Menstruation 101

My Mum Told Me To Stay Away from Boys…

That evening, I raced to Habiba’s house hoping she would be able to provide answers to the thousand and one questions running through my head.  Although Habiba was just 3 years older than I was, I believed she was the right person to give me the solution to my problem at the time since my mum was out of town.

When I got to her house, I rang the bell. Immediately she opened the door, I  grabbed her hand, and pulled her downstairs before anyone else could hear our conversation. “Teach me how to fix a pad,” I whispered.

She laughed. “Is that why you’re acting like a spy?”

It wasn’t funny to me. I didn’t have time for jokes. It was my first period, and I was stained. Our school had taught us about menstruation, but nothing prepared me for the reality of It. I was so confused and didn’t know what to do.

Habiba seeing how anxious I was, asked me to calm down and guided me through the process, showing me how to unwrap the pad, position it properly, and make sure it stayed in place.

I sighed in relief but still had a lot of questions. Habiba did her best to answer them, though I wasn’t sure if she was entirely right. Still, I felt better because I had someone to talk to. That night, I waited impatiently for my mum to return so I could tell her everything.

When she finally arrived, I rushed to her room and told her about it. What she did next surprised me. She locked the door, lowered her voice, and told me, “You’re a woman now. Never let a boy touch you, or you’ll get pregnant.”

Her words instilled fear in my heart. I didn’t fully understand how pregnancy happened, but I was certain I didn’t want it. I was too young to be a mother so I heeded her advice.

Five months passed without another period. This made me scared. “Was I pregnant?” I thought to myself. “Was it when I was laughing with Desmond the other day it happened?” “Or was it when Suleiman mistakenly hit my chest as we stood in the queue to buy snacks it happened?” 

I couldn’t tell my mum. She would be disappointed. Instead, I confided in Habiba, who burst into laughter. “You’re not pregnant,” she reassured me. She said her elder sister  told her that periods can be irregular at first because the body is still trying to adjust to the changes happening to it and with time, everything will become regular.

That made sense, but still I was worried. Later, my school’s health education teacher, Mrs. Ade, confirmed it. “The menstrual cycle isn’t always the same for every girl. Some experience delays due to hormones, stress, or even changes in diet.” Relieved, I went about my school work. 

The following week, I felt my lower abdomen dragging me with a sharp pain, my waist was sore, and my body was weak. I thought it was because of the sour soup I had eaten the previous night. I rushed to the toilet because I felt an intense and sudden urge to defecate. There and then, I saw blood stains in my panties. The sight of this made me really happy because I was then convinced that I was truly not pregnant. I cleaned myself up, had my bath, and then left for school. 

During Biology class, Mrs. Odita was explaining Evolution, but I could barely focus. The pain worsened. My vision blurred. I raised my hand to ask for permission to step out of the class, but before I could, the world faded to black.

When I opened my eyes, I saw my mum, the school nurse, and Mrs. Odita standing over me. “You fainted,” my mum explained. “But don’t worry, you’ll be fine.”

At home, I had many questions. “Why does menstruation have to hurt this much?” “Does it mean I’ll go through this for the rest of my life?”

Instead of dismissing me this time, my mum sighed and sat beside me. “I’m sorry my child. I should have explained this better before,” she began. “Your period comes in phases. The pain you feel is due to contractions in your uterus. Some women experience it worse than others.”

She went on to talk about PMS (premenstrual syndrome): the mood swings, bloating, headaches, and cravings. “They are changes that happen to you as your body prepares for your next period” “It usually happens few days to one week before you get your period and occurs due to hormonal changes” She added.

She also explained the ovarian and uterine cycle. “Each month, your body prepares for pregnancy by thickening the inner lining of uterus(womb). If no pregnancy happens, the lining sheds, and that’s your period.”

Then she gave me some practical advice:

• Cramps: A warm water bottle on the abdomen, light exercises, and sometimes pain relievers like ibuprofen could help reduce the pain. She added that it was best we see our family doctor to prescribe medications that would be better suited for me.

• Hygiene: Changing pads every 4–6 hours, washing up properly with mildly scented soap. Wearing breathable underwear were also important.

• PMS: Drinking enough water, eating well, getting enough sleep, light exercises and doing activities I enjoyed could make a difference.

That night, I felt seen. If only I had known all this earlier, I wouldn’t have been so scared.

Years later, as a medical student, I learned even more about menstruation. The science behind hormonal changes, medical conditions that could affect periods, and different ways to manage discomfort. But the foundation of my knowledge came from those early conversations with my mum, friends and teachers.

This is why I’m sharing this now to  help girls navigate this stage of life with knowledge, and not fear.

Menstruation isn’t something to hide. It’s normal, designed by God, and an essential part of a woman’s biology. Parents and teachers must explain it clearly and honestly, without creating unnecessary fear.

If you’ve ever had questions about your period, you’re not alone. Leave a comment, and let’s talk about it.

I hope you found this enlightening. Feel free to share it with others and stay connected with me for more health tips. 

Till next time,

Yours in Healthy Living, 👩🏾‍⚕️