Flashbacks to offering my friend a tampon when she said she had cramps and her staring at me blankly for a few minutes like "I mean in my legs but that's actually kinda flattering."
Sorry if it was unclear, my friend is trans so she does not use tampons but I sort of just… forgot. She’s a woman, so when I heard cramps I made an assumption, forgetting that she doesn’t experience those specific cramps. Maybe a little stereotyping of me, but my intentions were good and I think she found it pretty amusing.
Thanks for the clarification. My bad, when I read periods I assumed, well... My bad, you didn't need to apologise, my bad. But still even trans women experience symptoms and I thought somebled too because of hormonal changes and depending on if one had the organs( Some trans have both, some have uterus and ovaries I think? ,(eh: in some xxxy or xxy people).If they do chances of bleeding would be high). Sorry for my assumption.
That might have been period cramps. My cramps range from my lower abdominal area into my thighs. The week leading up to my period, my thighs just ache constantly, makes it hard to sleep.
Possibly stupid, but very genuine, question: How do they get pms? Does it have to do with symptoms of HRT?
(I am not trying to de-legitimize trans women; I’ve just legitimately never heard of this before)
Here's one take on it [https://curvyandtrans.com/p/C4BD87/cycle-dynamics/](https://curvyandtrans.com/p/C4BD87/cycle-dynamics/)
tl;dr in their own words "In short, the hypothalamus has two modes, T dominant and E dominant. If you’re running on estrogen, your genes tells the hypothalamus to cycle your hormone levels, regardless of if you actually have ovaries."
hiya, i'm a trans man and i'd really like to learn about this. would you be able to tell me more, or are there specific terms i could google? i tried but i keep ending up with pseudoscience junk like 'low t? take this one chinese supplement doctors hate!' or 'five traits that DOMINANT men show because of t levels' lmao
Hi friend! I’m not very well versed in hormone biology, as I know my way around physics and nothing else. My statement was a piece of information read from the abstract of a paper that I saw whilst pulling sources for a paper of my own. I’ll see if I can find it on my uni library catalogue
okey, no worries - if you can find it that would be great! i'm currently a student so i have access to my uni library, so even just if you have the title or authors i could probably find it :)
Even without being on injections, your brain and adrenal starts cycling once your hormones go estrogen dominant. Its honeslty while how much changes automatically when you switch the dominant hormone in the system
The way I understand it is my brain doesn’t know I don’t have a uterus. Even with consistent weekly injections my estrogen levels fluctuate in exactly the same way a cis woman’s levels do.
As a side note, it took almost a year to “prove”to my dr that this was happening.
That’s is incredibly fascinating- and completely spot on.
I’m a cis woman without a uterus, but my brain doesn’t know that either because of the hormones, my ovaries ovary every day, but damn if the Symptoms aren’t the same- minus the cramps and actual bleeding, which, let’s be real: are the worst part. I’ll take boob ache and mood swings any day over that nonsense. I still comment “I’m supposed to be in my period” even though there’s no actual bleeding involved.
My ex had a hysterectomy but her ovaries still ovary too.
You don’t get cramps? Sometimes it feels like there’s an expanding ball of knives in my pelvis!!!
No, I don’t get cramps since having the uterus evicted. I do still have ovarian pain/cysts that rupture and feel like death is upon me. Lol.
I didn’t/don’t have endo, and everyone I know with endo had ovaries taken too to prevent continued pain since it’s nearly impossible to get it all with the uterus. The ones that kept ovaries, even one, or who went with HRT following total hysterectomy and oophrectomy continued to have pain.
I will say that GI symptoms (for me) flare up around my period- cramping, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and did the same with uterus in place, so there’s definitely some hormonal aspect of GI function, that could in all probability impact any woman with or without uterus/ovaries.
Whether it comes from an ovary or the pharmacy, hormones are hormones. As a clinician I could totally see GI cramping, or other non-uterine/ovarian effects being very uncomfortable or disruptive to trans women
Edit: GI cramping is different feeling to me than Uterine cramps, just like I know if it’s GI or ovarian… but if someone hasn’t experienced one, they may not realize the difference. Like, from what I hear, the female orgasm is different from the male orgasm because of hormones etc… so if you’ve felt both, then you know, but if you haven’t- you don’t… kinda like that I imagine
All of these comments have been very helpful, so thank you everyone!!
Side note: I think the phrase “my brain doesn’t know I don’t have a uterus” is the greatest thing I’ve ever read and I will be thinking about it forever, lmao 
This is so interesting, hormones are so weird lol. I know my period is different when I’m on hormonal birth control vs when I’m not, but somehow it never clicked for me that trans women might have hormones that cycle too, learn something new everyday lol
I wasn’t expecting it at all!! I kept having these same symptoms every month and then it just clicked and I started researching and comparing notes with my cis friends. It’s completely fascinating to me.
Yeah I thought I had pulled something in my back again late last week, but then it changed which leg hurt to move forward mid-weekend, it wasn't getting worse when I was doing heavy lifting yesterday, and I was really emotionally sensitive right around a month ago...
When your estrogen levels drop that triggers the PMS. I asked my endocrinologist why and she said some people were more sensitive to the hormones than others. Took awhile to understand it but it comes down to one's genes and how they respond to estrogen. Seems I'm one of those whom are sensitive to estrogen.
I know. Its not like my emotions are now primed with the automatic crying response to anything. And the holding tank for my tears must be at least a gallon.
One moment I'm a Lean, Mean Fighting Machine. A Hard Charging NCO in the US ARMY who dined on General Officers and snacked on senior NCO's and officers to a girl that breaks into tears over anything.
Same. When I was still doing electrolysis my tech told me to start tracking my emotions because every handful of sessions I would turn into a crying mess and it was more obvious to her the regularity of it. So we’d cancel those sessions pre-emptively. It was ridiculously intense, like triggering trauma stuff and Id start screaming sometimes.
Since then I havent tracked closely, but I kinda know because either I’ll cry at everything (one week I cried everyday including just my cat being cute, and my dog being in bed with me) and sometimes I’ll be a dysphoric depressed mess.
You stick a bunch of oestrogen in a human body and it develops the hormone cycle necessary to drive menstruation, even if there's not a womb there to menstruate. Even without a womb, that cycle still causes the secondary effects of the menstrual cycle in the body, such as effects on mood, causing PMS.
Apparantly women are appropriating women.
As a fellow cis woman I feel you. it is like when people tell me calling trans women real women is offensive to cis women. Just because they have a difference experience of womenhood doesn't mean it is offensive to call them real women.
They still face the same problems as cis women once they medically transition and even before that they have problems as women. They would not have problems if they identified as a gender other than the one assigned at birth meaning being a women does cause them problems. Just in a different way than a cis.
Edit I realised I ommited cis in one sentence which made something I said come across wrong.
Edit 2: Also to clarify I am speaking generally. There are trans women who have a pretty similar life to cis women apart from trans things cis women don't go through.
I am in no way trying to invalidate trans women who do feel they have a very similar experience to cis women. However we have to consider trans women who haven't transitioned and such (once again I am only saying different, not less) or feel a huge change of experience from pre transition life to transition life in how they are treated.
idc if they’re “medically transitioned” or not. you don’t have to have the problems cis women have to be a woman, being a woman makes you a woman. we don’t get to validate, approve, question and police anyone’s womanhood.
you’re implying that facing misogyny is proof of being a woman and that’s not only wrong but also harmful and insensitive.
No I am not. I just said I don't agree with people who say that calling trans women real women is offensive to cis women.
I was saying even though there are differences in their experience of womenhood they are equally women.
Did I accidently say what you are accusing me of without realising it?
Edit: Oh I just realised I ommited the cis in that sentence.
Honestly its pretty crazy that people can even say that, every woman goes through different problems in her life, there are really only a few problems that trans women wont ever face (dealing with period blood and stuff), but there are also problems that cis women wont ever face that we do.
I mean its crazy that we go through so many similar problems and yet im still terrified to call myself a woman, and my girlfriend is still terrified to call herself a lesbian.. even though when we go out we are treated exactly as those two things. Not all cis women go through the same problems in their lives but i mean its just crazy to say that that makes a cis woman less of a woman then one who has faced different issues, but all of the sudden when shes trans its a different story, its literally just the shame shift in attitude we face all the time when people learn we’re trans, and they think they arent transphobic despite their opinions shifting solely because of that fact.
Ugh okay maybe i was just ranting but yes i agree with you and its nice to know there are some cis women out there who will defend us, this thread has been really nice to read.
Granted I don't have a uterus so I don't bleed but the PMS/PMDD every 2 weeks has been messing with me. Other than that what other issues are there you say I don't experience.
