Have you ever asked one of them if she was on her period or perhaps been tempted to inquire? Take it from me: Don't. Presuming that female reproductive organs make women behave irrationally is rude and sexist.
One big problem with asking about periods has to do with the underlying assumptions behind that question. The same person who might want to find out if there's a legitimate reason for their male colleague to become angry, frustrated or agitated might ascribe those same reactions in a woman to menstruation.
If you notice her complaining about an unusually bad headache, she may very well be on her period. Breast tenderness or swelling. Fluctuation in progesterone and estrogen levels during your girlfriend's period can also cause these symptoms.
By bringing menstruation out into the open, you're letting others know that it's okay to discuss. And the first step in breaking taboos is properly naming and talking about menstruation—without using euphemisms. It can be awkward at first, but the more you do it, the more comfortable you'll be.
It's not inappropriate to talk to your male friends about menstruation and doing so will help lift the stigma around menstruation, make men more knowledgeable, and potentially stop negative views about the opposite sex (Allen, Kaestle, & Goldberg, 2010).
Understanding fertility, pregnancy and periods, will normalise what these are and what they mean. Teaching boys how periods and the menstrual cycle works helps them better understand the importance and practicalities of safe sex and contraception, which could help prevent unwanted pregnancies when they are older.
Although men will not bleed, nor will they experience all of the same symptoms as women, these hormonal shifts can have some pretty notable side effects, especially with mood and irritability. Some call it the “man period” others call it Irritable Male Syndrome, either way, it can be quite similar to a woman's PMS.
Menarche is defined as the first menstrual period in a female adolescent. Menarche typically occurs between the ages of 10 and 16, with the average age of onset being 12.4 years.
Think about why you want to tell him.
If so, it might be a good idea to clue him in so he knows it's nothing personal. If it's not really affecting your relationship, then it's entirely up to you whether you want to tell him. If you want to keep it private, that's totally fine.
I think your boyfriend (and this is just an assumption) is just showing he cares and wants to understand what it's like so that maybe he can help you feel better when it comes and to take your mind off of it as much as he can. Maybe he wants to keep track of your most fertile days in hopes of not getting you pregnant.
They might need to see a gynecologist or endocrinologist about their menstrual cycle. If by your child's 16th birthday they still haven't started their period, it's time to make an appointment with a doctor. The sooner you get in there, the better.
Talking about personal subjects like periods (menstruation) can make parents and kids feel a little uncomfortable. But kids need reliable information. Helping your kids understand their bodies will help them make good decisions about their health.
Your period can last between 2 and 7 days, but it will usually last for about 5 days. The bleeding tends to be heaviest in the first 2 days. When your period is at its heaviest, the blood will be red. On lighter days, it may be pink or brown.
It is thought that hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle (fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels) affect the mood of women and trigger negative emotions such as anger and irritability.
Although we must await the results of future research to learn more, these findings suggest that the hormonal changes women experience during the menstrual cycle appear to affect the way that both women and men feel about their relationships.
Initially, no one questioned it because they weren't given the chance to think they could. And, slowly, the taboo around menstruation became stronger; the fear of being judged by men became stronger. Women were even taught that menstruation was disgusting and grew up without ever having a healthy conversation about it.
There is no 'right' time to start explaining periods to your son. It is completely up to you but the earlier you start talking about puberty, the easier it can be. You can start talking to kids about puberty from a very young age.
At the end, the men talk about why they know so little about periods, and most agree that it's due to the negative stereotypes associated with menstruation. They also agree that these stereotypes are harmful. "So what? I'm going for a pee when I go to the toilet, or I'm going for number two," one guy points out.
The most important thing is to be honest about how you both feel. Tell them you're on your period, ask if they're cool (or not) and take it from there. No pressure.
Many men compare menstruation to feces. In fact, excrement often causes a feeling of disgust, even though it is natural. According to 18-year-old Barnabé, “It's not the blood that is disgusting, it's everything that is body-related”.