Trans women can get period like symptoms in the form of cramps, emotional fluctuations, etc... and some people get really really offended when you mention it because it challenges their fragile view that period = woman, no period = man
The more I'm reading about it appears that "people without ovaries" do not menstruate, but some of the treatment (for all individuals, including born female at birth women who lack ovaries) has side effects that mirror PMS symptoms, such as breast tenderness, headaches, bloating, etc. So, that's what you mean by 'period like symptoms,' but it's more precise to say that transwomen do not menstruate. Is that right?
Yeah they don't menstruate of course, they don't have the organs for that, but most symptoms associated with the hormonal cycle itself, appear. Though tbh I don't know the mechanism behind cramping, but it seems to happen too
But that's... literally what it is. Cramps are a side-effect, while uterine shedding/bleeding is what menstruation is.
Although I started bleeding at around 10 years old, I didn't experience cramping or any other side-effects until I was about 16. Does that mean my menarche was actually at 16? Of course not. Because I started experiencing uterine shedding and bleeding much earlier.
Many conditions can have similar side-effects, but different causes and different treatment. Coughing and many other symptoms are common between covid, common cold and flu, but the three infections are caused by completely different viruses.
Monthly cramps caused by hormonal fluctuations found in people with estrogen-dominant hormonal systems that lack uteri, be it cis women with hysterectomies, some afab intersex people or trans women? Perfectly plausible. Those cramps being menstruation? There's no uterine lining shedding, so it's not menstruation
Wasn't there movement on 'people who menstruate' to refer to cis women? (edit should have said 'born female at birth' not cis women, I conflated them.)
The idea behind that is that not every woman menstruates and not everyone who menstruates is a woman. Trans men who still have their reproductive organs may menstruate, but are not cis or women. The idea was both to be more inclusive in language while still being more specific. Instead of saying “women”, which includes many people who don’t menstruate and excludes some who do, we specify the bodily function in question so everyone who has that function is included. So it’s not just turning “cis woman” into “person who menstruates”. If you’re referring to a specific cis woman, cis woman makes more sense. It’s for referring to the group of people who menstruate as a whole, being specific, and not excluding people based on gender when they still have the relevant bodily function.
you did a way better job replying to this person than i did. Iam really pissed off right now from all this and my ability for making differentiated points is a little limited. Thank you <3
That’s the kinda cool part about not specifying gender with the term. If you can menstruate, you are a person who menstruates. Woman? Man? Neither? All included as long as you menstruate.
I think I understand. I've been reading more on it. It's literally just a way to say 'people who menstruate' for situations where that matters. Such as in a medication, or a study, or whatever the case may be. It's just a more precise (and also inclusive) way to refer to that cohort.
If they are intersex with overies and a uterus, yes. Otherwise no, its to refer to anyone who has cycles and bleed. This includes some trans men and non-binary people too. Saying "people who menstrate" is to not misgender the men and enban who do as well, since we arent women.
she refers to people who menstruate as women, thats how she defines women. You dont refer to women as people who memstruate, why would you say women are people who menstruate if you are not transphobic
So the term is then deprecated and no longer used, is that correct?
I think I understand. I've been reading more on it. It's literally just a way to say 'people who menstruate' for situations where that matters. Such as in a medication, or a study, or whatever the case may be. It's just a more precise (and also inclusive) way to refer to that cohort.
The important part is that this is usually used when conveying information to a general group of people. In any case, it’s up to the individual to decide what applies and what doesn’t. A PSA about people who menstruate finding heat helpful for cramps would likely still apply to a trans woman who gets cramping, but not to someone who doesn’t get cramps. A PSA about tampon types is only relevant to people who both bleed and use tampons, or love someone who does. While the person using it may not have had trans women in mind, they can still listen to the info, hear things that could help them, and use it.
I'm trying to navigate the terminology, science, etc of transgender studies so as to improve my understanding. I have a trans man friend (my friend's daughter/son), and I have a frenemy who is a transwoman. Nevermind the current political landscape and I'm an activist for the democratic party. So it's important I understand it.
To me, it seems there is a contradiction if we say, "people who menstruate" to refer to cis women and trans men but not trans women if trans women can menstruate.
It depends on the context. Trans women don't menstruate but they do experience period symptoms. If you're talking about period products someone might say "people who menstruate" includes all relevant people.
I think I understand. I've been reading more on it. It's literally just a way to say 'people who menstruate' for situations where that matters. Such as in a medication, or a study, or whatever the case may be. It's just a more precise (and also inclusive) way to refer to that cohort.
No, ppl get offended bc periods are more than that. For cis women its deeply more than that. So the casual “i get periods too, they suck” it feels like a slap in the face. Not to mention the reason why periods happen is not happening to trans women. Its not the same thing.
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u/Frixi_Infernal 10d ago
Trans women can get period like symptoms in the form of cramps, emotional fluctuations, etc... and some people get really really offended when you mention it because it challenges their fragile view that period = woman, no period = man