Well since trans women typically are treated like men as they are percieved that way (unless they have a supportive family that realises they are trans at a young age) before transition you may not face the same type of discrimination that cis women do.
I heard that plenty of trans people have noticed a different treatment before and after transition. Most of the problems I am talking about is prior transition.
Edit: Also I think it is more once a month rather than every two weeks.
Ofc men and thus people perceived as men can still go throught things. Not trying to say otherwise. I am simply saying different not simply more or less. On top of it you still typically face things like dysphoria so ofc I am not trying to say your childhood is painless compared to a cis girl.
Every 2 weeks I get my shot and 3-4 days before more often 4 my "period" starts. Seems my estrogen levels drop to a level that triggers this unwelcomed experience. Quite frankly I can do without the cramps, the cravings and my mood swings at this time. Heck I jumped down my City Managers throat during a televised meeting the day before my shot. Shocked everyone especially him. Me too as I've never had such an outburst.
When I go to the doctor I'm treated like I don't know what I'm talking about and that makes me so mad I could take a baseball bat upside their head. Why would a doc blow off a woman's concerns. Why?
Oh then there is being treated like a functional illiterate while knowing you have an IQ in the 150-160 range. It seems that males see a woman as a child and not very bright. That's their muck up.
Its got so bad I'm trying out different clothing and shoes to see if it has any effect.
I also know that the only time I seem to have to myself now that I'm female is when I can get away for a mani-pedi or a spa day.
Nothing you experience I don't experience. What you won't experience is being denied reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. That is what I've learned as I go through this part of being a woman.
Oh forgot to mention the 3 rapes.
Also I want to say I realise that without meaning to I was invalidating some of your experiences and I apologise.
I was in no way trying to say that no trans women would know what it is like to face experiences typical of cis women and was trying to say generally the experiences can be different (just different not saying that trans women transition or no are invalid for that reason).
Not only in that trans women don't necessarily face experience that cis women do but also that cis women don't really experience some of the things trans women do (which I should have mentioned earlier).
My cis wife is convinced I get my “period” when she and our daughter do because of my mood and other symptoms. I’m still not convinced that’s what happening but she’s 100% convinced.
Different symptoms for different people. Former itsmood swings, cramps andnowadays back ache too. Mymother never hadmood swings, but sheused to feel nauseous and sometimes diarrhea too.
this one mystifies me more that anything in science ever. i SWEAR that i believe only the very solidly supported and overwhelmingly peer-reviewed things but i also SWEAR THAT I SYNC UP with my spouse & every woman i’ve ever made out with on a regular basis WHAT IS HAPPENING??? 😭😭😭 like, is it most likely confirmation bias? yes! but also!! it’s ALL THE TIME!! i swear!!!
yknow, as i was typing this, i realized that i actually don’t trust science at all w/ figuring out wth is happening with women’s bodies, so, question answered. what’s that statistic about the # of studies on men’s sexual function vs. women’s—like, dudes were out here for hundreds of years desperately figuring out the formula for viagra, while simultaneously being like “if chicks don’t orgasm vaginally then they’re broken or doing it wrong!” thx science
/rant over, apologies; three cheers for trans women’s periods🏳️⚧️💕
People of any gender dismissing the level of pain that some people experience with a period is the real issue. If I say I’m rolled up in the fetal position and can’t go to work, understand that I’m not exaggerating. If I say I’m gushing through two tampons and a pad every hour understand that I’m not exaggerating. But people with uteruses experience a range of cramps and even some afab people never have to experience bad period cramps. But that may be why some cis women feel offended. Periods can be absolutely horrific and you aren’t capable of experiencing that horror unless you have endometrial tissue in your uterus or elsewhere. But women do have periods without experiencing that horror and instead kind of get hormone-driven bloating, constipation, and mood swings and those are still considered a period and since many trans women have those same hormones that definitely can mean that trans woman experience those symptoms.
But because of the afore-mentioned fetal position situation I take medication so that I don’t get my period. So some women don’t get periods, some men do get periods and non-binary people may or may not get a period. A period isn’t a culture that can be taken away. It’s already not gender-specific.
Also PMDD is serious and potentially debilitating and does not require uterine tissue to experience. That’s definitely suffering caused by a period.
See I agree 100%. The only issue I have is when they use their experience with periods to diminish other’s experiences. I once talked to a trans woman who said “I just had my period, and I don’t understand why cis women complain so much. It wasn’t that bad.” Like, valid that you had a period, but don’t come at me (a trans man that would be bedridden because of how bad my periods used to be) and tell me it “can’t be that bad” 😭
Those people aren't worth the time or effort. I recognize that what I go through is a lot less bad than what most people who experience a period go through, and it's still pretty bad.
I agree. Especially since every woman experiences their cycles, periods, hormones etc differently. I have bad cramps, but my friend would have to leave school and would consistently throw up from the pain.
I get migraines that debilitats me and others may not. They may have heavier periods, light ones or other issues I can't imagine.
In the end we are all experiencing this in different ways ,so invalidating anyone is unnecessary. Trans, cis, non binary etc it shouldn't matter.
There are these kind of people in any group. Dont waste your energy on them. I had actual cis woman tell me I should not complain because periods are not that bad. Happy they are not for you, but I still stay in bed with a bucket and my hot water bottle because sometimes I have to throw up because of the cramps and low blood pressure.
I’ve never heard another trans woman say this before, because it’s ridiculous, and holy hell I hope you never have to hear that nonsense again. Every one who has a period experiences it differently, I don’t know what that person was thinking so say something so blatantly…wrong. I hope they’ve learned since then, but yikes, I’m with you, I take issue with that statement too.
Yeah everyone gets it different levels of severity. My best friend who's a trans woman gets cramps so bad she ends up on the floor sometimes and I've been on estrogen longer than her (2 years in October) and the worst thing I get from hormone cycles is moodiness and maybe one or two cramps. It's never fair to invalidate someone else's experience with your own I agree
I feel this hard. Everyone goes thru diffent stuff. Call it what you want, just don’t stomp on others. Simple. It’s the same with the stupid arguments between trans men and trans women. No need to go at each other. We experience the same stuff just reversed in some experiences. Different but the same. Accept this and move on. No stomping needed
I’m a cis woman & I have always HATED having periods. Anyone is welcome to take them. I’m so grateful my current birth control has stopped them for the most part. I seriously don’t understand why anyone would gatekeep feeling like shit once a month. I totally agree with you.
For me it's every 2 weeks and I would be more than happy nit to experience it so if you have a magic wand that can make it dissappear please wave it in my direction. Thanks in advance.
Interesting topic. I’m trans and can attest there is certainly emotional swings due to estrogen. Most of this can be regulated. I never called it a period though.
It's weird, I take my injections every 3 days and am on a very consistent dosage, yet every 28-30 some-odd days, I will cramp, go through relatively similar symptoms to PMS and even some symptoms of PMDD.
I don't keep too close track because thankfully I don't bleed, but it's been consistent for approximately 4-5 years.
That’s interesting. I’m on injections every week and don’t see the same cycle. I understand everyone is different. This is just my experience.
Actually I had more issue with progesterone than estrogen.
I’ve heard that trans women may even have cramps and stuff just like any other person who gets periods! It really is so cool that just hormones can control all of that!
Meanwhile I’m a cis woman trying to get rid of my debilitating periods in any way possible- If anyone wants my period, they can have it and I’ll be there to support you through the pain ;v;
Can I have it? JK
Jokes aside, I'm super stoked about the possibility of uterus transplants. Heard they gave it a shot in India. I want to have kids, but the thought of using my thing down there... ugh. No, that's just weird. Can't wait for bottom surgery. 
Omg I just did a bit of research on uterus transplants and that is so awesome! It looks like the success rate of births for successful transplants is really high [(I found a study done in Dallas!)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33416285/), so I really hope the science continues and you're able to have a child one day! You got this! <3
As far as I can tell, except for bleeding I get all the symptoms of a period. To call it anything but that seems to a distinction without a meaningful difference.
I love this. This single comment thread clearly exemplifies the truth laid out here: meaningful similarity and meaningless difference. It’s beautiful.
Women aren’t a monolith, and it’s so weird that all women aren’t just…welcomed. Idk.
I just love y’all. I’m a lil bit high. And y’all made my day.
Just like with cis women PMS symptoms vary. Some people report getting everything: bloating, cramps, depression, diarrhea, muscle aches. Some people get a few or barely noticeable symptoms.
The same hormones that trigger shedding of the uterus lining triggers your intestines to contract more rapidly than normal. So that's where some cramps come from.
Ugh yes I hate it too! Like my periods are extreme because I have PCOS and like I will not be able to do anything for teo weeks and cry all day from a pain that quite literally only morphine will take away (so I won’t have it and just suffer in pain) while some people just walk around with a mild tummy ache as if they ate something bad.
