A husband or wife did not have the right either to demand sex from his or her spouse or to refuse it, and there was a catalogue of forbidden sexual practices, notably homosexuality, bestiality, certain sexual positions, masturbation, the use of aphrodisiacs, and oral sex, which could incur a penance of three years' duration. Nor were people to make love on Sundays, holy days, or feast days, or during Lent, pregnancy, or menstruation. People believed that if these rules were disobeyed, deformed children or lepers might result.
In the historical context depicted in Alison Weir's "Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life," marital relationships were governed by strict rules regarding sexual conduct. Neither spouse had the power to impose or deny sexual relations, and numerous sexual behaviors were forbidden, including homosexuality, certain positions, and acts such as masturbation or oral sex. Violating these restrictions could lead to severe penance, highlighting the era's stringent moral expectations surrounding intimacy.
Moreover, there were specific times deemed inappropriate for sexual relations. Couples were discouraged from engaging in sexual activity on Sundays, holy days, or during significant periods like Lent, pregnancy, or menstruation, due to the belief that such acts could result in the birth of deformed children or other adverse outcomes. This reflects a society deeply intertwined with religious and moral codes that governed personal and sexual conduct.