Introduction
My first period didn't feel like the beginning of anything. It felt like an ending — something that happened, and then was simply over. I had no idea it was actually the start of something much bigger: a slow, sometimes confusing, sometimes lonely journey of growing up in a body that everyone suddenly had opinions about. This is that story, told the way I lived it.
This isn't a clinical first period guide — it's simply what happened to me, in my own words. Global organizations like UNICEF have pushed hard for greater menstrual health awareness, but on the ground, in classrooms and homes, so much is still left unsaid.
“Okay. That's Over.”
When my first period ended, I thought...
“Okay. That's over.”
I had no idea it was actually the beginning of something much bigger.
The Puberty Function and the Saree I Didn't Choose
A few months later, my puberty function was conducted.
To be honest... I wasn't excited. Everyone else seemed happier than I was. There were sweets. Snacks. Relatives. Photos. New clothes. And of course... the saree.
The only thing I remember clearly is wearing a saree for the first time. Everyone said I looked beautiful, but I felt uncomfortable. It didn't feel like me. After the function, my mom scolded me for not wearing another saree she had chosen. I cried that day—not because of the saree, but because everything around me was changing so fast.
This isn't me, I kept thinking. When did everyone else start deciding who I should become?
The next day, I shared the experience with my friends. That's when I realized every girl grows up differently. Some of them weren't allowed to sit on the sofa for a week. Some couldn't enter the kitchen or even touch family members. Hearing those stories made me feel relieved because I hadn't gone through all of that. But I also realized something else—after your first period, people slowly start treating you differently. Your clothes change. The expectations change. Without anyone saying it, you somehow understand that childhood is quietly slipping away.
When It Happened Again — In Front of Everyone
A couple of years later... I was in higher secondary school. One day, I got my period unexpectedly during class. I didn't even realize I had leaked. Our uniform was light green. There were only five girls in my class. The rest were boys.
The teacher was distributing answer papers. When I walked up to collect mine, she looked at me differently. I didn't understand why.
Did I do something wrong? I kept going over it in my head, but nothing made sense.
A few minutes later, she quietly called me outside. That's when she told me.
Even today... I can still remember that walk. The embarrassment. The fear. The silence. Nobody teaches you how heavy that moment feels.
A Stranger's Silent Kindness on a Crowded Bus
Another memory has stayed with me for years. One day, while standing in a crowded bus, I unexpectedly got my period again. My dress was stained, and although two college girls standing beside me seemed to notice, no one told me. I reached home unaware, and when I finally realized, I felt deeply embarrassed. That day taught me that sometimes, a simple act of kindness—quietly telling another girl about a stain—can save her from so much discomfort.
The Temple I Wasn't Supposed to Visit
Even today, some things haven't changed. I have changed. But some beliefs around me haven't.
I still remember one birthday. I was on my second day of my period. My friend and I visited a Murugan temple. I didn't tell my family before going. When I came home, my mother asked where I had been. The moment I said “temple,” she became upset.
“You shouldn't go to a temple during your periods.”
My father agreed. I didn't argue. Not because I believed it. Because I knew the conversation would only become bigger.
That day, I understood something. Sometimes people aren't trying to hurt us. They're simply repeating what they were taught. Especially in many villages and traditional families, these beliefs are passed down with love... but without questioning whether they're true.
Looking back, I realize how many period myths still get passed down as fact, quietly shaping what girls are told they can or cannot do. Groups like the WHO have spent years working to challenge exactly these kinds of myths with real medical facts.
What I Wish Every Girl Knew
• Your period has never made you less worthy.
• Feeling scared, confused, or embarrassed the first time is completely normal.
• Leaks happen — to almost every girl, at some point.
• A quiet word from another girl can spare someone real embarrassment.
• Not every family's beliefs are meant to hurt you — but you're allowed to question them.
• Growing up doesn't have to mean losing yourself.
If I could go back, I'd remind myself that a little guidance about first period symptoms and a few simple menstrual hygiene tips can turn panic into confidence. Good periods hygiene isn't complicated — it really just comes down to menstrual hygiene basics done consistently, like changing pads on time and staying clean and comfortable.
These days, you don't have to guess your way through it either. You can shop period pads built for your flow, or browse periods pads online from the comfort of home — period care products are a good place to start.
Final Thoughts
Today, when I think about my period journey, I don't remember only the cramps or the leaks. I remember the silence, the confusion, and the feeling of facing it all without enough conversations. If my story helps even one girl feel less embarrassed or less alone, then every awkward memory was worth sharing.
Please remember this:
Your period has never made you less worthy.
It only made you human. And that's something you should never be ashamed of.
If you're navigating your own period journey and looking for reliable, comfortable products, you can also read more About Femi9 and what we stand for.
