Transgender Periods

By: Ivan Plyler

“It’s a woman thing.” 

While commonly said to young boys to avoid explaining periods, it is also said to people who menstruate. Not only is it a way to instill shame by making the person hide their period from men in their life, it’s just inaccurate.

I am not a woman, I am genderqueer. While I do not have a period anymore due to a hormone blocker, I used to menstruate. The box of tampons would say something like “feminine care” or mention “women’s health.” My heart would sink. I sometimes wanted to avoid changing my pad or tampon. This is the reality for many trans people. In order to avoid dysphoria, some may attempt to use products for much longer than recommended. This can cause health problems.

It’s very easy to make shifts in our language regarding periods. You don’t have to say “feminine hygiene products,” you can say “period products.” Instead of “women,” you can say “people who menstruate” or “people with periods.”

Not all women menstruate and not all who menstruate are women.