Intimina Shares: Our First Period Stories
Ahh, menarche. It’s a beautiful moment that signals the beginning of our bodies’ maturation, and prepares us for our new lives as adults.
Well, sorta,
A first period will happen any time between 11 and 15 for most people* (though some will get theirs earlier or later, due to genetic or environmental reasons, including life just not being fair). That means right around middle school or the beginning of high school, which were not, if you recall, the easiest time to be alive.
While usually menstruation makes its mark soon after breasts, armpit hair and a growth spurt that makes the square dancing unit in gym class extra awkward, even the most well-prepared pubescent might find themselves, well, unprepared for what getting their first period is actually like. We asked around the office to get a sense of how Intimina employees first reacted to their new monthly visitor
Maggie
From: USA
First Period: 14
I remember being super uncomfortable about the whole thing. When I went home from school that day to tell my mom, the first thing she did was slap me on the arm and then she said congrats. I never really thought twice about it, but recently realized it’s a Jewish ritual.(It was a light slap don’t worry!) Most people would probably think, ‘what a relief to joke about the situation’ but I remember that annoyed me even more. After working for Intimina, I might be too comfortable talking about my period at this point….I’ve come a long way.
Daniela
From: Spain
First Period: 13
I was “ready”, watched the SexED video in school and I knew what was coming… but I wasn’t prepared to receive my period, in summer, wearing white shorts. I just went to pee when i saw my pants and flipped! I shut myself in the bathroom, all shaky, and yelled for my mom. She gave me a pad and cried of happiness (and started giving phone calls to everyone).
Then is when i learned that blood goes away with cold water – and that you could receive presents on your first period, yay!
Ana
From: USA
First Period: 11
I thought I was dying! I didn’t tell my mom – just freaked out and hid my shorts in the laundry. Obviously she found the stained laundry. My mom is Russian and I don’t think she has ever talked to me about my period. She just gave me pads and let me read the instructions to figure it out on my own.
Kendra
From: Canada
First Period: 13.5
After moving into my older sister’s room when I was 11, I found a book on puberty that my mum ‘suggested I should probably read’ and thus began impatiently waiting for my period quite early. I didn’t end up getting it until I was in 7th grade (which was still elementary school in Canada, so I was terrified of someone catching me with a bulky pad in the bathrooms). Even though I knew what it was, I got super emotional and was crying when I told my mum, who didn’t know why I was being so dramatic – she told me to ‘buck up!’ Oddly, I only got the one that year, and then it was maybe 6 more months when I was safely in high school that I REALLY got my period – and discovered the horrors of cramping and leaking.
Jenna
From: USA
First Period: 14
All my friends started their periods not long after that oh-so-embarrassing week in 5th grade where we learned about the joys of puberty, but I was a bit of a late bloomer. After a few years of hearing about everyone else’s cramps, PMS, and favorite brand of tampons, I was desperate to get mine and finally “join the club.” In preparation for the big day, I stole a pad from my sister’s stash and carried it around in the tiny zipper pocket of my backpack for way longer than was sanitary… just in case. When my first period finally arrived, I was excited in a way that I now find amusing – I think I must have told every girl at school the good news.
Ainsley
From: Canada
First Period: 12
I was the second person in my group of friends to get it so everyone was jealous. I was fairly prepared but I was really embarrassed because I overheard my mum telling my dad that I had gotten ‘it’ and he absolutely didn’t want to hear about it. Also, I was too scared to use anything but pads for my first 2 years, meaning I had to stop my lifeguard training, which I’m still upset about.
Sarah
From: Australia
First Period: 10
I remember being relieved when I got my first period. I was an anxious kid and I’d been feeling off all day, my best friend was over and suddenly I hated her plus I had a sore stomach and headache, I thought maybe I was dying. So late in the afternoon when I sat down on the toilet and saw red I felt relief.
I’d long known about periods because in Australia tampons came in little boxes with Liberty print-like floral patterns. I’d been obsessed with my mum’s tampon boxes for years and she’d never shied away from telling me what tampons were. In fact, she’s gotten a call from my kindergarten teacher one year after I’d told the entire class about the ‘tampons’ in the aquarium (they were tadpoles).
My mum showed me how to use a pad (to my great disappointment; I was hoping to get my own tampon box straight away). My mum left me in the bathroom and when I came out she was on the phone to my dad’s secretary telling her I had my period and my dad needed to call back ASAP. I remember being very aware in that moment of something changing… it was worthy of urgent phone call, I felt embarrassed adults were talking about my body and suddenly I wasn’t so sure that periods were just about pretty boxes.
