Not all women bleed, and not all who bleed are women.
We’ve heard people say over and over that once a girl starts bleeding, she has hit womanhood. But I do not think that is true. Menstruation does not define womanhood and not everyone who bleeds is a woman.
Every month, millions of people across the world manage their menstrual cycles, yet public health campaigns, product designs, and school programs across the world frame menstruation as a “women’s issue.” This leaves behind an entire community, a group of people who also bleed, nonbinary people, trans men, genderfluid people, intersex individuals, and others who don’t identify as women, but still menstruate.
Why Menstrual Health Must Include Nonbinary People
In mainstream media, the focus is always on women when menstrual health and hygiene is talked about. But we already know for a fact that not all women menstruate and people. Nonbinary people, Intersex people, trans men, and gender-nonconforming individuals also experience periods. But they are frequently excluded from public health campaigns, period product marketing, and education programs.
It’s time for a shift toward inclusive menstrual health, one that centers dignity, safety, and access for all people who menstruate.
Menstruation is not a gendered experience. It is a biological process that can happen in people of various gender identities. When we center menstrual health solely on women, we erase the needs, struggles, and dignity of nonbinary people who bleed.
This erasure leads to:
Gendered Language in Menstrual Care
Most period products use highly gendered branding, pink packaging, floral designs, and terms like “feminine hygiene.” For nonbinary people, this can cause gender dysphoria and emotional distress. Using gender-neutral terms like “menstrual products” or “people who menstruate” is more inclusive and affirming.
Lack of Inclusive Menstrual Education
It is important for teenagers/adolescents who menstruate to be educated about gender identities and how most people do not have to be women to experience menstruation. This contributes to stigma, misinformation, and invisibility for nonbinary and trans people. Menstrual education must be inclusive, starting at early stages.
Unsafe Public Restroom Access
Many nonbinary people feel unsafe using gendered restrooms while on their period. There may be nowhere private to change a pad or tampon, leading to discomfort and sometimes even health risks. Gender-neutral toilets are not just about inclusion, they are about safety, hygiene, and dignity.
Medical Discrimination and Dysphoria
Doctors often lack training on nonbinary health needs, including menstrual care. Misgendering, incorrect assumptions, or refusal of care are all too common. Nonbinary people deserve respectful, competent, and affirming health services.
What Inclusive Menstrual Health Should Look Like
To support period dignity for nonbinary people, we must redesign menstrual health systems to be gender-affirming and inclusive.
Use Gender-Inclusive Language
Say “people who menstruate” instead of “women.” Avoid terms like “feminine products.”
Redesign Period Product Packaging
Packaging should be neutral, affirming, and avoid stereotypes. Show diversity in ads and educational content.
Ensure Access to Gender-Neutral Restrooms
Every school, clinic, and public facility should have restrooms where people can safely manage their periods, regardless of gender identity.
Train Healthcare Providers
Healthcare professionals must be trained on trans and nonbinary reproductive health and use affirming practices.
Advocate for Inclusive Period Policies
Menstrual health policies must include nonbinary and trans people in research, funding, and outreach, especially in conversations around period poverty and access.
For nonbinary people, menstruation can cause mental health challenges like, gender dysphoria, anxiety or shame, discomfort using public spaces. Supporting nonbinary menstruators means respecting how they manage their cycles, whether that’s using pads, menstrual cups, suppressing menstruation, or opting out of menstrual conversations altogether. Autonomy is essential.
Join the Movement for Menstrual Equity
Affirming someone’s gender while discussing menstruation isn’t just about words, it’s about respecting their reality. Avoid assumptions. Ask people what terms they use for their bodies, and don’t pathologize their experience.
For many nonbinary people, periods can trigger dysphoria. Supporting them might mean respecting their choice to suppress menstruation, use alternative language, or disengage from menstrual discussions altogether. That’s okay.
Whether you’re a policymaker, teacher, health worker, or just someone who cares, you can help build a world where menstrual health and hygiene are inclusive of all genders. Menstrual equity must go beyond cisgender women. When we talk about period dignity, we must include nonbinary people, trans men, and all marginalized genders. Their bleeding bodies deserve care, visibility, and support, just like anyone else’s.
Let’s leave behind the pink boxes and start creating a world where menstrual health is a human right, not a gendered burden. Let’s challenge stigma. Let’s make space. Let’s ensure period dignity for everyone who bleeds.
Written By: Victory Wekulom
Victory Wekulom is a writer and communications professional passionate about storytelling for social change. They currently serve as the Media and Communications Assistant at IGE-SRH and contribute to the community, where they use words to amplify gender justice, queer advocacy, and community voices. Their writing blends clarity, heart, and a deep commitment to centering underrepresented perspectives.
