comment: >
  
  I had talk about periods with people i could trust and though they had the same mindset. For them as fellow females go.... "EEEWWW, THAT'S DISGUSTING* and them just not wanting to talk further upon it. Men same, but there are still quite a few who barely give any shit
  Just like how it's somehow disgusting fot some that i only shower 1 time each 2 days cause of my dry skin instead of showering twice on a single day....
context: I think the main thing holding me back, and perhaps other women, from explaining the source of menstrual-based pain and irritability is not being believed by others. I think a lot of people simply see it as blood coming from the vagina and that's it, but it's an entire hormonal process that can be very extreme. My depression during my period takes me to very dark places. I've known women who have fainted from the pain. It's very real, but a lot of times growing up I've gotten the sense from friends and teachers that having a period isn't a "real" enough excuse to be miserable, so I figured, what's the point of even bringing it up. At least now I've got a caring bf who's understanding, but I still keep a lot of it to myself because I don't want to seem complaining. I guess it's all in upbringing! >
  
  That's really sad, and makes a lot of sense. Really is nothing worse than when you're going through something and people don't believe you. As a person with depression myself, it wasn't until I was properly diagnosed by a medical doctor and physiatrist that people actually took me seriously, and even still I'll get an eye roll or disagreement from people, as if I'm claming the moon is made of cheese.
  I think a big problem is lack of education. I went to a boys secondary school (high school) and my sister went to a girls school, the sex education we had was very different. We barely learnt anything about the female side of puberty and sexual health. >
  
  I'm sorry that you get the eye rolls too! When people don't take you at your own word it's frustrating. Yeah, I think better education is a good start. I went to Catholic school, and the sex ed was seriously bad (we were taught that every single STD is incurable. Like, come on). >
  
  I know that well lol, I went to a strict roman Catholic school from ages 3-7, boys weren't allowed to use urinals, they had them, we just weren't allowed to use them. A teacher would literally stand at them to make sure, I can't use urinals in public bathrooms as a result, religious schools are not very good at education, but are great at making things up as they ramble on lol.
  We were young, so there wasn't much sex ed, but I do remember having our head teacher (principal) give us boys a lecture about not playing with our dangley bits, the irony of a nun who isn't allowed to have sex give 7 year old boys a lesson on male sexual health is both funny and sad. >
  
  I speak openly about mine but I really don't give a fuck about what people think on that matter. I have PCOS and the amount of suffering that goes with it is worse than anyone's obtuse opinion. 
  If women felt like they were in a safe space to talk about it, I'm sure they would. Unfortunately, there are still so many men who are completely immature and/or grossed out by it. In turn, it makes some women feel like they should keep quiet, or that it's a dirty thing.
  So, yes, women should feel free enough to speak about it and there are lots of us out their fighting to make it happen but it's really not women the problem lies with. >
  
  I totally agree, people, specifically men in general need to just grow up a bit. It's not gross, it's just a part of life.
  Also I had to Google what PCOS was, I knew the symptoms, but didn't know it had a name. So case in point, just from you making the comment, I learnt something. >
  
  This is generational
  My generation Gen Z is pretty open about it. In high school students pretty commonly talked about being on their period or their flow around or directly too guys and some dudes carried pads for their female friends.
  I feel like that hasn't really changed much in university apart from women being less likely to say their periods preventing them from working.
  I'm speaking from a male view though and talking about the behaviour I noticed. My female friends still very openly talk about their period, flow, complications all that. >
  
  I see periods the same way I see other bathroom topics…
  Nothing to be ashamed of, but it’s private so you should keep it to yourself. Most of the time people don’t need to hear about it. >
  
  Yeah of course, that's what I'm sayin. Like if you have diarrhoea, it makes sense to mention it to your significant other so they can be mindful/helpful to your situation, but I'm not saying bring them a stool sample. >
  
  As a woman, I agree with you. We as women are blocking ourselves from medical advancement among other things by making this subject a taboo. >
  
  Exactly, a key to advancement is understanding. If we don't understand what an issue is, we can't come up with solutions or things to make it easier. >
  
  Yeah. It's sad if this truly is an unpopular opinion. >
  
  Tbh I hope its not an unpopular opinion, I'm just talking from my personal experience. Maybe it's a cultural thing. >
  
  I felt very embarrassed at first to tell my boyfriend about my period but he was very chill about it and actually asked me to teach him more :) >
  
