Ready, Not Ready

Kate J •  Romania •  16

I got my period while I was at home. I wanted to take a bath and while I was getting ready, I saw blood. I panicked and kept telling myself "no way this is my period." Then "I got my period!" because I felt kinda left out that all of my friends had it. I took a bath, texted my sister and put a pad on.

The next day, there wasn't anything, but I was afraid to tell my mom. Later that day, I went for a walk with my dad and when I came back, I saw spotting. The next day, my sister told my mom because I was too scared and then she taught me how to correctly apply the pad. She wanted to give me "the talk" but she ended up telling me that I am old enough and that I know what happens (I did know).

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The next few days, my period was just a bit heavier and I had pretty light cramps and then it ended. Or so I thought. One week later, my period came again AND IT WAS A HELLA LOT. I told my mom and she was like, "umm, just put a pad on," and that's what I did.

The next day, when I woke up, my bedsheet and my pants were STAINED even though I had a pad on. I was freaking out, but luckily my mom was calm. My period lasted about a week and I stained my clothes almost everyday. I just wanted it to end.   I was wondering what the hell I was thinking when I said I wanted to get this shit which makes me bleed 7 days a month and makes my body hurt?! I mean, I don't even want babies!!

Overall, it wasn't that bad. My friends that already had theirs helped me and gave me advice. I used Flo to track it and I learned some things from secret chats and also from the Internet. The most important thing you need to know is DON'T USE HOT WATER WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO REMOVE STAINS!!

Emotional Roller Coaster

Jennifer H •  England •  25

I was 12 when girls I knew were bragging about having their period. I wasn’t bothered that I didn’t have mine yet but their bragging did make me feel like I was a baby.

One day, me and one of the girls were riding our bikes. I stopped my friend and asked her if she was ok because she had blood patches all over her white dress. We checked for cuts on her legs then she ran inside in tears to tell her dad. After she inspected further in the bathroom, she found that she had actually got her first period, which meant she lied about already having it. I understood why she lied because she wanted to fit in, but I wish us girls weren’t so quick to grow up.

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When I did get my period, I was 13 years old and riding on a roller coaster by the seaside. It was a great day until I went into the toilet and BAM. Bright red. Staring right at me. I shouted to my mum across the toilet stalls in shock, “THERE'S BLOOD IN MY PANTS!!” We walked back to the car where my mum then announced to my dad and brother that we had to go to the shop because I had started my period... Thanks mum.

All Aboard the Period Train

Diya C •  India •  21

I got my first period on a train journey!

I was 11 years old, visiting my grandparents for the winter vacations. The journey takes two days by train. On the afternoon of the second day, I was lying on my berth reading a book when I felt a continuous discharge below. Now my mom had told me about periods long back, but it was just another piece of information for me and hence, it didn't even cross my mind once that I could have got my period.

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Soon it was lunchtime, I went to the washroom to freshen up. When I pulled down my pants, it was a bloody mess! I started shivering out of fear as the realization dawned on me. I hurriedly cleaned up as much as I could (the blood just wouldn't stop!), rushed back to my berth and told my mom. She immediately took me back to the washroom and showed me how to use a pad. Seeing me all shaking, she assured me that this was completely normal, there was nothing to be worried about, and I should go about doing my day-to-day activities without any restrictions!

It was one hell of an experience but also something I will remember lifelong.