Do Men Who Become Women Have Periods? Here's How Two AI Bots Answered.

This week I saw an aritcle in Forbes about a new advertising campaign that "Wants You To Know Transgender People Have Periods Too.

The photo that accompanies the campaign shows ten men in various kinds of underwear, but with one thing in common. They have blood on the crotch area of their underpants.

As an advertising guy I had a couple problems with this strange image. Primarily, though, I was wondering, assuming that if guys who become women could menstruate, what are the odds of finding 10 transgender men who are also having their periods at the same time? In other words, the image is staged, which implies that its message is untrue. 

Naturally this is a topic I have limited first-hand experience with, so I decided to ask Google Bard this question: Do transgender men who become women have periods?

Here is Google Bard's reply:

No, transgender men who become women do not have periods. A period is a natural bodily function that occurs when a woman's ovaries release an egg. The egg travels down the fallopian tube and, if it is not fertilized, it is shed along with the lining of the uterus. This is what is commonly known as a period.

Transgender men who become women do not have ovaries or fallopian tubes. They also do not have a uterus. Therefore, they cannot have periods.

However, some transgender men who become women may experience menstrual-like symptoms, such as cramping and bloating. This is because the body may still produce hormones that are associated with menstruation. These hormones can also cause changes in the menstrual cycle, such as irregular periods or spotting.

This was an interesting and logical answer. I understand it. If guys who become women don't have ovaries, then they aren't going to menstruate.

I then decided to ask ChatGPT the same question. Here is the reply: No, transgender women (individuals assigned male at birth who identify as female) do not have periods. Menstruation is a biological process that occurs in individuals with female reproductive systems, which includes those who are assigned female at birth. Transgender women do not have female reproductive organs, including ovaries and a uterus, so they do not experience menstrual cycles or periods.

Transgender women who have not undergone gender-affirming surgery to remove their male reproductive organs (testes) may continue to produce male hormones (such as testosterone) unless they undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as part of their gender transition. HRT can help suppress the production of male hormones and promote the development of secondary female characteristics.

It's important to be sensitive and respectful when discussing topics related to gender identity and transgender individuals. Menstruation can be a sensitive topic, and not all transgender individuals will want to discuss it. Respecting an individual's gender identity and privacy is essential in these conversations.

Paragraph one pretty much affirms the same.

So now I return to the ad, which seems to contradict "the science."

The advertisement being written about is for a tampon delivery service company. The title of the campaign is "Tell the Whole Bloody Truth." The campaign is essentially an attack on the way menstrual products are sold. Those ads target healthy women, not women who are disabled or trans women (individuals assigned male at birth who identify as female.)

The article itself reads like a promo for the notion that menstruation is not for women only. The discussions being raised here do make me curious about menopause.