  I think your opinion is not necessarily unpopular and has actually become a lot more common throughout recent years.
  While I think for the most part it's a good thing, some topics related to this have frustrated me a bit.
  Some people have absolutely horrendous periods.  This is true.  But a lot of us out there just bleed for a week with relatively unobtrusive cramps and not much else.  Yet we are still all treated as martyrs for something that really isn't a big deal.
  No, I don't feel like my uterus is exploding each month when it happens.  No, I don't get debilitating headaches around the time of my period.  No, I don't feel any more emotional around my period than I would otherwise.  To many of us, it's simply a minor inconvenience that happens each month involving an extra cost in toiletries and worrying about staining clothes and sheets.  Yet the media want to make it sound like it's hell on earth for every single woman and we need special treatment and understanding for it.  I don't want to be treated like a martyr...especially for things that aren't even remotely true.  Furthermore, I don't want my emotions to be dismissed as "well it's around the time of your period so they must not actually be valid and we need to treat her with kid gloves".
  Yes, some women experience terrible periods and I really do feel for them.  But I hate the fact that people just assume that we all do now when that isn't at all the case.  I don't want people to feel bad for me for something that doesn't even happen.  I don't want to be treated differently just because I'm on my period. >
  
  
  Furthermore, I don't want my emotions to be dismissed as "well it's around the time of your period so they must not actually be valid and we need to treat her with kid gloves".
  
  Exactly the problem I think is holding us (as a people, I'm not female) back a lot. I always try to put things on a spectrum, and when I feel something is an overreaction, I scale the severity of my partners reaction back a bit in my head before reacting. We also communicate about it if I feel that way. >
  
  I always share details about my period as education to the men in my life. They need to know. It also helps normalize and create cultural shifts around it. >
  
  I have endometriosis which more people need to be more aware of. That being said I’m not in favor of people hearing all the gross details like how heavy my flow was. Still, it definitely should be up to the individual woman sharing and people shouldn’t be as squeamish about it as they are. >
  
  I’m very open about mine and worry I make people uncomfortable. My boyfriend seems to like it. >
  
  Well they say confidence and being comfortable with yourself is attractive, maybe that's what your boyfriend likes. >
  
  He does for sure. The funny thing is I’m also riddled with insecurity. He’s a good guy. >
  
  🎶 Let it flow, let it flow, can’t hold it back anymore, let if flow!🎶 >
  
  I didn’t even know what the normal side affects of a having a period were. When I started bc my entire life changed. Literally. I knew that mood swings and cramps were normal but they never tell you to what extent it isnt normal. There needs to be like genuine sex Ed in schools because nobody should have to go through what I did for as long as I did. >
  
  I had horrible periods as well, almost fainted in the shower, I threw up on the way to school, and I had to change those thick night pads every hours. If I knew I didn´t need to deal with that I would have gone to the doctor within the first year of it happening. I only talked to a doctor about it because I felt empty of energy... I was low on iron. My doctor took action once she heard it affected my schooling (at least its what my mother said since she was there too to read my doctor´s face). 
  I should have gotten birth control even if my schooling wasn´t affected, my whole fucking life during my period was on eggshells! The fact that even doctors might not even take action unless the patient says "oh yeah and I can barely get anything done" despite them clearly having a downgrade in life... Not just Sex ED needs to be improved, the view on periods altogether. >
  
  I was in massage therapy school the last year in a class of all women, with me as the only man. 
  I'm also gay and women have almost always felt comfortable talking about periods with me. I can often tell when women are on their period as well. 
  In class, my classmates were talking about theirs and my male teacher got very anxious about it and told them to stop, but I piped up to say that they have us outnumbered 5 to 2, and that it's just a natural bodily process. They should be able to talk about it as the feel free. >
  
  I do agree with you. However as a woman I don’t really understand why people don’t use contraceptive pills more. They can stop you from having your period and are pretty easy to take. As long as you aren’t wanting to get pregnant at that moment, I see no problems with this. >
  
  The pill is fine for a lot of people, but it can have some serieus side effects. Both physical but also mental, which some women don't even notice because they have been on the pill for so long and consider these side effects as part of their personality. >
  
  I guess you are right.. I suppose everyone has their personal opinions on what is more important.. thx for telling me tho >
  
