At first glance, you’d think women would be more open—because they live it, right? But sometimes that makes it harder. Period shame has been aimed at women for centuries. Meanwhile, some men, precisely because they don’t menstruate, can approach the topic with a sort of no-strings-attached curiosity or activism.
So, let’s dive into the full period gossip—daring questions, awkward moments, and yes, even men.
Let’s Talk Periods—The Awkward, the Intimate & the Unexpected
The Awkward:
Growing up, periods weren’t just not talked about—they were actively avoided. My dad treated the topic like it was contagious. Cramps? Ew. Heavy flow? Don't mention it. Menstrual cup questions? Absolutely not. His face said it all, and honestly, it stuck with me. I grew up thinking most men felt the same—that periods were gross, and bringing them up would make everyone uncomfortable.
So I stayed quiet. At school, at work, in any room with a man—I avoided the P-word. But then something shifted.
When Ruby Cup’s period-positive campaign hit the London Underground—with giant knickers and bold banners reading “Great period products for all”—the reaction wasn’t what I expected.
Men noticed.
They looked, smiled, some even clapped and cheered. Complete strangers hyping up a giant pair of symbolic pants like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Women, on the other hand?
Many glanced and quickly looked away. A few nodded in support. But mostly, there was a kind of polite distance—like they’d seen it, but weren’t quite ready to be seen engaging with it.
So, what does that say?
Maybe, just maybe, men are becoming more comfortable with period conversations…
And women—the ones who actually bleed—are still unlearning the shame we’ve been taught.
The Intimate: Period Sex, Confidence & Getting Over the "Gross"
Let’s get into it—period sex. Some people love it. Some avoid it like it’s cursed. And for a lot of us, it sits in that awkward grey area of “sounds empowering but… I still feel weird about it.”
We came across a post on Reddit that really captured this inner tug-of-war:
“I’ve always been hung up about having sex on my period, but my husband doesn’t mind and sometimes insists we do it. It causes some frustration for both of us because I just can’t relax enough to want to. I’m hoping some of you can convince me it’s not as gross as I think it is.”
Here’s what’s wild: he’s fine. He wants to.
And yet she’s the one pulling back—not because he said something shaming, but because of what she’s internalised.
The idea that our bleeding bodies are “gross,” that we’re somehow messy or too much, runs deep. Even when the person we’re most intimate with is completely unbothered, we can still find it hard to let go. It’s not about the partner—it’s about the conditioning.
And men? They’re often a lot more chill than we think.
One guy commented under that post:
“What do you call a man who has sex with a girl on her period?”
“A man who’s not afraid to get blood on his sword.”
Now, obviously, it’s a little jokey (and slightly chaotic), but the message lands. There’s a whole world of men out there who don’t see period sex as disgusting—they see it as normal. Maybe even hot.
Which makes us wonder… What if it’s actually easier than we think?
What if it’s as simple as asking?
What if the story in our heads is louder than the one in theirs?
From Confidence to “Gross” (and Back Again)
Period confidence is weird. One day you’re strutting with your cup in, or your period panties feeling like a goddess who can handle blood and cramps like a warrior. The next, you catch a stain on your sheets and suddenly want to crawl inside your duvet and stay there forever.
It’s not just physical—it’s emotional.
Hormones are wild. Bodies leak. Moods swing. You’re not broken for feeling gross sometimes. You’re also not arrogant for feeling sexy on your period.
You can be both.
You’re allowed to be both.
The Vulnerability of Being Seen
There’s something deeply intimate about being seen during your period—not just naked, but raw. Vulnerable. Moody. Bleeding. Humans.
Letting someone in during that time isn’t just about sex—it’s about trust. It's about knowing you don't need to shrink or hide or apologise for what your body does naturally.
Because real intimacy? It isn’t always clean, tidy, or pretty.
Sometimes it’s messy. Sometimes it’s hormonal. Sometimes it involves a towel.
And that’s okay.
The Unexpected: What We Think vs. What’s Actually True
The biggest plot twist about periods?
It’s not the cramps. It’s not the stains. It’s not even the mid-cycle emotional rollercoaster.
It’s that the people we think will be uncomfortable… usually aren’t.
And the ones we assume will be supportive? Sometimes they’re the ones still dodging the topic.
We expect women to be the champions of period conversations—but sometimes they’re the ones who look away. Whether it’s internalised shame, embarrassment, or just fatigue from centuries of being told to “keep it discreet,” it can feel easier to stay silent than speak up.
And men?
They’re out here surprising us. Smiling at period-positive billboards. Asking questions. Even cheering on a massive cardboard pair of knickers in a train station (true story). Not always, not perfectly—but often enough that it makes you stop and rethink who’s really ready for the conversation.
That’s the unexpected bit.
It’s Not About Gender, It’s About Permission
We’ve been told that period conversations belong to women—but that’s limiting.
Because breaking the stigma doesn’t work if only some of us are allowed to speak. It’s when dads stop flinching. When partners stop looking away. When teachers, bosses, and mates show up with empathy and zero cringe.
The more we treat periods like a normal part of life (because they are), the more normal they become—for everyone.
The power isn’t in who talks.
The power is in letting it be talked about.
So, What Now?
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from talking periods—awkward convos, messy sex, emotional spirals and all—it’s this:
The shame doesn’t come from the blood.
It comes from silence.
And the more we speak, ask, laugh, cheer, question, and listen, the easier it gets. Whether you bleed or don’t. Whether you were taught to hide it or hold space for it. Whether you’ve had period sex or still feel weird saying the word out loud.
This isn’t just about periods. It’s about power.
And that’s exactly why we called our new range of period underwear Fearless—because we’re done being quiet, apologetic, or ashamed of something so wildly natural. Whether you're on day one, day five, or that scary day you thought it might never come (we've all been there)—you deserve products that make you feel strong, secure, and seen.
So here’s your sign to keep the convo going. Ask the question. Make the joke. Say period louder.
Because the truth is, you were never the gross one. You were always the fearless one.
💌 Explore our new Fearless period underwear and menstrual cups — because everyone deserves great period products
