My First Period: The Beginning of Silence

I do not remember the exact date of my first period, but I remember the feeling.

Confusion.

Embarrassment.

And the sudden realization that life as a girl came with experiences no one had fully prepared me for.

Growing up, menstruation wasn't something we talked about openly.It existed in whispers and private conversations. You knew it would happen one day, but when it finally arrived, it still felt overwhelming. In my case, I wasn't even educated about it although I had elder ones around me and I remember it came quite early I think when I was 10 years old.

In secondary school, I had a friend whose life seemed to revolve around her menstrual cycle. Every month, she became severely ill, missed classes, struggled through the school day, and sometimes required injections because the pain was so intense.

At the time, many of us did not understand what she was going through. Some people thought she was exaggerating while others dismissed it as something all girls should simply endure.

Only later did I realize how deeply menstruation can affect a persons physical and emotional well being.

Her experience taught me that pain is real, and that many girls suffer in silence because their pain is often minimized or misunderstood.

My own challenges looked different.

I remember being at school not once when my period started unexpectedly. There were no sanitary pads available nearby, and certainly no free menstrual products for students who needed them. In those moments, I did what many girls across Cameroon have done at one point or another: I used tissue paper.

I folded layers of tissue and hoped they will hold until I got home.

But hope is not a menstrual product.

Throughout the day, I worried constantly. Would it leak? would someone notice? would I stain my uniform? Instead of focusing on my lessons, I focused on hiding my discomfort.

Looking back, I realize how many girls carry this worries every month. Some use tissue paper or old pieces of cloth, while others stay home from school altogether. Not because they want to but because they have no better option.

For many girls, menstruation marks the beginning of a monthly struggle shaped by poverty, stigma, and lack of access.

My first period didn't change who I was but it changed how I saw the world around me.It opened my eyes to silent challenges that so many girls face simply because they menstruate.

Today, I hope for a different experience for the next generation. I hope girls receive accurate information before their first period arrives which I am doing in my own little way by talking to my younger ones around me.

I hope they have access to safe and affordable menstrual products. I hope their pain is taken seriously.

Most of all, I hope they never feel ashamed of a natural part of their bodies.

Menstruation should not be a source of fear, embarrassment, or missed opportunities. It should be met with understanding, support, and dignity.

Because every girl deserves to experience her first period knowing that she is prepared, supported, and never alone.