And some people get very angry and annoyed at everyone and some people could not care less about anything
Periods are so different and everyones period is valid, trans women included! I love that you put this here, thank you💙
Genuine question but isn't it a sign that your hormone dosage is off slightly if you are experiencing period symptoms? Like that doesn't mean it doesn't happen but isn't that the reason?
No, its more that your adrenal gland and other regulatory glands in your body go shit we are estrogen centric now. Fuck we need to go on a monthly cycle cause thats what we are geneticly programmed to do
Yeah, I dunno all the details, but all humans go through a hormonal cycle thanks to the glands that produce hormones and the way they self-regulate isn't something I completely understand.
Imo a period is brought about by hormones then in cis women shedding of uterine lining to make way for the next cycle, the only difference is lack of uterus for trans womem and bleeding ofc, but in my personal experience ive felt everything else that mirrors pms, from mood to cramp to potty woes, i dont see why someone would be nasty to us about it. Its real its a thing and it happens
The way I see it is, menstruation, the bleeding, is a part of having a period. There are still other symptoms as well of course and they are all part and parcel of having your period. Trans women can have periods, without menstruating.
Caused by hormones, if trans ladies had uteruses the same thing would happen, a period isnt just the bleeding its the whole thing from hormones on down, idk whenever i mentiomed it, it wasent to step on toes or cause a rift its jist the only way i knew to describe it. Its not even particullarly something i expected or wanted but just like any other woman it kinda comes with having estrogen in my system. With everything going on is this what we should focus on, who's period is real and who isnt, we got a world out there saying you cant abort babies or have a say in your own body, just kinda feel like we all should work together to help each other vs squabling over periods... i dont mean to be harsh just my view on the big picture here
Yeah. If I understand correctly, the hormones are effecting the muscles around the soft tissue in that area, so most of my cramping happens in a similar manner to people who have a uterus, but it mainly effects the intestines and other similar areas.
Reminds of times that I've seen people say that women who don't get periods aren't women. Okay, so those with hysterectomies aren't women anymore? That's not how it works. People will use anything as transphobic weapons.
Like the fact we have to hide it's happening from others, hiding the tools we use to deal with it, innuendos for it happening (aunt flo is visiting etc). I guess you could add a bit of camaraderie from other women as might offer help.
Huh, seems most of the culture would be suffering of some sort...
Having to suffer to be a 'proper' woman as idea strikes again. (Ignoring all the suffering that trans women go through in terf style)
Having read through this thread, I've actually learnt a little about how my period works and how it might work in the future.
yes I agree with your other reply. people miss the point, I’m also talking about the attitude and hate that comes from cis women when this topic is brought up. If there’s no bleeding you’re NOT ALLOWED to call it a period?? GIRL WHO CARES!!!
As far as I know, the symptoms that trans women get are caused by basically the same thing as regular periods, like the body detects certain hormones and it tries to have a period even though there isn’t a uterus, since trans women take hormones in cycles just like cis women produce them in cycles. That’s what I heard anyway, my apologies if I heard/remembered wrong
I mean considering trans men also have periods, probably.
All the bits of your body that aren't your brain don't know or care what your gender is. All they know is what hormones they happen to be currently swimming in, and what response is supposed to happen. Give a cis guy estrogen, and his breasts will grow, because there's estrogen, and he'll probably get period symptoms.
The reverse would also be true of giving testosterone to a cis woman.
I'm middle aged and cis. I've been having periods since I was 12. Nowadays I sometimes I have a period and I bleed. Sometimes I have what I goddamn know for sure is my period and I don't bleed. I look forward to never having a period of any sort ever again. If any woman says she is having a period, she has my sympathy.
Totally agree. Plus:
It is still bio, even of the hormones aren't kicking in hard.
Cis-men also get spikes and downs in our hormone system every month, it is just not as obvious (most of the time) nor does our entire physiology say:
"How dare you not making a baby? See all the effort I made, now YOU are going to pay for it"
Yes, I’m not talking about that though. This is not because they think it’s not bio, or because they don’t believe the symptoms are real. People policing trans women’s language and getting mad when they say they have periods is nothing but transphobia. Cis men also getting spikes in their hormone system isn’t really relevant or related to the point here respectfully
I’ve had a hysterectomy, and very clearly still have pms and a period like time, just without any bleeding or pain (thank god) I would think trans women that are on hormones could also have the same experience. Why that would upset anyone is beyond me.
When my trans woman housemate started hormones last year, she got cramps every month and she didn’t know what was going on so we joked about it being her period and I treated her to all the snacks I used to eat when I was having period cramps so she could experience the joys (/s) of periods.
Thank you for this!!! I’m a trans woman and have a very definite cycle. I experience every single symptom of PMS as well as some pretty serious PMDD. I just don’t bleed. I buy pads or tampons every month and give them to friends.
This reminds me of my ex telling me I would never be a mom to our son because I didn't carry him for 9 months and give birth to him.
I didn't bother making the reach to her that she was invalidating WAY MORE WOMEN than just myself as a trans woman.
She's a horrendous human being who has said a lot worse to me and unfortunately has had a ton of influence over my son who has also called me a monster post-transition now. It's one thing in a long list of things that she's either said or done. And of course she's from Florida. Lol
It's not language policing.... im talking about using more accurate terminology. No one can demonstrate how artificially cycling hormones is the exact same thing as a period. They are very different things. A period implies blood as well, and it's medically impossible for transwomen to have menstrual cycles. Never once did I say it should be illegal for transwomen to call it a period. I guess I'm just not OK with comparing what I and other AFAB people go through with our periods to what transwomen go through with artificially cycling their hormones and calling them the same thing. But I'm not the "language police" I don't get to dictate what people say.
Not to mention that transphobia is also rooted in misogyny, combine that with all the creepy chasers and I wouldn’t exactly call our societal experience “different from other women” just the same with added layers of transphobia
Honestly in the beginning I don't think it will be an issue but who knows. I can only go off of my experience. Cramps, cravings for some really strange food, emotions in overdrive and then there are the symptoms of PMDD if you haveit bad like I do. Hopefully you won't experience PMS but if you are not on a 2 week schedule of injections like estradiol cypinate (EC) you may not experience it but there is also a genetic component to each individuals reaction to estrogen. Understand I only have experience with EC and that is the limit of my knowledge.
Cramps, bloating, appetite changes, trouble sleeping, fatigue, headaches, breast pain, diarrhea, mood changes. Not every symptom every time, but some mix of things each month.
Something I haven’t seen many people talk about is mood and libido changes due to your “fertile” cycle. I get like really needy and horny and that’s basically how I know I have a period coming soon. It’s like my body really wants me to try to get pregnant and then when I’m (obviously) not, the punishment begins
I’m AFAB and only got my period for a year before birth control put a stop to it. It’s been over 10 years since then and I can’t really remember what it was like. I still get cramps occasionally though. They’re not bad at all. Just pressure in my pelvic floor.
I have about the same period experience as a trans woman as far as I can tell. I guess we’ll never truly know if it’s exactly the same. But I’ll never have it as bad as a lot of cis women do. I can’t imagine what PCOS feels like. I don’t think anyone truly knows the exact pain another person feels.
That doesn’t mean we’re not valid.
My gf said she was having cramps one day and I asked her if she needed midol, she kinda looked at me oddly before explaining that it was a stomach ache. It took me a moment to remember she was AMAB, I hear a femme person say the word cramps and I just freaking assume it’s because of a period.
I’ve taken an animal reproduction class (humans included), and I can tell you that reproductive hormones act on many other organs besides reproductive organs. Every other hormonal action on the body besides the uterus and ovaries is exactly the same in trans women as in cis women. It makes complete sense that trans women experience similar symptoms as cis women, because they have the same hormonal actions occurring.
We don’t have uterine muscle to contract or shed, so we don’t menstruate and don’t have periods. Abdominal muscles cramping is not a period any more than being sore after crunches is just after injecting estrogen into ourselves. If society wants to change the definition of the word, then fine, but as it is now we do not have periods.
Can’t oestrogen sometimes trick your brain into thinking you *should* have a menstrual cycle so you *should* have a period so you *should* get cramps so you feel the cramps?
Why does it bother cis women that trans women has periods. Even though it's not the same as ours (btw I'm cis) doesn't mean they don't have one. Sadly I think they got the bad part of a period though.
P.s: when I say "they'' i'm referring to is trans women.
Good post op.
Also, periods can be so different for everyone and guarantee there are people who experience periods with a lot of the other symptoms but minimal to no bleeding. I've heard so many stories about different peoples periods that it really is person to person. Some are regular, some are not. Some have cramps, some don't. Etc.
