Breaking the Silence: My Journey Through Menstruation and Empowerment

I experienced early menarche, getting my first period at just 10 years old. I vividly remember being at my grandparents' house when I suddenly felt like I was unconsciously peeing. Rushing to the bathroom, I discovered I was stained with blood. Fortunately, this wasn't a complete shock because my sisters and mother had prepared me by sharing basic knowledge about menstruation. However, I was not ready for the mood swings and cramps that accompanied my periods.

At that time, sanitary pads were not common, so we had to manage our periods as best as we could. When I told my sister about the bleeding, she taught me how to fold toilet tissue into a pad. The whole experience was messy and uncomfortable. I struggled with the tissue pad and the nonstop blood flow for days. The most uncomfortable parts of my period were the cramps and the waist and lower back pain.

In my early menstrual years, I bled for seven days each period. I never looked forward to my monthly periods because they were hard to manage, especially since I was barely a teenager. I had many unanswered questions about menstruation. While some girls have irregular cycles after menarche, my periods were consistent, never skipped a cycle. Over time, I gradually improved my period management, but the cramps remained a nightmare. My experiences with peers made me hate my period even more.

One day in secondary school, my period came unexpectedly. Seated behind me were male classmates who started laughing uncontrollably. I didn't realize why until I saw one pointing at me. I turned and discovered I was soaked in blood. The embarrassment was overwhelming, and I burst into tears and went to change. I couldn't return to school for days, unable to face the stares and the looks from those boys who acted out of ignorance. I felt nasty and stinky around people and developed low self-esteem. This incident affected me mentally and emotionally, and it took years to regain my self-confidence.

In high school, another experience changed my perspective completely and helped me regain my confidence. I got soiled by my menses in class without realizing it. It was a mess and the bright colour of my uniform made it impossible to conceal the stain. Unlike my experience in secondary school, a male classmate who saw what had happened walked up to me and tied his pullover around my waist. He quietly whispered in my ear “Miranda, you are stained. Go back to the dormitory and change.”

For the first time in years, I felt different and confident about my period. This new perspective made me realize that the boys in secondary school had acted out of ignorance and the fact that boys and girls were not properly prepared for puberty. This experience was one of the things that sparked my interest in adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Many adolescents have little or no information about puberty, especially about the menstrual cycle and menstrual hygiene management. This has impacted their lives negatively, as some tend to lose self-confidence, early pregnancies, and discrimination to name a few.

My story is just one of many that women worldwide have concerning menstruation. I share my story to let young girls know they are not alone and to encourage men and boys to understand how the female body functions and support women instead of shaming them. It is crucial for everyone to become knowledgeable about menstruation to normalize these discussions. Menstruation is a natural process and should be embraced with pride.

Due to my experience, I took it upon myself to educate communities on menstruation and menstrual hygiene management at every given opportunity with men and boys being a part of my activities. There’s been so much focus on women and girls only, that we have forgotten to involve men and boys in this journey. I also reach out to adolescents with menstrual management hygiene kits, to help them better manage their periods. In addition, I also started a platform known as “Lunch and Learn with Mimi”, where I educate and empower people on sexual and reproductive health and other matters affecting society.

I currently work with orphans and vulnerable children living with HIV. Most adolescents face the challenge of managing their periods. I remember visiting one of these homes and when having a discussion with one of the adolescents on how she manages her period, I left that home with a very heavy heart and teary eyes. This year, I would like to reach out to these orphans and vulnerable children with some kits, possible reuseable pads. I call upon well wishers to join my move, as these children need our help. Where I live, these children are not only burdened by HIV, but we are in an emergency context which makes it even more challenging managing their periods.

Join my hashtag #GiversTouchHearts so that together, we can touch the lives and hearts of these children.