In my younger years, menstruation was never something I put a lot of thought into. I’ve been fortunate to have never really had any menstrual issues. I did not start at an extremely early age, I don’t experience debilitating cramps nor do I have an extremely “heavy” flow. My period or “flow” has always seemed “normal.”
In talking with many women about their first periods, I’ve begun to consider myself quite fortunate. I don’t have any memorable stories of starting at summer camp or being caught off guard at such an age I didn’t understand what was happening. It was actually quite the opposite, a very lackluster story.
The only thing truly memorable for me was turning 15 and feeling that I may never start my period. Many feelings I felt then, are the opposite of what a large number of girls feel today. With most of my friends having already started their periods, I was left feeling embarrassed that I had not started. As I heard my friends talk about their periods, I thought to myself, “What is wrong with me, am I ever going to start?” I was not comfortable sharing with my friends that I had not yet, joined “the club.”