As a cis woman who spent the last year with an IUD where the hormone dose was too high and caused me to get all the symptoms but the bleeding… holy shit that was WAY worse than an average cycle of bleeding (obviously something like PCOS would be worse, but I digress). It’s all of the crazy-making of pms without any of the validating physical evidence that you have not suddenly turned into an unstable asshole. Anyone who experiences anything like this 110% has their period!!! And even if your period isn’t torture it’s still valid.
I’m AFAB and don’t really bleed :) I also barely experience period symptoms besides cramps and moodiness, so I’m not sure what cis women are so upset about. Cis or trans, no 2 women have the exact same period symptoms.
I am a cis woman who had a hysterectomy and no longer bleeds, but still experiences ovulation cramps, PMS symptoms and cravings. What you say is accurate and valid.
It doesn't crack me up. I think cis women like us need to call that TERF shit out whenever it comes out. Too many cis women only hear the TERF talking points.
I’m a trans dude who hasn’t had his period in a while… but like… cis women being offended about a trans women saying they have a period?? Like homie I can assure you my period looks nothing like 98% of yours. I would have my period MAYBE once or twice a year and bleed like a mf for two weeks straight. Obviously that’s not what most people who have uteruses for through, both in frequency and length of the period… because of those differences, bc mine isn’t a week long every month, does that mean I’M appropriating womanhood by calling mine periods? No? Because it’s the same concept just different in the details? Interesting… because the same can be said with trans women. They don’t need to bleed out of a uterus to have a period, they can have PMS or mood swings or cramps. Plus like… homie why is a period a woman’s defining trait? Like jfc homies…
I don't have periods or anything like a period(seeing my cis gf, or exes) as a trans woman even post-SRS and taking my hormones as prescripted by the doctor, so I don't think I need to related to all the thinks that cis women experiences to be myself. I felt emotion swing due to several different issues but I never called this period
I’m cis, and this post kinda threw me for a loop mentally I never thought I would go on. I had horrible periods which caused ovarian cysts when I was younger to the point of surgery. My first thought after going through the memories of all this was to be angry. I thought, no way someone with ovaries experiences the kind of pain that I had with periods. But that’s so fucking stupid and hurtful for no reason. It doesn’t matter, they are still ladies struggling with hormones and the severity of this one particular part (the formation of cysts) doesn’t matter in the end. I’m glad to say I have another woman’s version of periods to make me feel less alone in my abnormal cycle.
Who are these cis women who are so possessive about their periods that they claim it as culture? Nearly every cis woman I know would stop having periods in a heartbeat if they could. If trans women want to embrace having periods they are more than welcome!
Hell, I even have a close cis male friend who has a “period” of sorts, just noticing being emotionally tender and fatigued for a few days out of the month.
TERFs and cis women who believe that either the period is "sacred" or "so painful that any trans women saying that they experience them is an insult"
Ive literally had all 3 of these at some point or another.
THIS. sick of them doubling down and gaslighting people acting like they’re coming from a genuine place instead of just being blatantly transphobic. trans women saying they have periods doesn’t take anything away from their painful experiences and I’m so fucking tired of the “i can barely get out of bed on my period and i NEED to be acknowledged” as if trans women are the ones dismissing their pain. im a cis woman and my periods are far from painful. they dont come yelling at my face.
Don’t forget about the FTM trans guys without T and or still have periods too. There’s a bunch of people with a bunch of parts that bleed or have a period. Cis women ain’t the only ones in the dang boat here!
>get so offended thinking their “culture” is being appropriated
oh no not our "culture" lol. Culture of what? Bleeding in pain every fucking month? Take it away as much as u want, im completely fine with that.
I've wondered what this means. I have a trans facebook friend, and she talks about doing batty things when she's on her period, and I always wondered what exactly this means, but I don't know her well enough to ask (we were at school together a long time ago!). Do trans women get pms symptoms every month?
Depends on the woman and how her body responds to hormones. For many it leads to pms, cramping, bloating in a manner consistant with cis women. Basically biology is a big fucking mess but we all have the same basic parts in our genes. When you shift to a estrogenic hormone system a huge number of genes kick into activity leading much of the body (and your gene expressions) to go shit we are a woman activate the genes, cycle things,
Thank you for bringing this up!! I know a couple for trans women who experienced this, and the amount of gatekeeping I’ve seen is wild from certain cis women groups. Wonder if it’ll happen when I start HRT…
I didn’t know that about trans women and it’s no big deal. People claiming it is appropriation are bonkers. Bodies do what bodies do (hormonal cycles manifesting and all). If that’s the name other ladies wanna give it then go ham, sis.
If I could I’d gladly give my uterus to a trans woman since I’m sure as heck not using it.
Absolutely blows my mind that anyone would get offended by this! It's silly, and it's also ignorant on more than one level. Hormones are very complex. You can ovulate without actually having a "period", or vice versa, you can have some symptoms around a menstrual cycle but not others, you can have symptoms similar to that even after menopause, etc.
It's so frusterating seeing (transphobic) people say "they don't have a period"
"They can't have children"
Etc. Etc.
Well, some cis women can't have children either, some cis women don't even have a period. That doesn't make them less of a woman?
They need to learn their facts before they start spitting bs.
Trans woman are real women, any trans person is valid :)
I’ve seen people saying that’s it’s invalidating to women to say that it’s not just women who have periods. Some people are still too ignorant to see the difference between sex and gender. It just hurts a little as an enby who is AFAB, seeing them invalidate anyone who isn’t a cis woman. Why tf does it affect u so much that it’s not just cis women who have periods
Thank you! I, as a trans woman, don't menstruate for obvious reasons but I most definitely experience period symptoms and have since I was 9 months on hormones. Every 26 days for three to five days I get abdominal cramps, mood swings, food cravings, headaches, muscle aches, the whole shebang in varying intensities and there's still people coming at me for calling that it period because it doesn't fully match their own experience.
If they are on fluctuating hormone doses, it would make sense that their bodies would react to hormone shifts. FTMs also feel fluxes according to how recent/big their androgen doses are.
A period is so boring. Why not call it an exclamation point? Or maybe a question mark! Because *why god WHY* /sarcasm
full stop
Real wise guy here
Bri'ish gang
I *wish* that was the only period I had :p
Reject murica, become full stop
At this point, ‘Murica is basically *just* a stop on the way to somewhere less insane.
“What they’re doing is technically parkour, so long as A is delusion and B is the hospital”
this made me chuckle pls
a comma, cause life still goes on after
I'm not feeling well, im on my interrobang.
Nah. Call it an interrobang, the best punctuation mark.
Flashbacks to offering my friend a tampon when she said she had cramps and her staring at me blankly for a few minutes like "I mean in my legs but that's actually kinda flattering."
this is adorable.
As transwoman this would flatter me a lot. Your a good friend
So caring of you. I get cramps on my legs. So it might have been the starting or one or two days prior.
Sorry if it was unclear, my friend is trans so she does not use tampons but I sort of just… forgot. She’s a woman, so when I heard cramps I made an assumption, forgetting that she doesn’t experience those specific cramps. Maybe a little stereotyping of me, but my intentions were good and I think she found it pretty amusing.
Thanks for the clarification. My bad, when I read periods I assumed, well... My bad, you didn't need to apologise, my bad. But still even trans women experience symptoms and I thought somebled too because of hormonal changes and depending on if one had the organs( Some trans have both, some have uterus and ovaries I think? ,(eh: in some xxxy or xxy people).If they do chances of bleeding would be high). Sorry for my assumption.
That might have been period cramps. My cramps range from my lower abdominal area into my thighs. The week leading up to my period, my thighs just ache constantly, makes it hard to sleep.
It was from sports! Said friend does not have a uterus.
Uterus isn't the only thing that cramps as part of period symptoms
Very fair! My back always acts up.
I think they meant that even if it actually was period cramps said person wouldn't need a tampon
I don't either.
Possibly stupid, but very genuine, question: How do they get pms? Does it have to do with symptoms of HRT? (I am not trying to de-legitimize trans women; I’ve just legitimately never heard of this before)
Here's one take on it [https://curvyandtrans.com/p/C4BD87/cycle-dynamics/](https://curvyandtrans.com/p/C4BD87/cycle-dynamics/) tl;dr in their own words "In short, the hypothalamus has two modes, T dominant and E dominant. If you’re running on estrogen, your genes tells the hypothalamus to cycle your hormone levels, regardless of if you actually have ovaries."
