My Menstrual cycle started in earnest in my mid-pubertal (14) years. My mother had schooled me on many occasions on the many expectations that came with the menstrual period seasons in the lives of young women, as well as what to do when this ‘once-a-blue-moon’ visitor paid me courtesy visits.
I was well-informed and armed to the teeth with information on what I was supposed to do when it was that time of the month. However, when it was time for me to practise what I had learnt, I lost my guard, allowed my sanitary pads to be exhausted, and made no effort to replace them before my next menstrual cycle. Although my mother did her bit to sensitize me enough about menstruation, I didn’t take heedfully to all the lessons she’d taught me (I’ll take the blame).
On a particular day, my menstrual cycle hinted that it was on its way by giving me a sign (spotting), which many women can relate to. As someone who is blessed and favoured not to experience menstrual cramps before, during, and after periods, the spotting activity (aside from my marked calendar) is my surest way of telling that my period is imminent. On decoding the said period hint, I knew the period had come to stay, and I, of course, needed to act fast before I became a mess. I had no idea what to do to forestall the embarrassing flow of the red sea, and just then, an idea hit me: tissue paper! ‘Well,’ I shrugged to myself; tissue paper could work in the meantime. The plan was to temporarily use some tissue paper while I went out to get myself decent sanitary towels.
Now, here’s the catch: This thing happened on a Saturday and people were very much around to do different things in their homes. And this is where it begins to get interesting! Tissue paper was readily available, so I quickly folded a substantial amount of the double-ply, thick enough to keep me safe from any embarrassment. After I was done, I took my time to fix it in the appropriate quarters and went my way after I was satisfied that all was okay! Off I went to purchase a decent pack of pads that I would use after having my bath a couple of minutes later.
I went outside my compound (which was better described as a civilian barracks, by the way, due to the mammoth number of tenants living there at the time) to get some personal effects, including my pads. I had taken walks, moving from shop to shop and doing shakara until I got what I came to buy and made my way back to the house. I had walked a considerable distance and was almost reaching home when my neighbour, Mama Akan (God bless her soul), called me back after I’d walked past her. She asked why I did not affix my tissue properly so that she could see that the tissue paper I inserted at that place was vividly sticking out and that I should go and repackage myself! Omo! As in? Like? You mean the whole compound has seen tissue sticking out behind me, and I’ve been walking like that for how many minutes now, please? Excuse me, ma. You say?? 😝😝
The shame and shyness I felt that day was second to none, Bro! I felt terribly embarrassed and wished I could undo the waka I did to the shops and then go again after I’d corrected the error…, but was that even feasible?? Lol
They say, “If wishes were horses, even beggars would ride”. This incident remains one of my loudly embarrassing moments to date!
The moral of this story? Well, it could be relative. To each their own. Young pubertal girls should be given holistic training and induction on how to approach their periods generally and specifically. How many hours should they leave their pads/tampons on before changing them? How are pads and tampons used? What hygienic practices must they maintain to remain healthy? And what are those things they are to avoid if escaping teenage and unplanned pregnancies is the goal, etc?
Contributor: Glorya Gabriel – Odumegwu