Menstruation is generally associated with mystery and discomfort. Despite their natural and necessary role in women’s health, males can be fearful and uneasy about periods, owing to misconceptions and a lack of education. This dread stems not just from a lack of awareness of the biological process, but also from long-held societal stigmas.Surprisingly, guys still know little about women’s menstruation. Many males believe that you cannot pee with a tampon in, that tampon sizes are for different cavities, and that women lose a gallon of blood each cycle.
In 2021, INTIMINA, a period product manufacturer, polled 1,091 American males about their knowledge of menstruation. Surprisingly, 14% had never discussed periods with a woman, 25% assumed tampons had to be removed to urinate, and 11% believed women could not become pregnant while on their period. Even wilder myths emerged: 4% of men believed tampons and periods might become lost in the genitals, and 8% believed menstruation attracts sharks in the ocean.
The interviewees stated that they perceived no difference between menstruation blood and other types of blood. However, their early reactions to witnessing menstrual blood contradict this, indicating repulsion. Menstrual blood and body waste are also strongly associated in the thoughts of interviewees, with many men comparing menstruation to excrement. On a positive side, 78% of men polled said it was critical to educate boys about periods. Researchers believe that including boys and men in the debate is critical for normalizing menstruation. Positive case studies demonstrate that teaching guys about periods lessens stigma and misunderstanding.
What women say about men’s reactions to menstrual blood. Here are some stories from our readers who experienced bad reactions to menstruation: “I was in the mall today, wearing my favorite white jeans and utterly oblivious that my period had begun. A guy saw the stain and grumbled, ‘That’s nasty; ladies should just remain at home during their periods.’ I was ashamed and hurriedly fled, but his vicious words only cemented my vow to never let ignorance humiliate me again.”
“Today, my teenage daughter came home in tears since her period had started during class and she hadn’t realized. Some lads teased her, with one brutally remarking, “Women’s blood is terrible, and girls are dangerous.”