‘At what point will they know’: A thematic analysis of how UK university men experience menstrual education

Previous studies report men’s vulnerability to menstrual misinformation and ideologies that negatively impact menstruators. Yet, research of men’s menstrual education is sparse. Therefore, the present study conducted a Reflexive Thematic Analysis to explore: From whom and how do UK cis-gender males experience menstrual education? Eight male university students in England aged 18 to 24 participated in online interviews. Four identified themes: Sitting on the Sidelines, A Comedy Amongst Men, It’s a Girl Thing, and Beyond Biology revealed limited education which cultivated stigma, ignorance, confusion, and curiosity. Humorous methods were utilised to seek and express knowledge. Despite barriers of knowledge and relatability, holistic menstrual information was requested. The findings suggest that men do not have knowledgeable others to scaffold positive learning and pro-social behaviours. Thus, enhancing education programs and advocating for inclusive changes at micro and macro levels of society are essential to improving men’s menstrual educational experiences and combatting women’s subjugated position.