Periods and Gender Inclusivity: How to Talk About Menstruation

10 min read
Periods and Gender Inclusivity: How to Talk About Menstruation

Periods are often spoken about as a women’s issue. Women and girls are central to the conversation, and menstruation is closely connected to women’s health, rights and equality. But they are not the only people who menstruate.

Some transgender men, non-binary, agender, gender-diverse and intersex people have periods too. At the same time, many women do not menstruate because of their age, pregnancy, medication, health conditions, menopause or anatomy.

Gender-inclusive period care does not erase women and girls. It uses accurate language when information applies more broadly and helps everyone access education, products, facilities and healthcare without being misgendered or excluded.

Put simply, having a period does not determine someone’s gender and not having one does not make anyone less of a woman.

Who can have a period?

A menstrual period is the bleeding that occurs when the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, is shed through the cervix and vagina. Whether someone menstruates depends on their anatomy, hormones, age, health and any medicines or treatments they use, not simply their gender.

People who may menstruate include:

  • cisgender women and girls
  • transgender men and boys
  • some non-binary, agender and gender-diverse people
  • some intersex people

Not every person in these groups will menstruate and no single term will feel right to everyone. In general information, phrases such as “people who menstruate”, “people with periods” or simply “people” are useful when the subject applies to everyone who menstruates. When discussing an issue that specifically affects women, it is still accurate and appropriate to say “women”.

The aim is accuracy, not replacing every mention of women and girls with a new label.

Why gender-inclusive period language matters

Menstruation is already surrounded by secrecy, embarrassment and stigma. When every period message is framed around femininity or “becoming a woman”, people who do not identify as girls or women may feel invisible, misunderstood or unsafe asking for help.

For some trans and gender-diverse people, menstruation can intensify gender dysphoria: distress connected with a mismatch between a person’s gender and aspects of their body or how others perceive them. Australian trans health resource TransHub notes that periods may feel neutral for some trans people, uncomfortable for others and actively distressing for some.

Available research also shows that experiences vary. Menstruation-specific research involving trans and non-binary people is still limited and much of it is qualitative, but studies and reviews consistently describe barriers created by gendered language, products, toilets and healthcare. Inclusive care starts by not assuming how someone feels about their period based on their gender.

Language cannot solve every barrier, but it can signal that someone belongs in the conversation and can ask for the information and care they need.

Gender-inclusive language for talking about periods

Inclusive language can be clear and natural. You do not need to make every sentence complicated or remove the words “women” and “girls” when they are relevant.

Useful phrases include:

  • people who menstruate
  • people with periods
  • menstruating people, when menstruation is directly relevant
  • period products or menstrual products
  • your child, young person, students or class
  • getting your first period is one part of growing up
  • some people menstruate and some do not

Use more specific language instead of relying only on:

  • “women and girls” when the information applies to everyone who menstruates
  • “feminine hygiene products” or “women’s products”
  • “sanitary products” when “period products”, “pads” or “tampons” is clearer
  • “becoming a woman” as a description of a first period

“People who menstruate” is useful when menstruation is relevant, but it does not need to become a label for the whole person. “People with uteruses” is not always interchangeable either: not everyone with a uterus menstruates and the uterus may not be relevant to the point being made.

When speaking to an individual, follow their language. Someone may happily describe themselves as a woman having a period, while someone else may prefer neutral anatomical terms. If you are unsure, ask respectfully rather than guessing.

A first period is not the start of womanhood

A first period can be a significant milestone, but describing it as the moment a child “becomes a woman” can create unnecessary pressure even for cisgender girls. A young person who gets their period is still a young person.

More inclusive ways to talk about a first period include:

  • “Your period is a normal part of puberty.”
  • “This is one of the changes that can happen as your body grows.”
  • “Girls and women aren’t the only people who have periods. Some trans boys and non-binary people have them too.”
  • “You can choose the period product that feels most comfortable for you.”

Period education should be available to all young people, not only those expected to menstruate. The World Health Organization recommends timely, comprehensive puberty and menstrual health education for both boys and girls. Shared knowledge can reduce mystery and stigma and help friends, siblings and classmates respond with more understanding.

Parents and carers can find practical guidance in our guide to talking to your child about periods.

How to make period education inclusive in practice

Changing a few words is a useful start, but genuine inclusion also means considering what people can see, access and do.

