Why Do Girls Get Periods but Boys Don’t?

The fact that girls have periods while boys do not may seem unjust, yet this is due to the differences in their physiology.

Due to their female reproductive organs—the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and vagina—girls experience menstrual cycles. And because boys have male reproductive organs including the penis, scrotum (sack), and testicles, they do not experience menstruation.

For females, the uterine lining thickens and gets ready for a fertilized egg each month. The lining sheds and the uterus releases blood if the egg is not fertilized. We refer to this as a period. However, the term “male period” is occasionally used colloquially to describe daily or seasonal variations in a man’s or boy’s energy, mood, or hormone levels.

Content for this question contributed by Enoch Ornstead, resident of Alta Loma, California, USA