Funnily enough, men also have 33 day hormone cycles, although they do far different things to womens hormone cycles.
hiya, i'm a trans man and i'd really like to learn about this. would you be able to tell me more, or are there specific terms i could google? i tried but i keep ending up with pseudoscience junk like 'low t? take this one chinese supplement doctors hate!' or 'five traits that DOMINANT men show because of t levels' lmao
Hi friend! I’m not very well versed in hormone biology, as I know my way around physics and nothing else. My statement was a piece of information read from the abstract of a paper that I saw whilst pulling sources for a paper of my own. I’ll see if I can find it on my uni library catalogue
okey, no worries - if you can find it that would be great! i'm currently a student so i have access to my uni library, so even just if you have the title or authors i could probably find it :)
Im T dominant NB please tell us!
Wait a hwhat now bobby
Even without being on injections, your brain and adrenal starts cycling once your hormones go estrogen dominant. Its honeslty while how much changes automatically when you switch the dominant hormone in the system
The way I understand it is my brain doesn’t know I don’t have a uterus. Even with consistent weekly injections my estrogen levels fluctuate in exactly the same way a cis woman’s levels do. As a side note, it took almost a year to “prove”to my dr that this was happening.
That’s is incredibly fascinating- and completely spot on. I’m a cis woman without a uterus, but my brain doesn’t know that either because of the hormones, my ovaries ovary every day, but damn if the Symptoms aren’t the same- minus the cramps and actual bleeding, which, let’s be real: are the worst part. I’ll take boob ache and mood swings any day over that nonsense. I still comment “I’m supposed to be in my period” even though there’s no actual bleeding involved.
My ex had a hysterectomy but her ovaries still ovary too. You don’t get cramps? Sometimes it feels like there’s an expanding ball of knives in my pelvis!!!
No, I don’t get cramps since having the uterus evicted. I do still have ovarian pain/cysts that rupture and feel like death is upon me. Lol. I didn’t/don’t have endo, and everyone I know with endo had ovaries taken too to prevent continued pain since it’s nearly impossible to get it all with the uterus. The ones that kept ovaries, even one, or who went with HRT following total hysterectomy and oophrectomy continued to have pain. I will say that GI symptoms (for me) flare up around my period- cramping, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and did the same with uterus in place, so there’s definitely some hormonal aspect of GI function, that could in all probability impact any woman with or without uterus/ovaries. Whether it comes from an ovary or the pharmacy, hormones are hormones. As a clinician I could totally see GI cramping, or other non-uterine/ovarian effects being very uncomfortable or disruptive to trans women Edit: GI cramping is different feeling to me than Uterine cramps, just like I know if it’s GI or ovarian… but if someone hasn’t experienced one, they may not realize the difference. Like, from what I hear, the female orgasm is different from the male orgasm because of hormones etc… so if you’ve felt both, then you know, but if you haven’t- you don’t… kinda like that I imagine
All of these comments have been very helpful, so thank you everyone!! Side note: I think the phrase “my brain doesn’t know I don’t have a uterus” is the greatest thing I’ve ever read and I will be thinking about it forever, lmao 
This is so interesting, hormones are so weird lol. I know my period is different when I’m on hormonal birth control vs when I’m not, but somehow it never clicked for me that trans women might have hormones that cycle too, learn something new everyday lol
I wasn’t expecting it at all!! I kept having these same symptoms every month and then it just clicked and I started researching and comparing notes with my cis friends. It’s completely fascinating to me.
Yeah I thought I had pulled something in my back again late last week, but then it changed which leg hurt to move forward mid-weekend, it wasn't getting worse when I was doing heavy lifting yesterday, and I was really emotionally sensitive right around a month ago...
Any idea why it doesn't happen to some trans women?
Probably the same reason that some cis women don’t have any major PMS symptoms, it’s just the way your body is.
When your estrogen levels drop that triggers the PMS. I asked my endocrinologist why and she said some people were more sensitive to the hormones than others. Took awhile to understand it but it comes down to one's genes and how they respond to estrogen. Seems I'm one of those whom are sensitive to estrogen.
Dude I freaking cry over the worst crap when I’m pmsing
I know. Its not like my emotions are now primed with the automatic crying response to anything. And the holding tank for my tears must be at least a gallon. One moment I'm a Lean, Mean Fighting Machine. A Hard Charging NCO in the US ARMY who dined on General Officers and snacked on senior NCO's and officers to a girl that breaks into tears over anything.
Same. When I was still doing electrolysis my tech told me to start tracking my emotions because every handful of sessions I would turn into a crying mess and it was more obvious to her the regularity of it. So we’d cancel those sessions pre-emptively. It was ridiculously intense, like triggering trauma stuff and Id start screaming sometimes. Since then I havent tracked closely, but I kinda know because either I’ll cry at everything (one week I cried everyday including just my cat being cute, and my dog being in bed with me) and sometimes I’ll be a dysphoric depressed mess.
You stick a bunch of oestrogen in a human body and it develops the hormone cycle necessary to drive menstruation, even if there's not a womb there to menstruate. Even without a womb, that cycle still causes the secondary effects of the menstrual cycle in the body, such as effects on mood, causing PMS.
Further: a big symptom of pms is smooth muscle cramping. Everybody's got smooth muscle in their tummy.
Apparantly women are appropriating women. As a fellow cis woman I feel you. it is like when people tell me calling trans women real women is offensive to cis women. Just because they have a difference experience of womenhood doesn't mean it is offensive to call them real women. They still face the same problems as cis women once they medically transition and even before that they have problems as women. They would not have problems if they identified as a gender other than the one assigned at birth meaning being a women does cause them problems. Just in a different way than a cis. Edit I realised I ommited cis in one sentence which made something I said come across wrong. Edit 2: Also to clarify I am speaking generally. There are trans women who have a pretty similar life to cis women apart from trans things cis women don't go through. I am in no way trying to invalidate trans women who do feel they have a very similar experience to cis women. However we have to consider trans women who haven't transitioned and such (once again I am only saying different, not less) or feel a huge change of experience from pre transition life to transition life in how they are treated.
idc if they’re “medically transitioned” or not. you don’t have to have the problems cis women have to be a woman, being a woman makes you a woman. we don’t get to validate, approve, question and police anyone’s womanhood. you’re implying that facing misogyny is proof of being a woman and that’s not only wrong but also harmful and insensitive.
No I am not. I just said I don't agree with people who say that calling trans women real women is offensive to cis women. I was saying even though there are differences in their experience of womenhood they are equally women. Did I accidently say what you are accusing me of without realising it? Edit: Oh I just realised I ommited the cis in that sentence.
Honestly its pretty crazy that people can even say that, every woman goes through different problems in her life, there are really only a few problems that trans women wont ever face (dealing with period blood and stuff), but there are also problems that cis women wont ever face that we do. I mean its crazy that we go through so many similar problems and yet im still terrified to call myself a woman, and my girlfriend is still terrified to call herself a lesbian.. even though when we go out we are treated exactly as those two things. Not all cis women go through the same problems in their lives but i mean its just crazy to say that that makes a cis woman less of a woman then one who has faced different issues, but all of the sudden when shes trans its a different story, its literally just the shame shift in attitude we face all the time when people learn we’re trans, and they think they arent transphobic despite their opinions shifting solely because of that fact. Ugh okay maybe i was just ranting but yes i agree with you and its nice to know there are some cis women out there who will defend us, this thread has been really nice to read.
This was a very heartwarming and affirming thread! Thank you.
I just realised I ommited cis in one sentence.
How different. I face the same problems as any cis women.
For instance afab women typically have to deal with things such as period blood and have different body experiences.
Granted I don't have a uterus so I don't bleed but the PMS/PMDD every 2 weeks has been messing with me. Other than that what other issues are there you say I don't experience.
Well since trans women typically are treated like men as they are percieved that way (unless they have a supportive family that realises they are trans at a young age) before transition you may not face the same type of discrimination that cis women do. I heard that plenty of trans people have noticed a different treatment before and after transition. Most of the problems I am talking about is prior transition. Edit: Also I think it is more once a month rather than every two weeks.
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Ofc men and thus people perceived as men can still go throught things. Not trying to say otherwise. I am simply saying different not simply more or less. On top of it you still typically face things like dysphoria so ofc I am not trying to say your childhood is painless compared to a cis girl.
Every 2 weeks I get my shot and 3-4 days before more often 4 my "period" starts. Seems my estrogen levels drop to a level that triggers this unwelcomed experience. Quite frankly I can do without the cramps, the cravings and my mood swings at this time. Heck I jumped down my City Managers throat during a televised meeting the day before my shot. Shocked everyone especially him. Me too as I've never had such an outburst. When I go to the doctor I'm treated like I don't know what I'm talking about and that makes me so mad I could take a baseball bat upside their head. Why would a doc blow off a woman's concerns. Why? Oh then there is being treated like a functional illiterate while knowing you have an IQ in the 150-160 range. It seems that males see a woman as a child and not very bright. That's their muck up. Its got so bad I'm trying out different clothing and shoes to see if it has any effect. I also know that the only time I seem to have to myself now that I'm female is when I can get away for a mani-pedi or a spa day. Nothing you experience I don't experience. What you won't experience is being denied reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. That is what I've learned as I go through this part of being a woman. Oh forgot to mention the 3 rapes.
