These crowd-sourced stories come from people of different ages, cultures, and backgrounds around the world. Each story offers a unique perspective on menstruation, how it’s understood, spoken about, celebrated, or silenced in different communities. Together, they show the wide range of experiences that shape how we learn about our bodies, challenge stigma, and support one another.
Gulnara, 54, Azerbaijan
I am a carrier of haemophilia.
I started the menstrual cycle at 12 years old.
Dear Big Sisters,
I am 54 years old. I am a carrier of haemophilia. I started the menstrual cycle at 12 years old. For me it was shame and shame. Then not a mother, not a sister, especially at school no one said anything about it. Even I had no idea why this was happening to me. There were heavy bleeding in the first 3 days. I didn’t know where to hide the rags and gauze that I put (unfortunately, there were no gaskets yet ). I felt guilty. I really wanted to die. I wanted to understand at that time to understand why this phenomenon occurs in the body. What happens to the body? Menstruation was accompanied by terrible pains. It is very difficult for a little girl to endure these pains.
Now I understand how girls need support from their parents and others. Girls should have remedies for bleeding and pain. The girl must be confident. Reality will overcome all the suffering during menstruation. Now I’m an adult. I have 2 granddaughters who will need support, and I will support them in every possible way. I will prepare them for this event of life that can not be avoided.
I will do everything possible so that they understand that it’s not harmful to the body. Physiologically, this is normal. All women pass this test.
Myth
False: Showering or bathing during your period will cause infertility.
Fact
True: Showering or bathing doesn’t cause infertility. Hot water can help relieve cramps and ease muscular tension.
Anonymous, 30, China
Our primary school has a class that explained to all the girls in our class about periods.
Dear Big Sisters,
Our primary school has a class that explained to all the girls in our class about period and explained to us it’s a part of being a female.
We also had a sanitary pad sample each to explore how it captures water. That were the things I can remember. At home, my mom has started to let me know information about period during primary school time earlier than I had period education class at school. My mum would tell me it’s normal for girls to have period and don’t freak out. Also she told me not to eat icy stuff when having the period because the coldness might clog the blood. And it’s a common saying in Chinese medicine, and a lot of girls I know heard the same things from their mothers.
Myth
False: You should not touch or go near plants during your period, since they will immediately die.
Fact
True: Your period will not harm any plants.
Gianna Rose, 20, United States
One time in middle school I wore white jeans (I know, yikes) and my period was early.
Dear Big Sisters,
One time in middle school I wore white jeans (I know, yikes) and my period was early. In class I didn’t know what had happened in those moments, but when I stood up from my chair to go answer a question on the chalkboard, it bled though the white pants and everyone was laughing. Now that I look back on this memory I was disappointed not only in the boys, but all the girls in my class who shamed another girl.
Especially the female teacher who treated me like I had the plague. Like all those girls didn’t go through the same every month.
Myth
False: Enter a kitchen or cook during your period, as it will contaminate the food.
Fact
True: There is no harm in entering the kitchen, eating and drinking, or cooking while menstruating.
Swornima, 16, Nepal
I was 13 when I had my first period.
Dear Big Sisters,
I was 13 when I had my first period. And I think I have the best family. Although I wasn’t permitted to go to kitchen and temples, my grandmother used to make me understand why is it so. Not only for culture believe but because our body needs rest through this period. This was my period positive story.
Myth
False: Period blood is blue.
Fact
True: Contrary to what you see in TV adverts, period blood is red like all other blood.
Anonymous
As a teenager I was a competitive gymnast training up to 16 hours a week.
Dear Big Sisters,
As a teenager I was a competitive gymnast training up to 16 hours a week. My (period) flow was heavy and I often needed to change my tampon in the middle of practice. I hid tampon packets in the stacks of toilet paper in the gym bathrooms because I didn’t want to be seen taking a tampon out of my gym bag and carrying it to the bathroom. But sometimes I hid so many that I forgot they were there.
I laugh now thinking about my coaches (the team owners) finding all these little tampons amongst the toilet paper rolls like some strange Easter eggs.
Myth
False: You can hold in your period like pee.
Fact
True: You cannot hold in your period because the muscle used to hold in pee does not exist in the vagina. Although some people are able to practice certain pelvic methods, it does not work for everyone.
Luca, 28, Italy
Once my girlfriend and I booked a thermal day and she had her period.
Dear Big Sisters,
Once my girlfriend and I booked a thermal day and she had her period. Before going, we informed together about tampax, she never tried that, and I supported her with information and we watched tutorials together concerning “how to use tampax”. After all, we faced “red period” together and my girlfriend for the first time used tampax and she felt comfortable, we went to the spa and we had a really nice day!
This is important because we didn’t know the real usage of tampax and initially she was scared due to bad public information concerning tampax.
Myth
False: Any form of physical activity can disturb the menstrual flow.
Fact
True: Exercise and sports can actually help relieve pain.
Catherine Banda, 14, Malawi
At the age of ten I really wanted to start menstruating because I was hearing it from my friends who had started already.
Dear Big Sisters,
At the age of ten I really wanted to start menstruating because I was hearing it from my friends who had started already. In their sound, menstruation seemed like a very good thing and nobody talked bad about it. I felt left out in the circle of these friends who were menstruating when they talked about it because I had not started. My heart shed tears.
This prolonged and I had to endure the talking until I started menstruating at the age of 13. But I was frustrated on the onset to see blood shedding off from my genitalia. I quickly blamed my friends for giving me false impression towards menstruation. And I blamed myself as well for admiring a bad experience. Then I started isolating myself and spent most of the time in bed sobbing. But my mum came and comforted me. She told me her experiences and encouraged me to realise that I am a female person and my gender will not change anymore. Mum encouraged me that when I reach a certain age, menstruation will completely stop and this gave me some little hope.
I was a happy person when the menses were over during that particular period and could
work hard in school. However when my calendar was at it again I wished to not be seen at school because I felt like everyone knew I was in menses. This affected my studies. However, I am learning to get used to it and shut ears from hearing discouraging insults from people, especially boys. I know their voices have nothing to do with my menstrual life because they too have sisters who are also menstruating, so we are equally the same.
Today I am used to my situation and feel empowered that I am indeed a female person. My menses make me stronger and drive me to stand against insults and I fight for menstrual rights through advocacy for sanitary pads provision and construction of changing rooms. I hope I am making the difference.