Thalia
From: Colombia
First Period: Around 13
I was lucky enough to get my first period when I was at home – and to share the bathroom with my older sister, which meant I had everything I needed on hand. My school had prepared me for this moment over and over, so I am happy to say it went smoothly and without panic. To be honest, the thing I remember the most is my mom hugging me when I told her.
Please note that advice offered by Intimina may not be relevant to your individual case. For specific concerns regarding your health, always consult your physician or other licensed medical practitioners.
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menarche
Lane Baumeister is an internationally-based Canadian writer with several years’ experience creating educational and entertaining articles that discuss intimate health and sexual well-being. When not waxing profound about menstruation, she devotes herself to enjoying extremely good food and equally bad movies.
my first period was literatly: go to the bathroom and see sooo much brown and red, panic and freak out, run and tell my older sis, THEN tell my mom but pretending that i didnt know what it was,then 20 minutes later my mom calls me upstairs to my room and gives me a bunch of Stayfree pads, me changing my pads every 2 minutes because whenever a single drop of blood came on my pad i would change, and then cue the exciting text message to my friend saying i got my period. 🙂
When i first got my period I hadn’t been told what it was so I was totally confused but not scared? then when I told my ma she looked at me smiled hit my arm (softly) and said “I knew you would get it soon” I was 10?
So I was in grade 6 when it all happened. I had simply asked my teacher if I could got to the toilet and she said yes so within seconds I was just minding my own business and walking to the bathroom. When I eventually got into a toilet stall I looked down at my underwear and yes their was a big brown spot on my underwear I was terrified at the time.I got back to my classroom and asked if I could go to sick bay because I wasn’t feeling well, but my teacher said you don’t look sick so sit back down. As my teacher started the lesson I started crying so when everyone got to work the teacher calmly took me out and made me explain what happened. So I explained that I got my period and I really need to go home. So my teacher gave me a sick bay pass and to this day whenever I see her at the shops I’m too embarrassed to even look at her.
I got it while I was in class too!! I was wearing a panty liner just in case, because I had cramps and was nervous about it.Long story short I leaked a little bit and my whole zoom class saw it!! ?
Oh Eva, I’m so sorry! Leaks happen to the very best of us, so at least you’re in very good company 🙂
I was 13 when I got it and I had been given a little bag of pads a year before. I didn’t know much about periods but I was super uncomfortable and scared. I didn’t tell my mum all day. I had been being weird and my parents were worried and thought I was sick then i finally told my mum. My advice for all girls is tell your mum right away the more you procrastinate the scarier it seems. I don’t even remember why I was worried my mum is really calm about this sort of stuff.
so i was 12 and so prepared like my parents told me ans school and sone research ofc so yeah it was in summer when I woke up with a terrible cramp so i went to the toilet and i saw that spot i was so happy but sicki told my mom she hugged me and said congrats and I told my dad he huggedme and the next day he but me a necklace
so I was 13 and so prepared (my parents, school, researchs) so it was summer i woke up with a terribly cramp i went to the toilet pulled down my underwear and bam there was a huge stain of blood so i got really happy i told my mom she hugged my and said congrats and gave me tampons and oad then i told my dad he got happy and kissed my cheek and said congrats young lady and the next day he bought me necklace
Oh what a lovely story Liana!
Good advice
I was at my friend house. Her nose was bleeding like two days before, and in the morning after the breakfast I noticed some Red staik on the place where I have sat down. So I rushed to the bathroom and there it was. My whole under wear Red. (I goolged it, and the cause of having heavy first periods are, cause you didn’t ovulate) my mum have water for my periods (Finland average age of first periods is 11) so I water for my 6 months until I was able to tell her? I was just 12,and the Last one of my class girls to get.
I was having a heart-felt conversation with my mom and sister in law (we’re all really close). I realised that it was 3:00 am and I had school tomorrow. I went upstairs and used the bathroom as I was wiping myself I saw a pinkish-red liquid on the toilet paper. It was so little that I thought it was probably a cut. I woke up the next morning went to the bathroom and had dried up blood on my vagina. That when I knew. I quickly went to my mom’s bathroom to grab a pad and the I told my mom and she was really supportive and I got to go shopping with her 😀
I grew up in a family that’s super comfortable about things like periods, so I found out about them very early. I just couldn’t wait to get mine and be a “grownup” when I was 10-11. Not knowing the drawbacks, I was downright desperate. I finally got it when I was 12 and realised it was more than I bargained for right away. I’m much more shy than the rest of the family, so I tried to hide it for as long as I could. A few months passed when my mum found out about it and I was so embarrassed! Up to this day I usually treat periods as a very personal business and avoid talking about it as much as possible. As an adult, I deeply regret wanting to have them, realising how painful, uncomfortable and gross they are.