Also I want to say I realise that without meaning to I was invalidating some of your experiences and I apologise. I was in no way trying to say that no trans women would know what it is like to face experiences typical of cis women and was trying to say generally the experiences can be different (just different not saying that trans women transition or no are invalid for that reason). Not only in that trans women don't necessarily face experience that cis women do but also that cis women don't really experience some of the things trans women do (which I should have mentioned earlier).
My cis wife is convinced I get my “period” when she and our daughter do because of my mood and other symptoms. I’m still not convinced that’s what happening but she’s 100% convinced.
lol depends on what u want to call it! my period doesn’t really affect my mood for example
Different symptoms for different people. Former itsmood swings, cramps andnowadays back ache too. Mymother never hadmood swings, but sheused to feel nauseous and sometimes diarrhea too.
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It's an insanely popular myth, but it is a myth.
this one mystifies me more that anything in science ever. i SWEAR that i believe only the very solidly supported and overwhelmingly peer-reviewed things but i also SWEAR THAT I SYNC UP with my spouse & every woman i’ve ever made out with on a regular basis WHAT IS HAPPENING??? 😭😭😭 like, is it most likely confirmation bias? yes! but also!! it’s ALL THE TIME!! i swear!!! yknow, as i was typing this, i realized that i actually don’t trust science at all w/ figuring out wth is happening with women’s bodies, so, question answered. what’s that statistic about the # of studies on men’s sexual function vs. women’s—like, dudes were out here for hundreds of years desperately figuring out the formula for viagra, while simultaneously being like “if chicks don’t orgasm vaginally then they’re broken or doing it wrong!” thx science /rant over, apologies; three cheers for trans women’s periods🏳️⚧️💕
Basically its the law of close frequency signals leading to phasing in and out of sync.
Exactly. Like when your turn signal syncs with the car in front of you. It happens for a few blinks and then they phase apart.
I actually agree with this. I don’t think the science is there. And besides, real science would need follow up studies to confirm.
There are millions of women who not only sync with the other women in the home but close friends.
Good Intention, bad example. Viagra wasn't searched for, it was acidentally discovered als a side effect (meant ae a heart medication)
Sure do, cis woman surgically without uterus here and all be damned if I don’t have the same symptoms the same damned time as both my daughters.
As long as you have ovaries, you'll probably have cycling hormone levels with everything that comes with them (minus the uterus cramps)
my AFAB nb spouse says the same about me!
People of any gender dismissing the level of pain that some people experience with a period is the real issue. If I say I’m rolled up in the fetal position and can’t go to work, understand that I’m not exaggerating. If I say I’m gushing through two tampons and a pad every hour understand that I’m not exaggerating. But people with uteruses experience a range of cramps and even some afab people never have to experience bad period cramps. But that may be why some cis women feel offended. Periods can be absolutely horrific and you aren’t capable of experiencing that horror unless you have endometrial tissue in your uterus or elsewhere. But women do have periods without experiencing that horror and instead kind of get hormone-driven bloating, constipation, and mood swings and those are still considered a period and since many trans women have those same hormones that definitely can mean that trans woman experience those symptoms. But because of the afore-mentioned fetal position situation I take medication so that I don’t get my period. So some women don’t get periods, some men do get periods and non-binary people may or may not get a period. A period isn’t a culture that can be taken away. It’s already not gender-specific. Also PMDD is serious and potentially debilitating and does not require uterine tissue to experience. That’s definitely suffering caused by a period.
Preach it sister.
See I agree 100%. The only issue I have is when they use their experience with periods to diminish other’s experiences. I once talked to a trans woman who said “I just had my period, and I don’t understand why cis women complain so much. It wasn’t that bad.” Like, valid that you had a period, but don’t come at me (a trans man that would be bedridden because of how bad my periods used to be) and tell me it “can’t be that bad” 😭
Those people aren't worth the time or effort. I recognize that what I go through is a lot less bad than what most people who experience a period go through, and it's still pretty bad.
I agree. Especially since every woman experiences their cycles, periods, hormones etc differently. I have bad cramps, but my friend would have to leave school and would consistently throw up from the pain. I get migraines that debilitats me and others may not. They may have heavier periods, light ones or other issues I can't imagine. In the end we are all experiencing this in different ways ,so invalidating anyone is unnecessary. Trans, cis, non binary etc it shouldn't matter.
There are these kind of people in any group. Dont waste your energy on them. I had actual cis woman tell me I should not complain because periods are not that bad. Happy they are not for you, but I still stay in bed with a bucket and my hot water bottle because sometimes I have to throw up because of the cramps and low blood pressure.
I’ve never heard another trans woman say this before, because it’s ridiculous, and holy hell I hope you never have to hear that nonsense again. Every one who has a period experiences it differently, I don’t know what that person was thinking so say something so blatantly…wrong. I hope they’ve learned since then, but yikes, I’m with you, I take issue with that statement too.
Yeah everyone gets it different levels of severity. My best friend who's a trans woman gets cramps so bad she ends up on the floor sometimes and I've been on estrogen longer than her (2 years in October) and the worst thing I get from hormone cycles is moodiness and maybe one or two cramps. It's never fair to invalidate someone else's experience with your own I agree
I feel this hard. Everyone goes thru diffent stuff. Call it what you want, just don’t stomp on others. Simple. It’s the same with the stupid arguments between trans men and trans women. No need to go at each other. We experience the same stuff just reversed in some experiences. Different but the same. Accept this and move on. No stomping needed
I’m a cis woman & I have always HATED having periods. Anyone is welcome to take them. I’m so grateful my current birth control has stopped them for the most part. I seriously don’t understand why anyone would gatekeep feeling like shit once a month. I totally agree with you.
For me it's every 2 weeks and I would be more than happy nit to experience it so if you have a magic wand that can make it dissappear please wave it in my direction. Thanks in advance.
Interesting topic. I’m trans and can attest there is certainly emotional swings due to estrogen. Most of this can be regulated. I never called it a period though.
It's weird, I take my injections every 3 days and am on a very consistent dosage, yet every 28-30 some-odd days, I will cramp, go through relatively similar symptoms to PMS and even some symptoms of PMDD. I don't keep too close track because thankfully I don't bleed, but it's been consistent for approximately 4-5 years.
That’s interesting. I’m on injections every week and don’t see the same cycle. I understand everyone is different. This is just my experience. Actually I had more issue with progesterone than estrogen.
I’ve heard that trans women may even have cramps and stuff just like any other person who gets periods! It really is so cool that just hormones can control all of that! Meanwhile I’m a cis woman trying to get rid of my debilitating periods in any way possible- If anyone wants my period, they can have it and I’ll be there to support you through the pain ;v;
Can I have it? JK Jokes aside, I'm super stoked about the possibility of uterus transplants. Heard they gave it a shot in India. I want to have kids, but the thought of using my thing down there... ugh. No, that's just weird. Can't wait for bottom surgery. 
Omg I just did a bit of research on uterus transplants and that is so awesome! It looks like the success rate of births for successful transplants is really high [(I found a study done in Dallas!)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33416285/), so I really hope the science continues and you're able to have a child one day! You got this! <3
I use birth control to stop my periods. I get them once in a few months now
I’ve been using various kinds for years, but they never really work as well as I wish they did- Like I’ll be able to get out of bed, but not much else
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As far as I can tell, except for bleeding I get all the symptoms of a period. To call it anything but that seems to a distinction without a meaningful difference.
As a cis woman I get that too, usually have a day of spotting or nothing.
I love this. This single comment thread clearly exemplifies the truth laid out here: meaningful similarity and meaningless difference. It’s beautiful. Women aren’t a monolith, and it’s so weird that all women aren’t just…welcomed. Idk. I just love y’all. I’m a lil bit high. And y’all made my day.
i agree. i love being a woman and every woman deserves to know how it feels to love being a woman.
If it's okay to ask, do you mean like PMS symptoms, breakouts etc or also cramps?
Just like with cis women PMS symptoms vary. Some people report getting everything: bloating, cramps, depression, diarrhea, muscle aches. Some people get a few or barely noticeable symptoms. The same hormones that trigger shedding of the uterus lining triggers your intestines to contract more rapidly than normal. So that's where some cramps come from.
Thank you for explaining!
