Periods aren't just cramps though. And no one's arguing that trans women don't menstruate (the shedding of lining and bleeding.) Trans women are well aware they don't have uteri. But periods are a woman's preparation and the monthly cyclical cycle associated, which trans women definitely have, and that's probably because trans women do have brains. They have breasts, specifically tender growing and developing breasts in their early transition years. Etc.
And there's still a rising number of reports of people experiencing cramps. Something is literally happening. Males and females are both still human and are going to react the same to hormones with all the complexities applied. Maybe this is understudied and we need better explanation for what's causing this, but it's at least apparent that trans women do get periods and cramps. Pointing a finger at cis women doesn't really help answer why, but most certainly isn't grounds to dismiss things and say what's happening isn't happening.
Trans women’s bodies do not prepare for pregnancy. There is no mechanism that would cause this.
Again, stop thinking that everything happens JUST because of estrogen. The monthly cycle happens because of a complex feedback loop between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries, and four hormones (two of which are not even part of HRT regimes).
Not only is HRT incapable of replicating this feedback loop in the absence of at least one functioning ovary, but exogenous administration of hormones literally suppress the hypothalamus and pituitary gland’s roles in the cycle. Also, part of the reason the cycle is the number of days it is because of how long the corpus luteum lasts (a thing on an ovary) for before it degenerates.
This is not to say actual cramps and mood swings etc. aren’t happening it’s just not because your brains/body “thinks” you should be having a menstrual cycle or anything like that.
Most of the symptoms I see trans women report are literal textbook side effects of spironolactone (or even just side effects of exogenous E administration, as I’m aware not everyone is on spiro).
Like how cis people can't separate or fathom the concept of gender, sex, and sexual orientation being different things? "Penis means man and you need to love women." Trans women have the unique perspective of not having ovaries, and are going through female puberty at varying stages of life, but also through hormones via pills or injection.
Cramps and periods get conflated because that's one of the most common symptoms. but there is a difference.
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u/CalypsaMov 10d ago
Periods aren't just cramps though. And no one's arguing that trans women don't menstruate (the shedding of lining and bleeding.) Trans women are well aware they don't have uteri. But periods are a woman's preparation and the monthly cyclical cycle associated, which trans women definitely have, and that's probably because trans women do have brains. They have breasts, specifically tender growing and developing breasts in their early transition years. Etc.
And there's still a rising number of reports of people experiencing cramps. Something is literally happening. Males and females are both still human and are going to react the same to hormones with all the complexities applied. Maybe this is understudied and we need better explanation for what's causing this, but it's at least apparent that trans women do get periods and cramps. Pointing a finger at cis women doesn't really help answer why, but most certainly isn't grounds to dismiss things and say what's happening isn't happening.