I just got my period.I’m 10 years old,and I got it while on a walk with my best friend.I am embarrassed because my 17 year old brother knows that I am on my period.it’s scary.I HAVE BLOOD DRIPPING FROM MY VAGINA!!!!???
Congratulations Ava! I know it can feel a bit awkward at first (especially if you have immature brothers) but at same point he (and you) will get used to the idea that a huge portion of the world’s population is on their period all at the very same btime. That always makes me feel less alone when I’m having a bad period day – I hope it helps you too!
It did thanks!! Love this site!
I was 11 years old when I got it. I was in the middle of class when we were LEARNING ABOUT THEM. * What a coinsidence!* I felt cramps and talked privatly to my teacher she let me take a walk down the halls. When I came back I sat in my seat with a big fat “SQUISH” and everyone though I farted and started laughing. I looked down and saw my pants wet. I didn’t want to reveal myself to the class so I just stood up and said: “I GOT MY PERIOD” and rushed to the boys bathroom without looking I pulled down my pants (And underwear) before I went into the stall at least 3 boys and my crush were looking at my but mostly my vagina and they whispered: “Thats what it looks like??? Why is it so hairy???” I blushed pulled up my pants and underwear and ran to the girls washroom and cried until this nice girl helped me. She have me a pack of pads and hugged me. But ever so sadly she then knew what my vagina looked like. It was the WORST DAY OF MY LIFE.
My first period was when i was 12. so i was on a trip to yellowstone and we finally got to a hotel. and i had to go to the bathroom really bad. then i looked down and saw a big red stain on my underwear. then i peeked my head out of the bathroom door and asked my mom to come here. and told her i got my period. ans she asked if i brought my emergency bag. and i said yes and i felt so grown up for the rest of that night. and i also kept checking my pad every 2 minutes. but yeah thats how it happenedļ
I got my first period when I was playing video games with my older brother, my mom was at the store and my dad was at work. We were playing then I had to go to the bathroom so I paused the game and went to the bathroom. I pull down my underwear and there is a red stain. I scream not knowing what is happening! (I never got the talk yet and I was 10) so my brother came in and was shocked at first but asked his girlfriend and she came over helped me, I was scared and up to this day, I still don’t like periods.
I got my first period when I was 8.5! Very Young. Now I’m 9.5 and I have told 2 of my best friends who know about it. I had just learned the month before what a period was kind of. But I just thought I had got a cut and I only thought period once. Since it was covid my 3rd grader teacher invited me and 2 other girls to come in her classroom 2 days a week. So I was in my class and then I needed to go to the bathroom. Well there it was I saw blood and I was freaking out because I didn’t really know what was going on so through out the day I kept asking to use the restroom LOL. Then I didn’t tell my mom until the next day and she explained it and bought my pads. But then 3 months later I got it in class again and my mom had to tell my teacher I was so nervous cause I’m d\so young.
I got my first period over the summer when I had just turned 13. for several years, I was prepared to take it on (although I only had a few pads and tiny pant liners). I went to a baseball game and when I got home, there was brown in my undies. I thought it was a little poo, but a small part of me said “Its your period.”. The morning after, there was more brown in my underpants. That day, I was wearing a light pink dress and my mother and I went out to eat. Before we left, I decided to put one of those tiny liners on. The whole time at lunch I felt uncomfortable and wet. when we got home, my mother dropped me off at home and then I went to the bathroom. My undies looked like a murder seen. I ran to my room, grabbed a pad, put it on, and then called her, a little shaky. She was totally surprised and freaked out even though I was calm. Thank goodness my older brothers were away at camp and it was just me, my father, my mother, and 3 year-old sister at home. I don’t think I could have hidden it from them at all.
Wow Emma! That’s so early. Most girls do not start at age 8. How do you feel now? How old are you now?(if you don’t mind me asking:))
Also Emma, you write really well for a 9 year old. I have a 9 year old brother and he does not write as well as you, lol… Good job 😊
Rose
Cape town
In my 6-7 years l would pretend as l did not know what a pad was and l asked my mom what it was in front of my dad and big bro .he told me to later ask mom what it was in private .the day l started l panicked but shouted for my mom from the bathroom and every one came asking what was and l swept my mom away from the crowd and it was sorted
Hi Dennis,
thank you for sharing your story. This was early and it wasn’t easy for you. But you made it!