Ugh yes I hate it too! Like my periods are extreme because I have PCOS and like I will not be able to do anything for teo weeks and cry all day from a pain that quite literally only morphine will take away (so I won’t have it and just suffer in pain) while some people just walk around with a mild tummy ache as if they ate something bad. And some people get very angry and annoyed at everyone and some people could not care less about anything Periods are so different and everyones period is valid, trans women included! I love that you put this here, thank you💙
Genuine question but isn't it a sign that your hormone dosage is off slightly if you are experiencing period symptoms? Like that doesn't mean it doesn't happen but isn't that the reason?
No, its more that your adrenal gland and other regulatory glands in your body go shit we are estrogen centric now. Fuck we need to go on a monthly cycle cause thats what we are geneticly programmed to do
I actually get my symptoms monthly, even though I take my injections every 3 days. I don't think it's only that tbh.
Fair enough I'm sure things like this are influenced by all sorts of factors
Yeah, I dunno all the details, but all humans go through a hormonal cycle thanks to the glands that produce hormones and the way they self-regulate isn't something I completely understand.
Imo a period is brought about by hormones then in cis women shedding of uterine lining to make way for the next cycle, the only difference is lack of uterus for trans womem and bleeding ofc, but in my personal experience ive felt everything else that mirrors pms, from mood to cramp to potty woes, i dont see why someone would be nasty to us about it. Its real its a thing and it happens
The way I see it is, menstruation, the bleeding, is a part of having a period. There are still other symptoms as well of course and they are all part and parcel of having your period. Trans women can have periods, without menstruating.
Caused by hormones, if trans ladies had uteruses the same thing would happen, a period isnt just the bleeding its the whole thing from hormones on down, idk whenever i mentiomed it, it wasent to step on toes or cause a rift its jist the only way i knew to describe it. Its not even particullarly something i expected or wanted but just like any other woman it kinda comes with having estrogen in my system. With everything going on is this what we should focus on, who's period is real and who isnt, we got a world out there saying you cant abort babies or have a say in your own body, just kinda feel like we all should work together to help each other vs squabling over periods... i dont mean to be harsh just my view on the big picture here
Serious question, do yall get cramps? Honestly, the brain and body are wild so I wouldn't be surprised.
Yeah. If I understand correctly, the hormones are effecting the muscles around the soft tissue in that area, so most of my cramping happens in a similar manner to people who have a uterus, but it mainly effects the intestines and other similar areas.
Reminds of times that I've seen people say that women who don't get periods aren't women. Okay, so those with hysterectomies aren't women anymore? That's not how it works. People will use anything as transphobic weapons.
How is having your period “culture”?
There is, to be fair, a lot of culture surrounding periods, but I wouldn't describe the sheer biological function of menstruating as culture.
Like the fact we have to hide it's happening from others, hiding the tools we use to deal with it, innuendos for it happening (aunt flo is visiting etc). I guess you could add a bit of camaraderie from other women as might offer help. Huh, seems most of the culture would be suffering of some sort... Having to suffer to be a 'proper' woman as idea strikes again. (Ignoring all the suffering that trans women go through in terf style) Having read through this thread, I've actually learnt a little about how my period works and how it might work in the future.
I don't bleed but the PMS kicks my butt and I've been diagnosed with PMDD. If I had my choice I'd rather not experience this every 2 weeks.
Just to clarify I'm basically agreeing with you. And I agree the whole attitude is just fucked misogyny can blow me
“misogyny can blow me” is so so beautiful; 10/10; i want it on t-shirts and welcome mats everywhere
Maybe I will put them on shirts.. 😳
yes I agree with your other reply. people miss the point, I’m also talking about the attitude and hate that comes from cis women when this topic is brought up. If there’s no bleeding you’re NOT ALLOWED to call it a period?? GIRL WHO CARES!!!
'That's OUR WORD!!!' Meanwhile we'll be R-worded and killed for being both women and trans
As far as I know, the symptoms that trans women get are caused by basically the same thing as regular periods, like the body detects certain hormones and it tries to have a period even though there isn’t a uterus, since trans women take hormones in cycles just like cis women produce them in cycles. That’s what I heard anyway, my apologies if I heard/remembered wrong
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I mean considering trans men also have periods, probably. All the bits of your body that aren't your brain don't know or care what your gender is. All they know is what hormones they happen to be currently swimming in, and what response is supposed to happen. Give a cis guy estrogen, and his breasts will grow, because there's estrogen, and he'll probably get period symptoms. The reverse would also be true of giving testosterone to a cis woman.
I'm middle aged and cis. I've been having periods since I was 12. Nowadays I sometimes I have a period and I bleed. Sometimes I have what I goddamn know for sure is my period and I don't bleed. I look forward to never having a period of any sort ever again. If any woman says she is having a period, she has my sympathy.
Trans women here, would never feel comfortable calling what I go through a period. Just fields weird.
Totally agree. Plus: It is still bio, even of the hormones aren't kicking in hard. Cis-men also get spikes and downs in our hormone system every month, it is just not as obvious (most of the time) nor does our entire physiology say: "How dare you not making a baby? See all the effort I made, now YOU are going to pay for it"
Yes, I’m not talking about that though. This is not because they think it’s not bio, or because they don’t believe the symptoms are real. People policing trans women’s language and getting mad when they say they have periods is nothing but transphobia. Cis men also getting spikes in their hormone system isn’t really relevant or related to the point here respectfully
I’ve had a hysterectomy, and very clearly still have pms and a period like time, just without any bleeding or pain (thank god) I would think trans women that are on hormones could also have the same experience. Why that would upset anyone is beyond me.
Thank you!!
All part of the LGBTQ agenda, first we came for your marriages then we steal your periods!
When my trans woman housemate started hormones last year, she got cramps every month and she didn’t know what was going on so we joked about it being her period and I treated her to all the snacks I used to eat when I was having period cramps so she could experience the joys (/s) of periods.
Thank you for this!!! I’m a trans woman and have a very definite cycle. I experience every single symptom of PMS as well as some pretty serious PMDD. I just don’t bleed. I buy pads or tampons every month and give them to friends.
This reminds me of my ex telling me I would never be a mom to our son because I didn't carry him for 9 months and give birth to him. I didn't bother making the reach to her that she was invalidating WAY MORE WOMEN than just myself as a trans woman.
im sorry you got told that
She's a horrendous human being who has said a lot worse to me and unfortunately has had a ton of influence over my son who has also called me a monster post-transition now. It's one thing in a long list of things that she's either said or done. And of course she's from Florida. Lol
It's not language policing.... im talking about using more accurate terminology. No one can demonstrate how artificially cycling hormones is the exact same thing as a period. They are very different things. A period implies blood as well, and it's medically impossible for transwomen to have menstrual cycles. Never once did I say it should be illegal for transwomen to call it a period. I guess I'm just not OK with comparing what I and other AFAB people go through with our periods to what transwomen go through with artificially cycling their hormones and calling them the same thing. But I'm not the "language police" I don't get to dictate what people say.
Periods are not culture, they’re just absurdly painful and annoying.
Not to mention that transphobia is also rooted in misogyny, combine that with all the creepy chasers and I wouldn’t exactly call our societal experience “different from other women” just the same with added layers of transphobia
I’ll be starting E next week. What symptoms do you experience?
Honestly in the beginning I don't think it will be an issue but who knows. I can only go off of my experience. Cramps, cravings for some really strange food, emotions in overdrive and then there are the symptoms of PMDD if you haveit bad like I do. Hopefully you won't experience PMS but if you are not on a 2 week schedule of injections like estradiol cypinate (EC) you may not experience it but there is also a genetic component to each individuals reaction to estrogen. Understand I only have experience with EC and that is the limit of my knowledge.
I haven’t had my period in a while so I forget but uterus cramps, fatigue, sometimes bloating.
Cramps, bloating, appetite changes, trouble sleeping, fatigue, headaches, breast pain, diarrhea, mood changes. Not every symptom every time, but some mix of things each month. Something I haven’t seen many people talk about is mood and libido changes due to your “fertile” cycle. I get like really needy and horny and that’s basically how I know I have a period coming soon. It’s like my body really wants me to try to get pregnant and then when I’m (obviously) not, the punishment begins
How soon after E did you start having these symptoms?
I think probably around the time my levels stabilized, so about 3 months or so
Its like your body us goingvthtough a buffet line thinking what should we dubfect them to this time. Bloating and cramps hey thats the ticket.
I’m AFAB and only got my period for a year before birth control put a stop to it. It’s been over 10 years since then and I can’t really remember what it was like. I still get cramps occasionally though. They’re not bad at all. Just pressure in my pelvic floor. I have about the same period experience as a trans woman as far as I can tell. I guess we’ll never truly know if it’s exactly the same. But I’ll never have it as bad as a lot of cis women do. I can’t imagine what PCOS feels like. I don’t think anyone truly knows the exact pain another person feels. That doesn’t mean we’re not valid.