Use a range of examples

Educational materials can acknowledge that women and girls menstruate while also including trans, non-binary and gender-diverse people. Use varied names, pronouns, clothing and illustrations rather than presenting one stereotypically feminine experience.

Teach anatomy without assigning it a gender

Use clear terms such as uterus, ovaries, cervix, vulva and vagina. Explain what these body parts do without suggesting that everyone who has them is a woman or that all women have them.

Avoid assumptions

Do not assume who has started menstruating, what products they use, whether they experience dysphoria or how they feel about their body. Give people privacy and choice.

Include periods in whole-class education

Teaching all students about menstruation makes it ordinary health knowledge rather than a secret topic. It also means young people who are not out or who are still exploring their identity do not have to identify themselves to access information.

Make help private and easy to access

Provide a discreet way to ask questions or obtain period products. Avoid systems that require a student to announce that they menstruate in front of classmates or repeatedly explain why they need to leave the room.

Period products should offer choice, not another gender rule

There is no single “most inclusive” period product. Comfort is personal and a product that reduces dysphoria for one person may increase it for another.

Some people prefer external products such as pads or period underwear because they do not require insertion. Others prefer internal products such as tampons, menstrual sponges, menstrual cups or menstrual discs because collecting blood internally can make bleeding feel less visible to them. Insertion can be uncomfortable or dysphoria-inducing for some people, so there is no universally better option.

Explain the choices without linking any product to femininity, bravery, maturity or gender. Straightforward labels such as “period care” and “period products”, inclusive instructions and a range of colours and styles can make products feel more welcoming.

If choosing feels overwhelming, our menstrual products comparison hub is a practical place to compare the options.

Inclusive toilets and facilities matter too

Period access is about more than products. Everyone should be able to manage their period safely and privately wherever they are.

Schools, workplaces and public venues can help by:

  • placing period products in all-gender and accessible toilets as well as women’s toilets
  • providing covered disposal bins in every toilet cubicle, including men’s toilets
  • providing water, soap and a private place to change products
  • using discreet, non-gendered signs for free period products
  • allowing students and staff to carry products or a small bag to the toilet without drawing attention

Research reviews describe public toilets as a significant barrier for some trans and non-binary people who menstruate. Concerns include safety, privacy, being outed by product packaging and the absence of disposal bins. Facilities designed around these practical needs can improve dignity and participation.

Gender-inclusive menstrual healthcare

Everyone deserves healthcare that takes period pain, heavy bleeding and cycle changes seriously.

Healthcare professionals can make appointments more inclusive by:

  • using the person’s name and pronouns
  • asking what words they use for their body
  • explaining why a question or examination is relevant
  • seeking consent before an examination and allowing the person to pause or stop
  • asking about current anatomy, medicines and health needs rather than making assumptions based on gender
  • discussing menstrual management or suppression without judgement when requested

Testosterone often makes periods lighter or stops them over time, but this does not happen for everyone. It is also not reliable contraception: ovulation and pregnancy can still occur even when periods have stopped. This is reflected in Australian clinical guidance from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

New or unexpected bleeding after periods have stopped, very heavy bleeding, severe pain or symptoms that interfere with daily life should be discussed with a trusted GP or another appropriately qualified health professional. Where possible, a gender-affirming clinician can make that conversation easier.

What if you use the wrong words?

Inclusive language is a practice, not a test. Many of us grew up hearing periods described only in feminine terms, so changing long-standing habits can take time.

If you make a mistake, correct it briefly and continue. There is no need for a long apology that makes the other person responsible for reassuring you. Stay open to feedback and remember that language evolves.

The most important thing is a genuine willingness to listen, learn and treat people with respect.

Inclusion makes period care better for everyone

Gender-inclusive period care does not diminish the experiences of women and girls. It gives us more accurate language and removes unnecessary barriers for people who have often been left out of menstrual health conversations.

We can still talk plainly about the ways menstruation affects women, including period poverty, health inequity and stigma, while recognising that not every person with a period is a woman.

At Period Shop, we believe every person deserves practical information, suitable product choices and the dignity to manage their body without shame. A period is something some bodies do. It does not define anyone’s gender and everyone who menstruates deserves to feel included.

Related reading

Sources and further support

This article provides general information only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you are concerned about your period or a change in bleeding, speak with a qualified health professional.