F&Q'S

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WHY SHOULD MEN BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW?

Did you know that 51% of men believe it is inappropriate for women to openly discuss their periods in the workplace. Additionally, 44% of the men admitted having made a joke or comment about a partner’s mood when she was on her period. These numbers come from a poll commissioned by Thinx of 500 men in the United States.

These numbers show that, while there has been increasing societal pressure to eliminate the stigma associated with the concept of menstruation, many men are still uncomfortable discussing periods. Menstruation. Tampons. Pads. Uterus. Withdrawal bleeding. They’re all terms that make a large percentage of men shift uncomfortably in their seats.

Here’s the reality: most people with a uterus will spend about 40 years menstruating. Whether you acknowledge this or not, it doesn’t change the fact that around 50% of the people you know menstruate regularly. Menstruation goes on and on and on.

Here is a back-to-basics cheat sheet to help you discuss the period of menstruation with any man. You can even just send them the link to this article!

WHAT IS THE SOCIAL STIGMA SURROUNDING MENSTRUATION?

In a study by Kindara on how men perceive menstruation, a large number of participants stated that a woman on her period is “less clean and less attractive.” This is ridiculous. Menstruation is a normal bodily function that affects half of the world’s population.

Look at it from this angle: all human beings poop (and far more often than people with uteruses menstruate) and yet, we don’t see each other as ‘less clean’ or ‘less attractive’ because of it. So, why should we see menstruation differently?

Educating yourself on how really periods work and learning to separate the facts from myths can go a long way in demystifying the topic.

Disclaimer: Every person with a uterus experiences menstruation differently. Don’t rely on this guide as a definitive explanation of how all those with uteri menstruate.

EXPLAINING PERIODS TO MEN

HOW DO PERIODS WORK?

Around every 23 to 35 days, the uterus develops a lining intended to nourish and protect a fertilized egg (fetus). The fertilized egg must attach itself to the lining in order to grow. When no pregnancy occurs during the cycle, the lining is shed along with nutrients, dissolved remnants of the egg, and tissue such as blood. This is what is known as menstruation, or a period.

Basically: no pregnancy = no need for uterine lining = monthly bleeding.

HOW OFTEN DOES MENSTRUATION OCCUR?

Every person’s cycle is different, but the average cycle is between 23-35 days long. A menstrual period starts with the body expelling the old uterine lining as blood. This happens when the egg the ovaries have released isn’t fertilized. The menstrual period ends with the body preparing again to get pregnant by releasing an egg from the ovaries to be fertilized. Menstrual bleeding can last between three to eight days, with the heaviest bleeding occurring during the first few days.

WHAT PREMENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS DO PEOPLE EXPERIENCE?

Before a person’s period starts each month, they may notice symptoms. These are known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms. While the media has been consistent in portraying food cravings and mood swings as the key symptoms of an upcoming period, women experience all sorts of symptoms including, but not limited to: cramps (this can range from mild to painful), acne breakouts, sore breasts, bloating, and diarrhea. Let’s break some of the most common symptoms down:

FOOD CRAVING

In the weeks and days leading up to their period, an individual may crave especially sweet or starchy foods.

This is due to fluctuating hormone levels leading to an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone, which causes cravings. Furthermore, when we eat certain foods, our brain releases serotonin, which helps alleviate PMS symptoms.

CRAMPS

Cramps are caused by contractions of the uterus, which occur as it sheds its lining. They can easily be the most dramatic part of having a period, as they are the most painful.

Cramps can happen at any time of a person’s cycle with differing levels of intensity and can also signal ovulation or come in the form of pre-menstrual cramps. Severe cramps or pelvic pain can also be a sign of a more serious condition like endometriosis.

MOOD CHANGES

Emotional symptoms are frequently experienced by people who deal with physical discomfort during their period.

Additionally, changes in hormones may cause mood swings. There is speculation that estrogen levels can correspond to levels serotonin, the neurotransmitter associated with our mood. As estrogen levels fluctuate during a person’s cycle, this can ultimately affect their emotional state.

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