My First Period: A Day I’ll Never Forget

I was in 10th grade, probably 16 years old, though I’m not exactly sure. It was just another ordinary day at school. But what happened that day, I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

A day before it happened, my mom randomly sat me down and told me a little about “this thing” that happens to every girl. Out of nowhere, she said, "You’re growing up, and soon your body will start changing. You might bleed from down there, and it’s completely normal." I didn’t fully understand what she meant. She didn’t go into too much detail, just told me to always wear a panty and stay clean. I didn’t ask questions. I just listened and nodded.

Honestly, I had heard my cousin mention bits and pieces about it before, but in such a hush-hush way that it never made much sense. We weren’t taught these things properly. So, I brushed it off, thinking maybe it’s something that’ll happen years later. But fate had its own timing.

The next day, at school, it hit me, literally.

I was sitting in class when I suddenly started feeling an intense, unbearable pain in my lower back and stomach. It was like my body was revolting. I had never felt anything like it before. I didn’t even realize what was happening. The cramps were so bad, I couldn’t even sit up straight. Me, the always-active, bubbly student, had my head down on the desk, unable to move.

My classmates were shocked. “Are you okay?” they kept asking. But I couldn’t answer. I just wanted the day to end.

When school finally did end, I dragged myself home. But I didn’t tell my mom anything right away. We had guests over, and I felt too shy to bring it up with so many people around. I kept quiet… thinking maybe I’d sleep it off.

But in the middle of the night, the pain came back, this time even worse. I couldn’t take it anymore. That’s when I finally went to my mom and told her everything.

She was upset, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” she scolded. But I could see she was worried too. She brought me a sanitary pad, showed me how to wear it properly, and gave me a simple home remedy: carom seeds with salt in warm water. It worked like magic. Within some time, the pain started to fade.

That was the beginning of my journey with menstruation.

But there was another side to it, the silence.

During our periods, we’re told not to pray or fast. I remember during Ramadan, when I got my period for the first time while we were fasting in our joint family. My mom pulled me aside and whispered, “Don’t tell anyone. Especially not your brothers.”

I asked, “Why?”

She didn’t have a clear answer just told me to keep it private.

And I listened. But deep down, it never felt right.

Why should we hide something so natural? Why shouldn’t our brothers know? Why are we made to feel like our periods are something to be ashamed of?

This silence hurts more than the cramps sometimes. It keeps us isolated, confused, and unprepared. I wish someone had explained it better to me, not just the biological part, but the emotional and social parts too.

Now, as I look back, I feel proud of how far I’ve come. From that scared 16-year-old girl in pain, hiding her truth… to a young woman who’s not afraid to speak up.

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