  I’ve always found women to be very open about their periods.
  I had a very matriarchal upbringing and professional life though.
  The only boy raised by a single mum and 3 sisters. Lots of my friends were girls, most of my bosses when I was younger were women, as I got older I employed a lot of people and it was mostly split 50/50 gender wise and I’ve found most women are 100% open about their periods and what it’s doing to them at the time if it’s affecting their mood or giving them pain or even just casual discussions.
  My old boss was a very dead pan feminist and used to “test” men by talking about vaginas and periods to see if men would squirm and she never got a single reaction from me. I got her to react by openly talking about my penis and asshole once though, played her at her own game. >
  
  Testing employees by talking about genitalia at work.. sounds unprofessional as fuck to me. >
  
  Oh that reminds me. I should tell people about my hemorrhoids and diarrhea more frequently. They need to know about that. >
  
  Dang, this is a high school level post. >
  
  Does that make it any less true? You lean 2+2=4 as a child, answer is still the same when you're 100. >
  
  It is true. But this post sounds like it was written by someone that has never been around grown women. Thats why I called it high school level. This type of shit is left behind in your teens. >
  
  I'm only talking from my personal experience. The women I've been in romantic relationships with seem to be embarrassed to talk about it. Weirdly my females friends are totally fine talking about it, I think it's because we don't feel pressured to make ourselves look good to each other.
  That being said, I think the longer you know someone, the more comfortable you are, it's not exactly 1st date conversation, and it's still personal, but the more open, the better imo. >
  
  The fact that this is even an unpopular opinion is insane to me. It is literally natural. Our bodies wouldn't menstruate if it wasn't natural. I'm all for being more open about it. I'm pretty open about my period. I just wish more men and boys weren't as disgusted with it as they are. >
  
  I think a lot of the problem is lack of education. I went to an all boys school, in sex ed they barely even touched on the female side of puberty and sexual health. I leant most of the female side from my girlfriend at the time. Some better/more education about the female side of things could have saved me a lot of awkward situations. >
  
  That is definitely part of the issue. Even for me, the topic was kind of brushed over. We weren't told that it wasn't a taboo topic or that it's okay and we shouldn't be ashamed of it. We were told that periods exist and we would be having them. They didn't even do the amount of pain we feel from cramps justice. I don't even remember learning much about the cramps and mood swings and those kinds of side effects. I had to figure that out on my own. Imagine how much progress we would make if people weren't afraid to tell children about these things. Both boys and girls. This is one of the few situations where I will say that people are just too damn sensitive. Sex Ed shouldn't be a taboo subject. >
  
  What >
  
  As a guy. And my wife's happy with this.
  I'm happy knowing you're on your period. I'll go and buy pads no problem with 0 embarrasment. Except that one time a shop didn't have the right ones and I couldn't get my wife so I had to ask the poor teen girl at the counter what else was similar and it was just odd.
  But in the same was you don't want to see my bodily functions coming out of me, I don't want to see yours. Vaginal blood is just bodily waste, like poo, pee or sick. It's perfectly natural, you shouldn't be ashamed for doing it. But I don't need to know details just like I'm sure you don't want to hear details on mine.
  But yeah, mentioning you're on your period should be about as normal as times you bring up other bodily stuff. >
  
  Vaginal blood, uterine lining, and related substances are biohazardous just like excrement or vomit, and I don’t get why you took that fact as an insult. Your husband really took one for the team by marrying someone as easily provoked as yourself >
  
  I thought most women where open about it with close ones. >
  
  As a man, that the majority of friends are female, I definitely agree. It is much better to go into a conversation knowing if someone is on their period. Also in several cases I have been able to help relief some pain or desires when I was informed. >
  
  
  or desires
  
  Like chocolate...? 😳 >
  
  Sure, like chocolates >
  
  I'm glad you can help them, in whatever way 😅 >
  
  I think in the business world it would subconsciously lead to yet another reason to put women at a disadvantage for certain jobs or professional roles. Let’s say a woman needs to take a couple days off each month due to her period. You can be certain that some guy who is angling for the same job will go out of his way to make it clear that he’s ready to to pick up the slack on those days. Before you know it, that guy has an in and is getting work at the woman’s expense. This might not happen in a world where women have more power in the corporate world— but that’s still some time away. >
  
  AGREE SO HARD IT HURTS. 
  My husband has told me that he’s so glad I’m so open with him about it so he knows what’s going on with me as what’s going on with me affects us. I was in bed all day with bad cramps just the other day and he was so understanding. He spent the day watching Netflix with me and eating junk food. He even got me tampons as my cramps were so severe I couldn’t go to the shops. >
  
