Date of Award

Spring 4-24-2026

Document Type

Honors Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Psychological Science

Department Chair or Program Director

Liss, Miriam

First Advisor

Mackintosh, Virginia

Major or Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine the unique experiences and attitudes that transgender and/or nonbinary (TNB) menstruators have related to menstruation. Participants (n = 103) were 19 to 60-year-old Americans who identified as TNB and have menstruated, and whose primary language is English. They were recruited through Prolific and asked to describe their first period and how their gender identity influenced their feelings toward menstruation. Additionally, participants responded to quantitative questions related to menstrual symptoms, attitudes, beliefs, and emotions, body image, well-being, and demographic questions to determine family culture at childhood and now. TNB menstruators reported more negative experiences related to menstruation across all measures as compared to a cisgender sample (n = 201. Higher levels of gender dysphoria related to more negative attitudes and beliefs around menstruation. In their qualitative responses, these participants told detailed, emotional stories, describing traumas attached to their menstrual experiences and the gendering of their experiences. These findings indicate that TNB menstruators are impacted by negative experiences related to the gendering of their menstrual cycles that result in negative attitudes toward their menstrual cycles.

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