Do you remember your first period? Research shows that most menstruating individuals get their first period between the ages of 10 and 16, so it might have been a while ago. Depending on when it happened, who you were with and how much you knew about your body, the occasion might’ve also brought feelings ranging from embarrassment to fear and confusion.
You probably don’t think much about that memory or talk about it. But taking a moment to reminisce and bond over first period stories can help break period stigma one candid anecdote at a time.
Women Still Experience Shame Around Their Periods
Research conducted by ActionAid UK revealed that nearly 2 out of 3 women reported that leaking through their clothes or experiencing changes to their body made them feel ashamed, anxious or embarrassed about their periods. And nearly a third of respondents (31%) said that being seen taking period products to the toilet stirred feelings of shame, anxiety or embarrassment.
Moreover, Clue’s international period survey showed that there are over 5,000 euphemisms across the world for the word “period.” While some of them are funny, it still says something about the way periods are perceived.
Regardless of the language you speak, there are slang terms meant to bypass directly mentioning menstruation.
7 First Period Stories to Help Break the Stigma
Perhaps it’s why a Reddit thread on first period stories in the r/women subreddit garnered 187 responses. We don’t talk about periods enough, and maybe we want to.
Here are seven notable stories from the thread — from celebrations to traumatic moments, let them make you laugh, cringe or cry.
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“It was the end of 4th grade, I was 9. Recently we had just had our first sex ed class that thankfully my parents signed off on for me to attend. So...I knew kinda what was going on.
I felt weird and uncomfortable, went to the bathroom, and saw the blood. I didn't tell anyone until I got home, I had just wadded up toilet paper in my underwear. I distinctly remember I was wearing jeans, so I wasn't really afraid of anyone noticing.
I told my mom and stepdad and started SOBBING. They laughed and congratulated me on becoming a woman. The next night, they bought me a damn cake to celebrate. I was NOT in a celebratory mood, because my mom sent me to school the next day with a purse full of pads and a note to my teacher who just acted really weird around me.” - @LeFukTu
- “I was dead asleep (at home) and started having a nightmare that zombies were eating my intestines (literally ripping my stomach apart with their hands). Woke up in excruciating pain and ended up passing out from it. Woke up later that morning and realized they were period cramps when I went to use the bathroom. Didn’t tell my mom for like 6 months and just stole her pads because I was so embarrassed.” - @ItsalwaysSnowyshere
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“I was the last of my peers to get it. They had all been talking and bragging. I felt so left out! Finally, I got it many months later. No one cared, and I still have yet to figure out why they were so excited.
As for when I got it, I was at home. My sister walked in on me wiping and saw the blood. She knocks now!” - @FlattieFromMD
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“It was a trauma for me. Really.
I was 10 and I was with my elder brother (he was 18 back then) at home, mom had things to do outside. I went to the bathroom and saw blood. I was in a panic, thinking I was gonna die, my brother didn’t do anything about it and didn’t seem worried, it made me even more crazy. I cried so bad until mom came home in an hour or so. I told her what happened and she began crying, scaring me even more. She then told me she was crying because I grew up.
She never told me that girls bleed monthly when the time comes. I had to learn what it is like this.” - @ilovedragonage
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“I was 11. The weekend before my mom and aunt took me to the emergency room because I was in so much pain they thought I had appendicitis. The ER doc said it was probably my first ovulation, which for some reason, a lot of girls can feel the first time. It was common enough the ER doc knew what it was. A week later, my first period started, just like he said.” - @AvailableAd6071
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“I was in 7th grade. Didn’t have any cramps or anything, so I didn’t even notice until a boy asked me if I pooped my pants because I bled through my jeans.” - @killaaajay
7. “I remember being so caught off guard when I got mine, I had zero idea what was going on at first. On that note, cheers to this SubReddit for allowing safe and open talks about women's experiences. - @Thenutritionguru
