Danish men track partners’ menstrual cycles to strengthen relationships

Three Danish men have adopted routines to monitor and adapt to their partners’ menstrual cycles, using apps, charts, and even color-coded bedding to better understand their needs, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

Sebastian Mørk Madsen, 24, from Aarhus, prepares iron-rich meals like rare steak for his girlfriend Frida Højfeldt at the start of her cycle, tracking her menstruation via an app for the past year. “I understand why Frida feels the way she does and how I can help—instead of just being clueless, like men sometimes are,” he said.

In Copenhagen, Simon Skøtt Bergholdt Madsen, 26, changes the couple’s bedsheets from red to white floral patterns as his girlfriend Mia Rasmussen transitions from menstruation to what he calls her “spring phase.” A temperature chart on her nightstand helps them track ovulation and plan unprotected sex. “It’s not complicated if you take the time to learn,” Simon said. “If it makes her feel better, it’s an obvious choice.”

Bertram Alexander Borglit, 25, from Amager, uses app notifications to time gestures like buying lilies, cheese snacks, and iced coffee when his girlfriend Amalie Kjeldtoft’s period begins. He started tracking her cycle after noticing her mood shifts often aligned with hormonal changes. “We used to argue, and then we realized it was tied to where she was in her cycle,” he said. “It’s really helped.”

The practice reflects broader shifts in masculinity, according to Steen Baagøe Nielsen, an associate professor of masculinity studies at Roskilde University. “Younger men are exploring more sensitive, empathetic ways to express masculinity in relationships—something unthinkable 30 or 40 years ago,” he said. Social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit also host discussions among men sharing similar approaches, though reactions range from support to skepticism.

Critics dismiss the trend as excessive, but the men reject that view. “If someone thinks this is silly, I just feel bad for them and their partners,” Simon said. Mia called his efforts “extremely masculine and sexy.” Bertram added, “Showing consideration doesn’t make you less of a man—it’s the opposite.”