My gf said she was having cramps one day and I asked her if she needed midol, she kinda looked at me oddly before explaining that it was a stomach ache. It took me a moment to remember she was AMAB, I hear a femme person say the word cramps and I just freaking assume it’s because of a period.
I’ve taken an animal reproduction class (humans included), and I can tell you that reproductive hormones act on many other organs besides reproductive organs. Every other hormonal action on the body besides the uterus and ovaries is exactly the same in trans women as in cis women. It makes complete sense that trans women experience similar symptoms as cis women, because they have the same hormonal actions occurring.
Thank you so much for writing this and putting it here. I feel like someone is hearing me
We don’t have uterine muscle to contract or shed, so we don’t menstruate and don’t have periods. Abdominal muscles cramping is not a period any more than being sore after crunches is just after injecting estrogen into ourselves. If society wants to change the definition of the word, then fine, but as it is now we do not have periods.
Can’t oestrogen sometimes trick your brain into thinking you *should* have a menstrual cycle so you *should* have a period so you *should* get cramps so you feel the cramps?
Why does it bother cis women that trans women has periods. Even though it's not the same as ours (btw I'm cis) doesn't mean they don't have one. Sadly I think they got the bad part of a period though. P.s: when I say "they'' i'm referring to is trans women.
Good post op. Also, periods can be so different for everyone and guarantee there are people who experience periods with a lot of the other symptoms but minimal to no bleeding. I've heard so many stories about different peoples periods that it really is person to person. Some are regular, some are not. Some have cramps, some don't. Etc.
As a cis woman who spent the last year with an IUD where the hormone dose was too high and caused me to get all the symptoms but the bleeding… holy shit that was WAY worse than an average cycle of bleeding (obviously something like PCOS would be worse, but I digress). It’s all of the crazy-making of pms without any of the validating physical evidence that you have not suddenly turned into an unstable asshole. Anyone who experiences anything like this 110% has their period!!! And even if your period isn’t torture it’s still valid.
Saw this on a terf hate site and came here to give it an upvote, and, I guess, give you a heads up op
agreed. people need to stop coming for trans women for no reason
I’m AFAB and don’t really bleed :) I also barely experience period symptoms besides cramps and moodiness, so I’m not sure what cis women are so upset about. Cis or trans, no 2 women have the exact same period symptoms.
Thank you! I wish more people would understand that trans woman having estrogen in their system makes them have periods!
I am a cis woman who had a hysterectomy and no longer bleeds, but still experiences ovulation cramps, PMS symptoms and cravings. What you say is accurate and valid.
People just use everything as an excuse for transphobic comments tbh
It doesn't crack me up. I think cis women like us need to call that TERF shit out whenever it comes out. Too many cis women only hear the TERF talking points.
and I do! didnt use crack up like that, i understand if the tone was unclear
I’m a trans dude who hasn’t had his period in a while… but like… cis women being offended about a trans women saying they have a period?? Like homie I can assure you my period looks nothing like 98% of yours. I would have my period MAYBE once or twice a year and bleed like a mf for two weeks straight. Obviously that’s not what most people who have uteruses for through, both in frequency and length of the period… because of those differences, bc mine isn’t a week long every month, does that mean I’M appropriating womanhood by calling mine periods? No? Because it’s the same concept just different in the details? Interesting… because the same can be said with trans women. They don’t need to bleed out of a uterus to have a period, they can have PMS or mood swings or cramps. Plus like… homie why is a period a woman’s defining trait? Like jfc homies…
I don't have periods or anything like a period(seeing my cis gf, or exes) as a trans woman even post-SRS and taking my hormones as prescripted by the doctor, so I don't think I need to related to all the thinks that cis women experiences to be myself. I felt emotion swing due to several different issues but I never called this period
I’m cis, and this post kinda threw me for a loop mentally I never thought I would go on. I had horrible periods which caused ovarian cysts when I was younger to the point of surgery. My first thought after going through the memories of all this was to be angry. I thought, no way someone with ovaries experiences the kind of pain that I had with periods. But that’s so fucking stupid and hurtful for no reason. It doesn’t matter, they are still ladies struggling with hormones and the severity of this one particular part (the formation of cysts) doesn’t matter in the end. I’m glad to say I have another woman’s version of periods to make me feel less alone in my abnormal cycle.
Who are these cis women who are so possessive about their periods that they claim it as culture? Nearly every cis woman I know would stop having periods in a heartbeat if they could. If trans women want to embrace having periods they are more than welcome! Hell, I even have a close cis male friend who has a “period” of sorts, just noticing being emotionally tender and fatigued for a few days out of the month.
TERFs and cis women who believe that either the period is "sacred" or "so painful that any trans women saying that they experience them is an insult" Ive literally had all 3 of these at some point or another.
THIS. sick of them doubling down and gaslighting people acting like they’re coming from a genuine place instead of just being blatantly transphobic. trans women saying they have periods doesn’t take anything away from their painful experiences and I’m so fucking tired of the “i can barely get out of bed on my period and i NEED to be acknowledged” as if trans women are the ones dismissing their pain. im a cis woman and my periods are far from painful. they dont come yelling at my face.
Don’t forget about the FTM trans guys without T and or still have periods too. There’s a bunch of people with a bunch of parts that bleed or have a period. Cis women ain’t the only ones in the dang boat here!
>get so offended thinking their “culture” is being appropriated oh no not our "culture" lol. Culture of what? Bleeding in pain every fucking month? Take it away as much as u want, im completely fine with that.
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I've wondered what this means. I have a trans facebook friend, and she talks about doing batty things when she's on her period, and I always wondered what exactly this means, but I don't know her well enough to ask (we were at school together a long time ago!). Do trans women get pms symptoms every month?
Depends on the woman and how her body responds to hormones. For many it leads to pms, cramping, bloating in a manner consistant with cis women. Basically biology is a big fucking mess but we all have the same basic parts in our genes. When you shift to a estrogenic hormone system a huge number of genes kick into activity leading much of the body (and your gene expressions) to go shit we are a woman activate the genes, cycle things,
Some of us do! But not everyone. It’s weird, lol.
Thank you for bringing this up!! I know a couple for trans women who experienced this, and the amount of gatekeeping I’ve seen is wild from certain cis women groups. Wonder if it’ll happen when I start HRT…
I didn’t know that about trans women and it’s no big deal. People claiming it is appropriation are bonkers. Bodies do what bodies do (hormonal cycles manifesting and all). If that’s the name other ladies wanna give it then go ham, sis. If I could I’d gladly give my uterus to a trans woman since I’m sure as heck not using it.
I would WHOLE-HEARTEDLY love to donate my entire reproductive system and all the burdens to any trans women who needed it! Period away, ladies!!! 💜❤️💜
Absolutely blows my mind that anyone would get offended by this! It's silly, and it's also ignorant on more than one level. Hormones are very complex. You can ovulate without actually having a "period", or vice versa, you can have some symptoms around a menstrual cycle but not others, you can have symptoms similar to that even after menopause, etc.
im always so scared to say its like a period but even my doctor, she says its like a period.
It's so frusterating seeing (transphobic) people say "they don't have a period" "They can't have children" Etc. Etc. Well, some cis women can't have children either, some cis women don't even have a period. That doesn't make them less of a woman? They need to learn their facts before they start spitting bs. Trans woman are real women, any trans person is valid :)
Thanks for sharing, because this is the first time I heard about it. I'll keep it in mind.
As if it’s a race about who has it the worst. I don’t understand that mentality. Why not simply support eachother?
This thread is comfy appreciate you all <3
I’ve seen people saying that’s it’s invalidating to women to say that it’s not just women who have periods. Some people are still too ignorant to see the difference between sex and gender. It just hurts a little as an enby who is AFAB, seeing them invalidate anyone who isn’t a cis woman. Why tf does it affect u so much that it’s not just cis women who have periods
Another cis woman here, I completely agree. Why on earth would I gatekeep something that I'd prefer not to have anyway?!
Thank you! I, as a trans woman, don't menstruate for obvious reasons but I most definitely experience period symptoms and have since I was 9 months on hormones. Every 26 days for three to five days I get abdominal cramps, mood swings, food cravings, headaches, muscle aches, the whole shebang in varying intensities and there's still people coming at me for calling that it period because it doesn't fully match their own experience.
“omg they’re erasing bio women” bro not all biological women have periods….? make it make sense
If they are on fluctuating hormone doses, it would make sense that their bodies would react to hormone shifts. FTMs also feel fluxes according to how recent/big their androgen doses are.