obliviouspoptart:

so i really love the ideas in “humans are weird” posts but i’ve never seen this addressed even tho it is probably the weirdest part of humans because we share it with only 4 other species.

that’s right ladies and gents and highnesses

i’m talking about periods

i’m the type who faces problems by researching them to feel less weird about them and i always get on a menstruation research kick when my period comes around and leaves me bedridden

so i was wondering what other mammals have periods, bc i know a lot don’t and i was surprised that only humans, apes, monkeys, two types of bats, and elephant shrews actually menstruate

we don’t really know why, just theories for the most part, but it was fascinating to learn we’re in a severe minority when it comes to how we reproduce compared to our fellow mammals

so it got me thinking about when we go to space and meet other space-fairing mammals/oviparouses (that’s apparently what animals that lay eggs are called) and they are astounded with how we handle our wombs

and i love the stories included in posts like this so i’ll write one for an example:

Human Sarah had been acting odd lately, seeming more snappish and impatient in her social life. Ulqa’vaar had noticed a spike in certain chemicals from Human Sarah when checking her life signs. Xhe was concerned and considered Human Sarah a nestmate, or “friend” in Human standards, and checked on her as xhe knew how.

But one morning, as Human Sarah met xer for breakfast in xer private quarters, Ulqa’vaar’s olfactory senses detected human blood. Xhe began chittering in concern and asked if the physician needed to be contacted, but Human Sarah only seemed confused. When Ulqa’vaar explained that xhe feared the Human had been harmed, Human Sarah simply laughed and explained the human form of failed reprodution called “menstruation.”

Xhe was horrified. Why would a Human body decide to shed its womb rather than reabsorb the nutrients as the Eldmorane did. Human Sarah did not know but addressed the fact that most Terran mammals did as the Eldmorane.

Ulqa’vaar settled with the idea that Humans were evolutionary miracles in the way they evolved at all and simply let the subject pass.

Feel free to add more if y’all want!