“Do boys have periods?” is a common question for many teens in puberty when they know about menstruation. Boys will not get periods as they do not have a uterus and ovaries to ovulate. Periods are a physiological process in women during reproductive age. It is the shedding of the uterine lining due to hormonal changes in the body if the ovum released from the ovaries is not fertilized. As boys have different organs in the reproductive system, they cannot get periods. Keep reading to know more about commonly confused terms such as male menstruation and more.
Do Boys Get Their Period?
No, boys do not get periods or a monthly cycle of bleeding from their genitals after attaining puberty (1). So, why do girls have periods and boys don’t? Menstruation is the cyclic breakdown of the endometrium (inner lining of the uterus) along with the unfertilized ova or egg.
Girls have a uterus and ovaries that produce eggs. They get period to flush out the uterine lining
Boys do not have periods as they do not have a uterus and do not ovulate. It means there is no uterine lining or unfertilized eggs that need to be sent out of the body.
However, just like girls, boys also go through puberty. While girls develop breasts and pubic hair, boys undergo changes such as change in their voice, growth of hair in the private parts and on the face. Period involves not only bleeding but also certain emotional stress, which boys too can experience.
If Girls Have Periods What Do Boys Have?
Boys do not have periods but they could undergo psychological traits of menstruation such as mood swings.
Mood swings in adolescent boys
Before the onset of the menstrual cycle, girls go through a phase called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It is a time when they go through an overwhelming rush of emotions such as lethargy and sadness (2) due to the release of female sex hormone estrogen. Interestingly, male sex hormone testosterone also causes some similar effects on the behavior of adolescent boys, such as clumsiness and moodiness (3). There is a condition called irritable male syndrome (IMS), quite similar to PMS, but it is only associated with matured adult males that go through a cyclic drop in testosterone (4). It is quite common to see ‘periods-like behavior’ in adolescent boys since the upheaval of emotions strikes a similarity with the mood swings seen in menstruating girls.
Male Menstruation
Male menstruation is not a regular cycle and neither is it normal. It can be an indication of a condition that requires immediate medical attention. Male menstruation refers to the bleeding from a boy’s genitals due to various health problems including: Transgender males may get their periods until they undergo hormone replacement treatments or hysterectomy (removal of the uterus). Trans-men may not get their periods if there are hormonal imbalances and need to seek medical care if they experience changes in the menstrual cycle. Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
