Red Alert! The First Period

Written by Gigi Frankowski

Expectation versus Reality

Many girls eagerly await their first period, imagining a milestone moment filled with newfound maturity and excitement. However, the reality is often quite different. To explore this contrast, we interviewed four different teens about their experiences with their first period. Here’s what they had to say:

The Early Bloomer

"How old were you when you got your first period?"

I got my first period in fifth grade. I was the first of my friend group to get her period."

"What kind of impact did your period have on your friendships?"

"I became the guru of my friends, leading them into 'womanhood.' 

“How did your family guide you through the process at a young age?”

“While my mom explained how to use pads and tampons, she didn’t cover what was actually going on with my body. It wasn’t until my freshman year of high school health class that I finally understood my period."

The Late Bloomer

"How old were you when you got your first period?"

"I was 16, and I was getting ready for a party."

"How did that affect you, considering most of your friends had already had their periods?"

"After speaking with my mom and a gynecologist, I understood I was simply a late bloomer. I had lots of information from my mom and medical professionals, I knew exactly what to do in terms of period care and menstrual pain relief."

The Shocked Pre-Teen

"How old were you when you got your first period?"

"I got my first period the summer before 7th grade, when I was 12."

"What was your initial reaction?"

"I thought I had pooped myself after going to the bathroom! After talking with my mom, she welcomed me to 'womanhood' and treated me to a spa day and snowballs."

The Unfortunate Surprise

"How old were you when you got your first period?"

"I got my first period the day before starting 8th grade."

"What was that experience like for you?"

"I had eagerly awaited the day but was dreadfully disappointed to find my favorite pair of jean shorts completely bled through. My mom showed me how to use a pad but didn’t explain tampons. After months of trial and error, I finally got the hang of using tampons as I entered high school."

Conclusion

As you can see, a first period can come at different times and different ages, and you shouldn't compare yourself to others' experiences. The menstruators all agreed that getting their first period was not something they were fully prepared for. So don’t worry if you find yourself stuck in a situation you weren’t quite ready for!

Acknowledgements: Thank you to the interviewees who participated and shared about their experiences with menstruation!