  I agree completely. >
  
  I'm a guy too but I think if you're in a relationship, the gf should be open about it so you understand why she acts different and that it is not because of oneself but because of the way nature acts. >
  
  I totally understand OP and I would like to live in a world like that too, but in a world like that, there will also be people blaming all annoyed behavior on PMS/ being on their period , not taking them seriously. Since pms etc mostly amplifies annoyance, it's not that there shouldn't be, and I think a lot of misunderstanding will come from it.
  But hey, 1 step at a time :) >
  
  I’ve had issues with fainting due to changing hormonal levels. It’s terrible. I’ll feel fine then just drop. It’s usually right before I get my period. I’ve also met men who think you can control when it comes and how long you have it for. They also seem to think that me stressing about work will magically make my period come or that I make it come on purpose to avoid sex. This is why I basically just don’t talk about it. >
  
  I often don't feel any emotional change until I am experiencing pain. That's the exact reason why am I so annoyed at everything. I mean, imagine you being stabbed into your stomach and have to live with that the whole day, no day off, fully having to concentrate on so many things. It's not just trying not to run (god forbid, that hurts very badly no thank you) it's so much more painful than people tend to realize. And don't treat having a period as an insult, it most likely just looks like you're a d**k, not that it's even near being funny, maybe to men who don't realize it comes with pain. >
  
  I got deterred from talking openly about it for a short period of time because other classmates said: "Hey we don´t want you showering with us if you were on your period, its disgusting." when we were 12. if 12-year-old girls can lack so much understanding and decency, I didn´t want to mention it again because why would others be more understanding, especially those who don´t get them?
  Thankfully I slowly began to stop caring but not everyone comes to the conclusion that it should not be taboo, or they don´t have people who take them seriously. Not everyone's period is taken seriously, or understood, so people just don´t talk about it. >
  
  I work on a grouphome with clients with mental disabilities and extreme behavioral issues. Because of that we have to fixate them and protect each other and our clients. When you don’t feel well you have to tell your colleagues so they can keep that in mind because it will always influence your work and clients. 
  Told my male colleagues I was working with I wasn’t feeling well so I was a bit more tired, had a headache and had less patience. They asked me if I knew what I had and I said I had my period. They were so grossed out and I was so confused that they were so grossed out by it. First of all both are married/in a long relationship with a woman. Second of all I have clients that poop their pants a lot and they were less grossed out by that then the thought of me having my period 🤷🏻‍♀️ >
  
  Periods should definitely be normalized and talked about more, but this is not only women's responsibility.  Men need to take initiative as well.  It's well and good to say women need to be more open, but in order for that to happen men as a group need to learn to be less shaming, mocking and dismissive. >
  
  I’m pretty open about it and always have been. Problem is, no one outside of my bf and close girl friends wants to know >
  
  First of all, I want to thank you for being open-minded and having respect for women. And I totally agree, it should be no shame in getting a period. This is what our body is made to do, like any other functions. 
  It should be something normal because we can't even change what is happing in our bodies. It's healthy, it's something that we need to accept in order to live with it our whole life.
  We shouldn't be ashamed of being women in every aspect possible. >
  
  Im a medical student and recently got hit by cramps standing at the operating table during a c section.  I straight up told the surgeon I had just been hit with some seriously bad menstrual cramping and needed to go sit down.  She didn't bat an eye and told me to do what I needed.  Perks of obgyn rotation lol >
  
  It's our job as men to prove to them that it's okay to talk about it >
  
  Yes there should be reports of volume in every vlog. Metric and imperial >
  
  Imagine if as a dude; you just fucking blew up and unloaded on people "randomly".  
  Imagine how much understanding and concern people would have for you for becoming emotionally violent at people at random.  Imagine trying to make excuses for this and people being accepting of it.
  Like Imagine; as a dude if something just caused me extreme pain and grief periodically; so I just lashed out and yelled at people because I was just exhausted from it all just imagine people accepting that as accepted behavior..... >
  
  Totally agree, along with talking about menopause and perimenopause as well. I believe I'm going through perimenopause and my PMS is just so freaking horrible. I wish more women opened up and talked about this so I would have been more prepared to handle all these symptoms. It's not just hot flashes, it can also be depression, anxiety and a myriad of other issues. >
  
