New tampon brand FOR MEN/STRUATION aims to ease period-related gender dysphoria

As society's understanding of gender evolves, there's an increasing demand for products that acknowledge and cater to the needs and experiences of people outside the binary. For those assigned female at birth who identify differently, traditional menstrual products can exacerbate the discomfort of gender dysphoria — a profound sense of dissonance between one's assigned sex and gender identity.

"When I was young, menstruation felt not only strange but somehow wrong," says Dakota Robin, a DEI consultant who worked with Vuokkoset and is also the face of its FOR MEN campaign. "Our culture does not really acknowledge the diversity of menstruating individuals." Labels like 'FOR MEN' can challenge societal norms and ignite conversations about inclusivity within the health and personal care industries. Robin adds, "By changing attitudes and broadening perspectives, we can also remove discrimination against gender minorities."

That said, some folks may avoid purchasing transmasculine period products for fear of being identified as trans, which can itself trigger gender dysphoria. Especially since a simpler option already exists: if a masculine person buys a conventional box of tampons, others are likely to assume they’re for a female partner or roommate. Which makes gender-neutral period care the logical way forward. Vuokkoset is working on a non-gendered line simply called 'FOR ME,' following in the footsteps of for-anyone-who-bleeds brands like August in the US and Cycle in the UK.