NSFW- (possibly) Women, how often do you lie about feminine health issues to men because you know it won't be questioned?

I’ve never used my period as an excuse for anything (and obviously not hot flashes either :P).

I find it odd that 60 year old women need to make up excuses to leave an event.

But, no, I am not in the habit of using female mysteries to make excuses. If I find myself stuck at an event that is a waste of my time, I will simply say… ‘I have to go now,’ and simply leave.

In my 50 years, I’ve never used any feminine-related symptoms as an excuse to get out of something, be it truthful or a lie.

As for hot flashes, I have yet to hear of a co-worker back out of a meeting or even coming to work because of this excuse. The ones I worked with just attended the meetings, and since most of them were with our team, they had no problem explaining that the ice water and fanning was due to hot flashes. We just took it in stride, even the males, and were thankful that they were there.

If they are able to go to work, why wouldn’t they be able to attend a meeting? There is more to this story than they are sharing.

I made a point never to do this not thinking I was limited whatsoever by women problems. However I noticed there was a real difference in my physical ability and mood changes.

There are those that would consider it humilating to mention any such thing, or a feminist thing too proud to admit being inhibited by feminity, those who simply don’t explain or feel the need to explain themselves to others. Those who would use any excuse whether it is true or not. Those who are simply point blank and honest, too honest at times.

I have been all those things at different times with different people. Mostly I wouldn’t consider it any ones business now unless the situation and person I was particularly close too.

Hot flashes go on forever. The person who said that is full of crap. lol

I’ve never have used feminine healh issues to avoid anything if they weren’t actually causing me problms and I never would. It’s the old ‘boy who cried wolf’ problem. One day I might actually have a problem and people won’t believe me (or other women). Plus I think it’s manipulative. It plays on some men’s discomfort with women’s bodily functions.

I don’t know if the ladies you are discussing were being truthful or not.

Hot flashes actually vary – some women have them for ever, some don’t have them, some have them for a while. But as to the larger point, I would only use my health concerns as an excuse if they were truly preventing me form doing something.

Never. When I was younger I had terrible cramps with my period and did say so when necessary to be excused from some physical activities, but I’d never lie about it.

Well, whoever said 60’s is too old for hot flashes is pretty ignorant. If she isn’t through menopause yet she might get a big surprise. But, it is true that they might have used an excuse that wasn’t true. Like all those young parents who use their children as an excuse.

I never use girl things to get out of something. I have never used my period. I don’t tell men I even have my period, just my husband. I don’t care if some man finds out somehow, which would only happen if their female SO mentioned it because I mentioned it to them.

I’ve never lied about a physical condition or illness to get out of something, I don’t need to lie, I have enough crap that is true. I hate not being able to do something because of my limitations or fear about my limitations.

I think at least 50% of the time when someone makes an excuse to leave people are not believed, no matter what the excuse. Or, should I say I think about 50% of the time people make things up to get out of a social engagement. They can’t just say they can’t make it, or say they need to leave early, they have to also give some bullshit excuse.

Correction: when I was a very young teen I missed school a few times for extremely bad cramps.

I’m more the opposite direction.

If I have bad cramps, I claim a headache. I’ve always done that. When you have a headache, people don’t ask questions. When the pain is in your abdomen, everyone wants to talk about it. The status of my monthly cycles are no one’s business, so I lie.

Also, is it normal for a young woman – say, my age – to have hot flashes as a symptom of PMS? Because seriously, it’s hardcore. I can be in a freezing room wearing a sweater and all of a sudden I’m sweating half to death. Annoying.

@Seek_Kolinahr I don’t think there’s a normal there, it just is what your body does.

Never. And I hate it (as has happened) when my behavior is attributed to having my period by men.

@Seek_Kolinahr If it is truly cyclical for you, then probably it is your normal. Hot flashes in young women usually mean one of two things, early menopause or hyperthyroid. Usually does not mean always, those are just the hormones that should be first checked.

If I’m having a particular hard time with female issues, like horrible cramps and what not, I would just say I’m not feeling well but I won’t go into too much detail. I would probably claim I have a stomach ache if I’m having cramps, it’s close enough. I wouldn’t use female issues as an excuse to get out of anything because I don’t really feel comfortable talking about it or having people know (or think) I’m going through it at that moment..

I won’t make up excuses to get out of anything, if I really don’t want to go I would just say so or just put up with it.

I can only think of one time that I used feminine issues as an excuse. I really needed the day off work for something I couldn’t discuss with my boss and it was very short notice so I told him I had a bout of cystitis. It is very rare that I am off sick (the last time was Feb 2012) and I wouldn’t tell any lie to get off work lightly so I don’t feel guilty.

Not in that way.

I was bowling with friends on Saturday and one of them was talking junk trying to psyche me out. He told me I had a big brown stain on my white shorts as I went up to bowl. I came back with, “if there’s a stain, it’s probably blood” to shut him up. It worked.

I used to have a short cycle—every 23–24 days instead of 28. Once I told a guy I was dating I wasn’t in the mood because I was on my period, and the creepy ass bastard accused me of lying because my period wasn’t due to start for another 3 days according to his calendar. Tracked it on his freakin’ calendar… the freak.

But no… I’ve never used my period as an excuse.

No I never have actually, but you have given me the best idea for future use!

“I don’t care if some man finds out” that made me laugh for some reason @JLeslie lol.

I have never lied about having my period to get out of something, but I have used cramps as a legitimate excuse….I mean, well, not really, I wouldn’t call off work because I had cramps, but if I go to work and am a little sluggish or not myself, and the reason really is because my uterus is killing me, I am not too shy to tell people about it. Menstrual cramps can be severe and anyone who doesn’t understand or believe that is simply fortunate never to have experienced it. I used to get really bad ones in high school before I started taking birth control pills, and occassionally then I did leave early or skip a day because of my cramps. But high school was pointless for me, I did not miss anything and was probably better off at home.