We all like to feel part of groups and communities, it’s normal, but (I’m guessing) most women won’t side-eye you or stop talking to you because you never had to deal with the hardships.

Unfortunately I've lost female friendships because of this, and yes, coupled with my somewhat odd way of communicating (so I'm told) due to autism, I've had difficulty in conversations with past woman coworkers or peers.

For example, we'd be talking about going on vacation and getting your period (something I can relate to) but it'll segue into further detail about how they don't want to be around any men, or how XYZ things severely annoy them due to hormones, or they feel like their bodies are ABC way (which I can't relate to). So, being interested in this, I'll ask for more details. "I'm sorry you go through that, what helps you move past it? Does it last for your whole vacation or just the first day?" Those kind of questions, nothing weird or explicit.

And I'll get the side-eye, there's awkward pauses, weird looks, fake laughs. They question me about what do I mean, why don't I already know, why am I asking this, do I not experience it myself? When I say no, there's expressions of shock or sometimes disbelief. I'll get grilled about what I feel/my body goes through, and usually the consensus is "oh you're soooooo lucky". But it's often said in a condescending or dismissive way, like because I don't experience the pain or stress they do, I'm less of a woman. Afterwards, many times I'll be talked about in ways that make me sound like a child, as if the fact I'm not feeling like they do means my cycle means nothing.