Great job!
i was 11 years old and when i got my period i didn’t know for 2 day until my mom was told me
i know it’s crazy
I remember my first period was on April 27, 2021 on a Tuesday morning during Remote Learning. I was 12 years old and now I’m 13. I heard my mom telling my brother and my dad and I didn’t want them to know. So, every time I get my period my brother calls me period girl which is really annoying. I still don’t use tampons yet and I should because I live right near the beach and I go there a lot during the Summer and I love swimming. But, when I do get my period every month I usually stay home and miss school because I get bad cramps. Some days, I do go to school and then right before lunch I start to get cramps and then I have to go to lunch and when I am there I get overwhelmed and start crying. Then, I go to the nurse and usually go home. Which, doesn’t help is that I have Sensory Processing Disorder which makes it harder for me to function. I use Stayfree pads which are my favorite brand of pads. I wear them everyday even when I’m not on my period I just like being safe. My mom just thinks it’s weird. I also bring pads everywhere I go so I have the things I need.
So I got my first period when I was 11. It was the first day of year 5 and i felt fine that day. I went to the bathroom at after school care and thought that I had pooped my pants because they had brown on them! When I got home I ran upstairs to change in the bathroom so that no one would see it. I was wiping and realised there was something red on the toilet paper! I instantly shouted out for my mum and she came to help me. I am so grateful that she looked after me! It’s been four months now and lots of my friends know! In fact I just finished my fourth one!
It’s ok to feel scared about your period but remember so many other girls are going through it and your not alone. Make sure you tell a trusted female adult (like your mum) so that she can help you. You will fell worst if you don’t tell anyone!
My first period started 3 days ago, I woke up and needed to pee. My 16 yo older bro was in there and I needed to go soo bad so I told him to hurry up, he did I went in all good (still in my pj’s) noticed red, all over my thighs, my vagina, pj pants and underwear. Rushing around the place looking for clean underwear, finally found some. Then the rush to find pads, I found some and then came the cramps, then the throwing up and finally the yucky gut. Fast forward to today my brother asked me to lift somthing heavy and came out with a story.
“My uterus: hey i put up wallpaper for the baby
my body: we aren’t having a baby
my uterus: ALL THESE FALSE HOPES ARE ANNOYING.
my body: ok calm down
my uterus: *violently pulls down all the wallpaper*”
And that is my first period story.
Age:12
Great story, Brianna! 🙂
We hope more girls will read it to learn how to listen to their bodies and stay calm.
Have an amazing day!
Eve
It all started 2 days ago when I was at a compotion my parents said I was acting moody all day I just rolled it off my shoulders and the next morning in the hotel and saw “it” at first I was like OMG! luckily my mom was going to get ice so I cleaned my self up and was sitting on my bed when she came back. How did you guys telll your parents I told her that Huston I think we have a problem (like from nasa) dealing with a nerd hear lol she ran over to my friends mom to ask for pads but she didn’t have any. Once we got some the day went on doing toristy stuff and I was walking like a penguin lol
Hi Eve,
thank you for reaching out. This was a great “First-period story” 🙂 Thank you for sharing. It will help other girls for sure.
Have a great day!
I am 12 and a half years old and I got my first period two weeks ago. I weren’t new to the subject, my older sister had prepared me for it since I was ten and had given me pads that she didn’t want anymore.
A few days before it happened I had really bad cramps and was in bed rolling aroung for half of the day. I did not think much of it though.
Then it happened on the 9th of February 2023 at three pm ( luckily I was at home. ) I went to the loo just to go wee and when I looked down at my undies there was blood. It was not heavy but still.. I then wiped and there was a red-pink fluid on the toilet paper. I was so excited because I was the last one of all my friend to have got it. I felt all grown up and proud of myself ( not scared or panicky at all )
Any ways I went to my bed room, collected a pad, went back to the bathroom and then put the pad on my undies. Later on I eventually told my elder sister and my mom. My mom said “now you’re a women! Congratulations! Lets go celabrate and have a milkshake.” I personally can’t wait for my next period, hopefully it does not come with more cramps. I would advise to talk about it and not keep things to your self, after all it happens to all girls / women! So it is nothing to be ashamed of, it is rather something to be excited of! Have a great day!
