I reached out to 12 women between the ages of 20 and 27 to discuss their first-period experiences, how they navigated them, and what they wished they had changed if they had all their present knowledge back then.
This story is published in two parts.This is the second part. Read Part One here.
Eve: Hi! Can you tell me your name and when you got your first period?
Susan, I was in SS1.
Light, it was in JS3.
Nkay, I can’t remember.
Elsie, I was 11 years old
Zoe, I can’t remember
Nene, I was 12
Eve: Can you share a bit about the first time you got your period?
Susan: It happened while I was in SS1. Most girls in my class had already gotten theirs, and I felt left behind. I honestly thought something might be wrong with me. When it finally came, I had this weird ache in my back and noticed blood on my pad. I screamed with joy, it felt like a celebration.
Light: I remember the exact date , 16th May 2014. I was in boarding school, and many girls had already started theirs. When mine came, I wasn’t surprised but still relieved. A close friend helped me that day, bathed me, carried my water, and taught me how to wear a pad. I felt supported.
Nkay: I was still a child in class when it happened. I stood up and realized I was bleeding. I had no idea what was going on. I was scared and embarrassed because I hadn’t been taught anything about menstruation.
Elsie: It wasn’t dramatic. I came home from school and started feeling strange. After a nap, I went to the toilet and saw blood stains. I knew what it was because my friends had talked about hiding it. I waited for my mom to come home and told her.
Zoe: Everyone in my dorm had already started theirs except me, so I was really self-conscious. I found out in the shared bathroom, someone else noticed the blood and made an announcement. Everyone got excited and gave me pads. I wasn’t even sure it was really mine at first.
Nene: I was in JSS2 when I got my first period. It started at school, and I was too embarrassed to ask any of my teachers for a pad. Instead, I improvised, I took off one of my socks and used it as a makeshift pad. (I used to wear three pairs on each leg back then, so I had plenty to spare, lol.)
A male classmate was the first to notice. He whispered my name and said, “There’s unyi on your uniform,” which means “charcoal” in Igbo. Thankfully, it was only a small stain. I rushed to the bathroom, washed it off, and tucked another sock into my underwear to hold me over.
Eve: What challenges did you face later on during your period?
Susan: The worst was in boarding school. I vomited more than 15 times in one day from the pain, it felt like labour. No one took me seriously, and I had to find my way to a hospital by myself. The cramps lasted over 16 hours.
Light: After that first time, my periods were very irregular. I’d go months without bleeding. Last year I was diagnosed with PCOS, which finally explained everything. I also avoided painkillers because of myths, so I endured the pain unnecessarily.
Nkay: My biggest challenge was not knowing what was happening. I didn’t talk to anyone and just bottled it up. I wasn’t prepared , not mentally or practically.
Elsie: I didn’t have much of a struggle. My parents were supportive, especially my dad. He went out late at night to buy pads. It was a quiet experience that didn’t leave me traumatized.
Zoe: When my real period came months later, it came with full-blown cramps. I used to think girls exaggerated how painful periods were, until I felt it for myself. It was rough.
Nene: Frankly, I don’t remember much, but I do know I got stained a lot in secondary school. It took a lot of trial and error and trying again and again before I finally figured out how to manage my periods without leaking.
On top of that, my cramps were so bad that I’d either have to leave school early or spend hours in the clinic until the painkillers kicked in.
TEYS: What do you wish you knew back then that would’ve helped?
Susan: That the pain wouldn’t stop after the first time. I went in excited, but now it’s just something I manage. I wish I had known how painful and isolating it could get.
Light: I wish I had known about PCOS earlier. I spent so much time worrying. Also, I should have known it was okay to take painkillers and not suffer silently.
Nkay: I wish I’d asked questions and talked to someone instead of keeping everything in. I also wish I had been taught about periods before it happened.
Elsie: I was lucky to already know what periods were, thanks to my friends. I just wish more girls got that kind of peer knowledge early on.
Zoe: I wish I didn’t try to rush it. I wanted so badly to be like the other girls. But I’ve learned that everything has its own time, including periods.
Nene: I wish I wasn’t so ashamed of my period, that I was able to speak up and learn how to take care of myself better. I also wish they provided pads in female bathrooms, just like tissues. It would have saved me a lot of embarrassment.
Maybe a little pamphlet on the wall on how to use it, too, because not everyone wants to talk about their period when it first starts. If people can invest in giving out free condoms in the most random of places, they can invest in putting pads in bathrooms.
Eve: What advice would you give to a girl waiting for her first period?
Susan: Celebrate it, but also prepare for the hard parts. Don’t ignore your pain, and ask for help when you need it. It’s not just a milestone, it’s a responsibility.
Light: Be patient with your body. Everyone’s journey is different. And if something feels off, talk to a doctor. Don’t suffer in silence.
Nkay: Don’t be afraid or ashamed. Talk to someone you trust, and never feel like you’re alone in this.
Elsie: It’s okay to feel confused, but it’s not something to hide. Let your family support you.
Zoe: Don’t wish it on yourself before it comes. Let your body take its time. And when it comes, embrace it, cramps and all.
Nene: Learn all you can about it while you wait.
Eve: How do you feel about your period now?
Susan: I don’t look forward to it anymore. It started with joy, but now it just feels like something I have to deal with.
Lulu: I’ve made peace with it. I understand my body better now and know how to manage my symptoms. It’s no longer scary.
Nkay: It doesn’t frighten me anymore. I’ve accepted it as part of life, but I wish it had been explained earlier.
Elsie: It’s a normal part of life. Nothing dramatic, just something we deal with.
Zoe: Now, I honestly just sigh in relief when it comes. It means I’m not pregnant! I’ve accepted it as part of life, cramps and all.
Nene: I don’t feel anyhow about it, not even the shame. I just hope pads are made easily accessible, especially for young girls.
This is the second part of this stories. Read part one here.
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