comment: >
  
  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 :)
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.