- Jun 28
Sex Ed: Learning Together for the Best Outcome
- Evgeniia Iakovleva
I once thought: “If only modern sex education included a lesson on the differences between testosterone and estrogen cycles early on, we could form better expectations for everyone, avoid perpetuating bias and misunderstandings, and build a true empathy bridge.”
A 2025 article in The Guardian made a similar argument: boys and girls should learn about menstruation together because understanding can reduce stigma and improve support in friendships, relationships, and workplaces. (Read full article here).
I think this idea deserves to go further.
Menstrual health education should not be treated as something only girls need to learn. Understanding menstruation, the menstrual cycle, and menopause can help everyone develop more realistic expectations about women’s experiences and become better equipped to communicate and offer support.
Learning together also changes the conversation. Instead of menstruation being something girls learn about privately and boys learn about only indirectly, it becomes part of shared knowledge — something that can be discussed without embarrassment or shame.
Educating boys and men about the menstrual cycle and menopause, and teaching everyone how to communicate about changing needs and experiences, can strengthen relationships and contribute to greater menstrual intelligence in society.
That is one of the reasons I created Mood Flow School: to make this knowledge accessible not only to women, but also to men who want to understand the women in their lives without having to wait for a relationship crisis.
What recent research says about the menstrual cycle, brain, and mental health:
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A 2025 study in Nature Neuroscience found evidence that fluctuations in estrogen and other reproductive hormones are associated with measurable changes in brain structure across the menstrual cycle, highlighting how hormones interact with brain plasticity.
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A 2025 review in MPDI examined links between menstrual cycle phases, cognition, emotional processing, and the autonomic nervous system. The review concludes that hormonal changes can influence emotional valence and subjective experiences, though effects vary substantially between individuals.
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A 2024 review in PubMed shows that PMDD is more than "bad PMS." It is a recognized mood disorder triggered by normal hormonal fluctuations in susceptible individuals and can significantly affect emotions, cognition, and daily functioning.
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A guide from CIPD - the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the UK’s leading professional body for human resources (HR) and people development, discusses menstrual health, stigma, communication, and practical support in workplaces.
Trusted resources for menopause:
As relationships and families move through different stages of life, knowledge about menopause becomes just as important as knowledge about menstruation. Understanding what menopause is, what can change, and where to find reliable information can help partners, families, and individuals form more realistic expectations.
Comprehensive NIH Menopause Overview from the National Institute of Health Women’s Health Research provides detailed information on menopause, symptoms, health impacts, and current research.
NICHD Menopause Factsheet provides a clear explanation of perimenopause, menopause, hormonal changes, and common symptoms.
MedlinePlus Menopause Guide Also called: Change of Life is an evidence-based patient resource from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Additional NIH Resources
Curated collection of menopause information from NIH, NIA, NCCIH, and other federal health agencies. NICHD Menopause Resources Directory (NICHD)