  I work in an orthopedic surgery clinic and all the surgeons are male. I get paralyzing and extremely painful menstrual cramps that have made me leave work early. Nothing helps. This only happens at most once a month, but this weakness makes me feel terrible and I am hesitant to be open about it even when I'm in terrible pain...
  "The most common reasons indicated why women might not choose orthopaedics included...perception that too much physical strength is required (171 of 232 [74%])..."
  Me, like many other women, believe that surgery is a physically strenuous career and I feel like any other physical weakness would be a detriment to the perception of my competency. >
  
  
  I send this gif to my husband exactly once a month so I suppose I agree. >
  
  See here's the thing and no offense here but....your a dude... and I don't actually know why you care so much....
  And it's hilarious  you think woman are not chatting about periods with other woman or friends or family ... we do...we are pretty open.
  But some  people  really don't need to know....other people it's none of their damp buisness if I'm bleeding or not...
  It's not hell or suffering  (unless you have medical problem) you get a little moody and cramp  and bleed that's about it.... honestly most of the time we blame our periods because its the only hint some people  will take not to ask anymore about our moods etc 
  And honestly after 16 years of them  they are not even a big deal. (Unless I missed one)
  Would you tell everyone you pooped last night? Probably not....so I don't feel the need to tell people I bleed...not embarrassed not ashamed  ...just don't see the point 
  However I do agree it needs talked about more (woman's health in general but not for the reasons your thinking) woman need educated  on when periods are not normal eg they have severe heavy bleeding could be cysts...or severe depression with periods or sex education  etc . >
  
  The fact you’re a male commenting on a womans menstrual cycle is laughable >
  
  The fact that you're being sexist when I'm trying to understand people of the opposite gender better is sad.
  I even mentioned that I will never 100% understand, but want to help anyway. Your comment isn't helpful. >
  
  Such an adolescent response lol >
  
  The irony of you calling someone's response 'adolescent' and ending it with 'lol' is funny. >
  
  How often do you remanence on the first time your sister told you about her period? >
  
  First time today when my girlfriend mentioned that she was on her period and said 'sorry too much information?' and I said that I would rarther she let me know and if I can help, and I mentioned how my sister had that talk with me. It's actually what made me make this post, I thought it was sad that she felt embarrassed to tell me, even after we've been together for over a year. >
  
  Ladies I say this with respect. If you want to turn your boyfriend off of sex? Let him see your vagina bleeding clumps of blood.  I think if I saw that up close I’d never have sex with her again. I’m a man and that’s scary! >
  
  You realize that if you want a full-filing relationship with a women at some point you will most likely have to see a child come out of her vagina? You know most women poop when giving birth? You’ll have to see your partner poop while a baby is coming out of their vagina.
  If you can’t handle seeing some blood then maybe consider dating men. >
  
  Omg your comment just gave me a flashback to when I was in sex ed at school and the teacher mentioned that women poop when giving birth and I said eww and she gave me a death stare and asked what would I do if a person was ripping their way through me and I said I would shit myself, she said exactly and continued on, she was cool lol >
  
  My bestie gave me a link to view her lil monthly cycle app so I can see and understand how to help her >
  
  The irony of this being labelled nsfw. On subject I don't care about periods or breast feeding or other issues where society unfairly stigmatizes women, they should just do what they want , society be fucked, why is it anyones business? >
  
  As far as I can tell, the only part that should be unpopular here is you saying that as a male, you can never understand.
  That's sooooo not true, all it takes to understand something is just education on the topic, I've seen a blind person describing colours and they have literally no comprehension of what colours are, so I'm pretty sure you can understand 100% that cramps, bleeding and hormones make a female feel a certain way.
  We all have to share our lives with each other, so I'd hope we would be open and honest with the people closest to us physically and emotionally. >
  
  We can never /fully/ understand. Our sex hormone (testosterone) is pretty fun and (generally) doesn't impact our mood as much as your hormones do. I understand that they do, and that it's different for every single person, but I will (probably?) never experience the mood changes caused by hormone levels changing. I can imagine the frustration and helplessness that comes with it though, since I hate not having control over my body and thoughts. (E.g. I hate being drunk to the point my movements are delayed) >
  
  Yes, the point is that even if I can't technically experience the thing you as an individual are going through, I know what that entails so i can still understand it and how it may affect you.
  I dont know what exactly my mate is feeling after a bottle of whisky, but I can still understand being drunk, and more importantly, I can help them walk home. >
  
  Exactly