10 Professional Ways To Say You’re On Your Period

While you never have to tell anyone you work with when you’re on your period, it can be beneficial. Unfortunately, bluntly discussing periods is a bit of a taboo. This article will examine some alternative wordings you can use to say you’re on your period in professional settings.

How Can I Say I’m On My Period In A Professional Way?

People who want to communicate they’re on their period in professional settings typically rely on euphemisms. Here are the phrases we’ll be looking at in this article:

• It’s that time of the month
• I don’t feel well
• Shark week
• Aunt Flo
• I’m menstruating
• Monthly visitor
• Girl Stuff
• Code red
• Monthlies
• Cramps

The preferred option is “It’s that time of the month.” This is a phrase that native English speakers are generally familiar with, so most people will know what you mean. It’s seen as polite and appropriate in most settings and is less awkward for everyone involved.

Keep in mind that in professional settings, telling anyone you’re on your period may be seen as oversharing and make people uncomfortable. This is because in most English-speaking countries it’s taboo to discuss periods in public.

Because of this, make sure you’re communicating this with coworkers you have a friendly relationship with. If for whatever reason you need to say this to your boss, make sure it’s a private conversation that serves a purpose.

This holds true for most entries on this list.

It’s That Time Of The Month

A euphemism is a more pleasant replacement word or phrase for something seen as gross, crude, harsh, or otherwise impolite.

“It’s that time of the month” is one of the most common euphemisms for saying you’re on your period. Most people know what it means, so it’s unlikely to cause confusion or lead to awkward explanations.

While this is a common phrase and one of the most socially acceptable ways to say you’re on your period, you still want to be cautious with who you say it to.

If you’re friendly with your coworkers it can be appropriate to decompress by complaining about “that time of the month.” Otherwise, this is a great phrase to use when someone asks about your condition or you need to request an accommodation.

Here are some examples:

• It’s that time of the month, so I’ll be needing to take more bathroom breaks than normal. Are you able to cover the front desk when I need to go?

• You look a bit ill. Are you alright?
• I’m fine, it’s just that time of the month. I get pretty bad cramps, but I have painkillers.

I Don’t Feel Well

“I don’t feel well” is a great phrase to use because it avoids bringing up your period altogether. It’s a great phrase to use if you primarily want to communicate that you feel terrible.

If you feel unwell, you don’t necessarily need to give your workplace any details. As such, saying “I don’t feel well” is a good phrase to use when requesting a temporary accommodation or if you need to go home.

Here are some ways you can use “I don’t feel well”:

• I don’t feel well. Can you cover the register for me today? I’ll cover for you once I feel better.
• I don’t feel well. I need to go home.

Shark Week

“Shark week” is another common euphemism for periods. This phrase is fairly casual, but still appropriate to use with coworkers.

“Shark week” comes from an annual week-long special put on by the American TV network Discovery Channel. Discovery Channel’s Shark Week is a week of shark-based programming that, to put it bluntly, features quite a bit of blood.

A week-long bloody event is something familiar to people who menstruate, hence the euphemism “shark week.”

Here are some ways you can use “shark week”:

• Are you alright? You look exhausted.
• It’s shark week. Coffee makes my cramps worse, so I have to go without it.

• Do you still have that chocolate in your desk? It’s shark week, and I could use the pick-me-up.

Aunt Flo

“Aunt Flo,” sometimes spelled “Aunt Flow,” is another euphemism for periods. It’s less casual than “shark week.” However, you’re more likely to encounter someone who doesn’t know what “Aunt Flo” means.

The popularity of “Aunt Flo” varies by region and age group. Younger people especially are less likely to use “Aunt Flo.”

Saying “Aunt Flo” is a way to personify your period. You refer to “Aunt Flo” as you would a person, using “she” and “her” pronouns.

Typically when you evoke “Aunt Flo,” you’ll say she’s visiting or in town. Talk about “Aunt Flo” the same way you would talk about a relative visiting from out of town, especially a relative you don’t particularly like.

Here are some examples:

• My Aunt Flo is in town. I feel like a monster every time she shows up.
• I need to run home. Aunt Flo came early. I’ll be back in twenty minutes.
• Sorry if I seem testy. Aunt Flo is visiting and she’s particularly irritating this month.

I’m Menstruating

“I’m menstruating” is the most technical way to say you’re on your period. People often default to technical, formal language to help circumvent awkward discussions. It’s particularly useful when a high level of formality is called for.

Saying “I’m menstruating” will likely feel unnatural in casual settings. It’s not something you’d typically say to your sister or mother, for example. It may even feel too formal to say with friendly coworkers.

It can be useful when discussing accommodations with HR or your boss or when writing emails.

Here are some examples:

• HR,
• I have a condition that causes severe pain when I’m menstruating. It makes it extremely difficult to function. Can we sit down and talk about possible accommodations?
• Thanks,
• Jillian H.

• Dr. Michaels,
• I wanted to follow up with you and apologize for being so short with your colleague. I’m menstruating and had a menstrual product malfunction that needed to be dealt with that very moment.
• Please let me know if there is an appropriate way I can apologize to your colleague and perhaps get a second chance at an introduction.
• Thank you,
• Alex

Monthly Visitor

“Monthly visitor” is a less common euphemism for a period, but even people who haven’t heard it before are likely to pick up on the meaning. It’s vague and polite, which makes it appropriate in most professional settings.

“Monthly visitor” can personify your period similar to “Aunt Flo.” It’s to a lesser extent, however.

Here’s what that could look like:

• I’m entertaining my monthly visitor. It’s a bit rougher than usual.
• Sorry I’m such a space cadet. My monthly visitor showed up at 3 a.m., so I didn’t get much sleep. You know how it is.

Girl Stuff

“Girl stuff” doesn’t directly or exclusively refer to a period, but it can be used to reference a period. “Girl stuff” is especially useful when someone hasn’t understood previous references to your period and you want to avoid explaining further.

“Girl stuff” is typically used to dismiss a man who’s overheard or asked about something a woman is uncomfortable discussing with him.

Here are some examples:

• Aunt Flo is in town, so I’m all over the place.
• You have family visiting?
• No, it’s girl stuff. Aunt Flo. Like flow. get it?

• It’s shark week. Can you help cover the front desk?
• Isn’t Shark Week in the summer?
• That’s not what we’re talking about. It’s girl stuff.

Code Red

“Code red” is a less common euphemism for a period, but it can be useful shorthand between you and your coworkers.

“Code red” is a phrase traditionally used to announce a state of emergency. Those connotations along with menstruation’s association with the color red led to the phrase being loosely associated with periods.

Here are some examples:

• Code red. Can you cover the front desk for a few minutes?
• We have a code red. Do you have any supplies in your desk?

Monthlies

“Monthlies” is like a shorter way of saying “that time of the month.” It’s informal, so best used between coworkers. It’s not very common in American English.

“Monthlies” are periodical publications that release new issues once a month. Because of this, “monthlies” has been appropriated as a euphemism for a period.

Here’s how you can use “monthlies”:

• I get horrible cravings right before my monthlies.
• I’m on my monthlies.

Cramps

Talking about cramps is a good way to say you’re on your period without saying you’re on your period. Cramps aren’t exclusive to period pain, so there’s enough vagueness to prevent things from becoming awkward.

If you say you’re experiencing cramps, the person you’re talking to may not immediately understand you’re talking about period cramps. As such, use “cramps” when your primary goal is to talk about the pain you’re in.

Here are some examples:

• Can I have a chair behind the register? I’m having some bad cramps and sitting down for a little bit might help.
• I have some bad cramps at the moment, so I can’t really help carry anything.

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