Omitted!
People told stories of how their Mothers cooked a whole
chicken when they attainted womanhood! aka saw their monthly period aka the
visitor aka that time of the month. Whatever it is called, you get the gist, right?
I was in boarding school, so no one cooked a whole chicken for me, but my
friend did celebrate like I won a lottery. It was a tradition back then to
celebrate your friend when their period came. People who started their period
while on holiday came back to either announce it in the hostel or “display” an
unused pad in a manner that sends the message.
I can’t remember when I started my period, but I can remember
taking sanitary pad to boarding school and “lending” it out with the hope of
collecting it back when my period finally started. I never had the opportunity
to collect it for some terms, in fact I never collected it back but las las my
period came. It came after our teachers and parents had started talking about
reproductive system and sexual education. I thought I knew what to expect; use
sanitary pad, starts every 25-28 days, stay off groundnut, no salat days, 3-4
days max, stay off “sugary” things, the list was long, so I assumed nothing was
omitted. People around me had been on their period. I have two elder sisters so
it cannot be that different. Boy, I wish
I knew better!
I wish I knew my school uniform was not immune to period
stain.
I wish I knew changing my pad every 3 hours does not
guarantee a stain-free day.
I wish I knew boys would tease me when I got stained.
I wish I knew my period can come about 2 days earlier.
I wish I knew my period could get delayed for 5-8days.
I wish I knew how to tell people that I was not sleeping
because of Ramadan but I was sleeping because I took pain medication and sleeping
is one of the side effects.
I wish I knew how to tell people that I am not fasting
because it is that time of the month and I could not get an enclosed place to
eat.
I wish I knew I would walk out of several examination halls
because I could not handle the period pain.
My friend who was not allowed to go out of her house without
parental approval wished she knew how to tell her older brother she needed
sanitary pad.
Below are some other things that might have been omitted
- Your
period can be longer than 5 days, yes, I know people who bleed for 7 days.
- Your period can be shorter than 5 days, I know people who bleed for less than 5 days.
- Your period pain is not universal, some people do not experience any pain. So, don’t blame them when they do not understand your struggle.
- Your threshold for handling pain is not universal. It is ok to use a prescribed pain medication. Please see a gynecologist or doctor to prescribe the best pain medication.
- Your prescribed pain medication might have side effects. Please ensure this is discussed with your doctor.
- Your period flow is not universal, some people do finish a pack of sanitary pad on their first day.
- Your preferred absorbent material is your preference. People should be encouraged and not forced to try other hygienic options – Pads, tampons and menstrual cups.
- Your period blood does have a smell, remember to change your pad as often as possible and clean down there regularly.·
- Discuss with your gynecologist, if your period smell change is accompanied with unusual symptoms·
- Your decision to stay off sugar is not universal. People have different tolerance level for various things during their monthly period. For example, I crave sugary things, I take sugary things, and nothing happens to me but there’s something that I observed that if I do take, I can end up in the clinic or hospital. The goal is to understand your body and know what to stay off during this period.
- Your religion might have a “period ritual”, it is important to understand and learn it if possible.
- If you have a vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, it is important you see the gynecologist at least once a year or once in 2 years (depending on your Gynecologist guidance after your first appointment).
- If you have inconsistent monthly cycle, tracking your period might help your Gynecologist understands you better.
Till next time, in the comment section, please include some important points that I might
have omitted.
This post was edited by Dolapo Ajayi.
This post was edited by Dolapo Ajayi.
Very enlighten
ReplyDeleteI am glad you found it enlightening. Thanks for reading
DeleteNice piece... Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. Thanks for reading
DeleteVery enlightening for me too and fun to read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your warm comment. I really appreciate it
ReplyDelete