Yea hahaha i got my first period when i was 17! Pretty late i know. I was with my boyfriend and he had to tell me🤭
I just got mine last month on august 17 2023 but I knew what it was because of school/reasearch. This is my story:
That morning I had seen blood (only like two drops) on my underwear and somehow I thought that IT WaS My SIsTeRs FRom WhEn sHe GoT hERs (she is 15)! So anyways I changed them and went to school (this was the second day). The first few classes went by without a hitch and honestly I had forgotten about what happened that morning… until science class. In class I had to go to the bathroom and my MALE teacher said I could go. When I was in the bathroom I looked down and my whole panties and shorts where soaked in blood and in that moment I was just like oh :/ I’m dumb 😂. I wear uniforms with dark blue skirts and had on navy undershorts but when athletics would come around I was screwed (the blood didn’t get on my skirt at all I’m very lucky). At the time I only saw one option, tough out the rest of the class (for around an hour) and go to the nurse during recess. So I toughed out the rest of class feeling very uncomfortable and stiff meanwhile I was thinking on who I should get to take me to the nurse since we have to have a Buddy to go to the nurse unless a teacher takes you and I did NOT want to do that! When recess roles around I realized there was only one good option, my oldest friend (I will not use her name for privacy reasons so let’s just call her kellie). So kellie had to go to the bathroom and I went with her she probably thought I was being weird ngl but once I told her we had a fair share of giggles but she was really supportive. (keep In mind that I was like the second person to get their period in my grade and Kellie didn’t have hers) She took me to the nurse (who wasn’t there) then to to the sports injury nurse (also not there) and waited with me. When we finally realized that they weren’t coming kellie and I went to my most trusted woman adult in the school, our front desk person Mrs. snow (again not her real name). Mrs. snow is around 60 ish. When I informed her about the situation she allowed me to use the school phone to call home (I used this phone a loooooot). The only problem my mom wasn’t picking up 😩 (I later learned she was on a flight back home from work in Colorado, my parents work for the music business so Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, etc… so they travel a bunch)! I wanted to tell my dad in person so he wasn’t an option and my sister Gem (again not her real name) is very private and was also at school so she wasn’t an option. So I called Lucy (not real name) who is my family’s PA (personal assistant) who helps with picking us up from school and all that. I really trust Lucy and told her (albeit very quietly because our male dean of students’ office was right next to me) she told me she was coming right away to pick me up she is the BEST! After that Kellie was FINALLY satisfied with my care and allowed me to walk her to lunch after I packed up. I told her to tell people what happened if they asked, but ONLY if they asked, why I left. And who would of thought that two students (one who already had her period) came up to me and Kellie that very moment to ask why I left. I told them that “y’all can ask Kellie” and walked off feeling like a woman.
Well I hope you liked my story BTW I’m 11 and live in Texas and was overall really happy about this! I wasn’t expecting it to come this early because my sis and mom both got theirs when they were about 13-14. Haven’t gotten the second one yet but my mom has me all set with pads and a change of shorts/undies for when it happens and I feel super ready for the rest of my life, I love the woman that surround me! And if anyone reading this hasn’t gotten their period yet I have a few tips! Don’t feel scared! It’s a little freaky at first but just own it! This happens to EVERY girl during their lifetime don’t be afraid to ask help from a teacher/peer. (Also you might want to make a little emergency bag just in case so you have a change of clothing if your underwear gets soaked). But most of all make sure you have someone you can go to when ever this happens so you don’t feel alone. And this is for all the boyfriends and dads and brothers out there who think that it is “gross” to have a period. Y’all mind your own business and help your girlfriend/daughter/sister when they are on their period! And this is for the moms, educate your children on this stuff so they aren’t like “I’m dying” when they get their period! Don’t rely upon the school to do your job (though the school having the ‘talk’ is much appreciated)! Lastly this is for every parent, DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD THINK THAT PERIODS SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED AT ALL! (though I do realize when you shouldn’t and should talk about it).
That’s all for today I hope y’all have a wonderful day (or night)! And for the girlies I hope y’all have a good first period ;)!
LOL!Periods are beutiful God giften nature to all females
Before my first had my periods i knew a bit about them from my older sister and mum and i had all the supplies because my mum thought i might have them soon! I was 12 when I started my period and I woke up and went to the toilet and there was a whole lot of blood in my pants. (I thought I was prepared but I nearly had a heart attack 😅). I went and told my mum straight away and I was so glad because she supported me through it. ADVISE: Always tell a female adult or someone that has periods around you that you have them so that you can be supported!