Introduction
Sometimes I genuinely wonder...
How many more years will it take for people to stop treating periods like a secret? 😭
Because honestly, even today, educated people around me still believe in period myths. This is a story about a few of those moments — and what I've slowly learned about menstrual hygiene and period care along the way.
“Honey-ku Kooda Period Permission Venuma?”
One day, I went to my aunt's house. She's actually a very educated woman. I was about to have some honey, so I casually asked,
“Aunty... honey venum.”
She immediately said,
“No... nee periods la irukka la?”
I literally froze.
Honey-ku kooda period permission venuma? 😭😂
For a second, I was thinking, “Wait... idhu enna new myth?” So I asked,
“Neenga innum idhellam believe panreengala?”
She just smiled.
That smile somehow shocked me more than the answer.
Maybe it wasn't the belief itself that unsettled me. It was how easily she'd stopped questioning it.
Then she said,
“Ellarum ipdi dhaan irukaanga... adhu dhaane correct?”
And I was like...
“Okay... what am I supposed to say to this?” □
I just went silent.
Because sometimes you know something isn't right... but you also know arguing with someone's lifelong belief isn't exactly a 2-minute conversation.
Same Team, Different Day
Then came another interesting moment at my office. Our receptionist called me and asked,
“Keerthi... innaiku mattum neenga deepam podreengala?”
I asked, “Why?” She said,
“I'm on my fourth day of my period...”
And the funny part?
I was on my second day that day! 😂
I was literally thinking,
“Okay... rendu perum same team dhaan!” 😭
But jokes apart, I started explaining why periods shouldn't decide whether we can do something as normal as lighting a lamp.
We spoke for a couple of minutes. Finally, she said,
“Okay... tomorrow la irundhu naan ipdi panna maaten.”
And honestly, I was happy.
Not because I had suddenly become some “myth-busting professor” 😂
But because one small conversation had made someone question something she'd always accepted.
“Guys… It's a Period. Not a Password.”
After that, I started noticing these beliefs everywhere. At home.
On the bus. At work.
Periods are still treated like a secret VIP topic. 🤦🏻♀️
Sometimes I genuinely feel like standing in the middle of everyone and shouting,
“Guys... it's a PERIOD. Not a password! It's normal!” 😂
“Anna… Adhu… One Packet”
And here's another thing I don't understand.
We can walk into a medical shop and confidently ask for medicines for literally anything... But when it comes to buying pads?
Suddenly the voice becomes:
“Anna... adhu... one packet...” □
And the shopkeeper is standing there like,
“Yes ma... I know what 'adhu' means.” 😂
So why are we still whispering?
If we can whisper for a pad but never for a headache tablet, what exactly are we protecting?
What I've Learned Since
Maybe change doesn't always need a huge movement. Maybe it starts with something really small.
• Saying “period” without lowering our voice.
• Buying a pad without feeling embarrassed.
• Questioning a myth without feeling guilty.
• Telling the next girl, “It's normal. Don't worry.”
Because if millions of women experience it every month... maybe it's time we stop treating periods like a secret and start treating them like what they actually are — normal. This is exactly what period awareness looks like in real life: not a campaign, just small, repeated moments of pushing back against period stigma and period silence.
Good menstrual hygiene tips for girls start with the basics — knowing how to use sanitary pads correctly and reaching for menstrual products you actually trust, without needing to whisper about it at the shop.
These days, you can buy sanitary pads online and skip the awkward counter conversation altogether. Whether it's sanitary pads, sanitary napkins, or newer menstrual pads formats, Femi9's period care products are a good place to start, with more brands now offering sanitary pads in India that make the whole process feel a little less like a secret.
For clear, judgment-free information on periods and myths, the WHO is a good place to check facts against belief, and the NHS has similarly practical guidance on periods in general.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, this isn't really a story about honey or lamps or a shopkeeper who already knew what “adhu” meant. It's about how many small silences add up — and how one honest conversation, at a time, can start to undo them.
For me, normalizing periods has never meant a big speech. It's just saying the word out loud, one conversation at a time.
It's normal. Don't worry.
And maybe that's really all any of us are trying to say. ❤️
If this story felt familiar, you can also read more About Femi9 and what we stand for.
