex was forbidden on certain days like Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, during religious periods such as Lent and Advent, and during a woman's menstruation, pregnancy, and postpartum breastfeeding. The only accepted position was the missionary position (man on top, woman beneath), as other positions were viewed as immoral or against nature. Despite these strictures, historical records suggest that the Tudors had active and sometimes clandestine sex lives, including adultery and other behaviors outside the Church's teachings, especially among the nobility. The Church also believed that a woman needed to experience pleasure, including orgasm, for conception to occur, giving some recognition to female sexual pleasure. Contraception was illegal but methods like withdrawal, herbal remedies, and rudimentary condoms (called "Venus gloves") were used discreetly. Marriage could be consummated shortly after vows, but often with a societal preference to delay sexual activity until the woman was a bit older. Overall, Tudor sex was a complex mix of religious doctrine, social norms, personal desires, and practical concerns about lineage and legitimacy.