Do Men Get Periods?

A male period? Is that real? But periods are associated with biological women and menstruation, right? Absolutely. 

Periods are part of the menstrual cycle when a non-pregnant body sheds the lining of the uterus and then bleeds, controlled by a cocktail of hormonal shifts that make this all happen. But biological men don’t have a uterus lining to shed, and they don’t bleed as part of a cycle. So what is the ‘male period’ we’re referring to? And does it really exist?

The Male Period Rhythm

Well, like female bodies, male bodies will naturally undergo a ‘biorhythm’ (biological rhythm) particularly with the hormone testosterone. While testosterone has nothing to do with the shedding of the uterus lining, it has everything to do with mood and energy.

Male hormonal fluctuations, similar to those in females, follow a cycle – but on a different timeline. While the female hormonal cycle follows a 28 day pattern (menstruating every month), male cycles fit more within the 24-hour pattern. That’s right, all within one day. Testosterone peaks in the morning between 7am and 10am, dips throughout the day, and then rises again in the evening.  This is affected by natural factors such as stress levels, age, diet and exercise. Sometimes even the time of year can affect these levels; testosterone tends to fall in the autumn months and peak during other times of the year. When is this peak, you ask? Studies are still debating when exactly the hyper testosterone period is.

PMS vs IMS?

What do these hormonal shifts do to the body? Well, dips in testosterone levels cause symptoms of irritability, fatigue, and depression. Sounds a lot like PMS (premenstrual syndrome), right? Interestingly enough, this phenomenon of the male mood shift has been recently ‘rebranded’ as IMS (irritable-male syndrome), and it can have an effect on productivity and energy levels, similar to female PMS. 

Key symptoms of IMS

• Anger
• Impatience
• Anxious
• Withdrawn

Can I Control The Male Period?

Can men control their hormonal cycle? The short answer is no – these hormone shifts are natural. There’s no way to halt these hormone dips, similar to the menstrual cycle. But, there are factors within your control that can affect this cycle; maintaining a balanced diet, rich in healthy fats and Vitamin D can increase testosterone production. Cutting down on alcohol intake. We’ve all heard that one before, but studies have proven that reducing how much you drink will increase testosterone levels and help maintain muscle mass.

Getting the most out of your day

• A healthy sleep schedule for correct hormonal regulation
• High energy activities in the morning to get the most out of those high testosterone periods
• Afternoon more brain over brawn using those low testosterone periods for thought work

The Bottom Line

Are they the same? In answer to the question we’ve all been waiting for… No. While both menstruation and male hormone patterns are ultimately fluctuations in hormone levels that affect mood and energy. That’s where the similarity ends. The ‘Male Period’ lacks the physiological effects that the female menstrual cycle causes. There is no male equivalent to this, however, both are key to hormonal health.

Understanding these changes in our own bodies can help improve health, well-being, and mood.