Akinyi: MY FIRST PERIOD

Akinyi (15) got her period at 12 and tells us all about it. 

I got my first period when I was 12 years old. I was in school then. I was way too scared to tell my teacher or my best friend. 

I had stomach aches that day so I went to the toilet to relieve myself and I was like “ghaai”. 

I saw blood stains in my panty. I was really scared and confused. I didn’t know what to do next. 

I used the tissue that I had carried as my sanitary towel and went back to class. 

Everything felt uncomfortable.

When the teacher asked us to stand up to stretch, that is when she realised something was up. 

Nothing embarrassing happened but she just noticed I was uncomfortable.

She called me outside and asked me what the problem was. So I opened up to her. My teacher explained my period to me, that what I was going through was normal and all women and girls experience it every month. 

My teacher handed me over some sanitary towels which actually made me feel more comfortable. She taught me how to use it correctly.

When I went home, I was ashamed of informing my mother and father. And when I finally told my mother, she only warned me against playing with boys as it would ‘get me pregnant’. She later sent my elder sister to talk to me. 

My elder sister was also very helpful. She taught me everything about menstruation. 

Menstruation is still considered a secret that is hardly discussed. Menstruation is a normal and essential process for all women, which no one should be ashamed of.

Now that I understand a lot about menstruation, I proudly share this knowledge with my peers.