The menstrual cycle (or period) is a beautiful stage of life that every woman experiences. It can be quite scary at first but you are not alone.

I remember my first period. It was at the end of Grade 8. Early one morning at school I felt strange cramps in my stomach. I carried on as usual, waiting with my friends (who all had their period before) before class started and I told them about the weird feeling I was having. They were very supportive and even excited for me. They suspected that I was getting my first period. I just smiled and pretended that I was happy as well. But deep down I was freaking out. I was not prepared, physically and emotionally. I had no pad and at that time I didn’t even know how to use one. I felt so embarrassed, so I went to speak to one of the ladies at the front office. She explained to me that it is normal and gave me a pad. I rushed to the toilet. I sat on the closed toilet and stared at the pad for a considerable amount of time. Thoughts were plaguing my mind. I had remembered how my friends used to speak about their experiences with using a pad. It was simple enough to figure out. The sticky part goes onto the underwear and the wings go around it. So I did just that, and I was sorted.

The first few months were very difficult for me, to this day I am still not used to the unbearable cramps and other side effects. Occasionally on my period, I feel nauseous and have irritating headaches. But I don’t always get them, so I decided to keep track of them using an app that allowed me to note down my symptoms and record how long my cycle lasted and also when my next cycle would be. This proved to be incredibly helpful and also super easy to use. I still use that app which is free to install on any device. There are many different apps but the one I use is called My Tracker.

As I got older, I started to learn more about my body and what worked for me during my period. I never felt comfortable with anything other than pads. The sight of a tampon made me feel uneasy. But using a pad also had its issues. I saw that I was using way too many pads because of my heavy flow.. Someone advised that I should use a menstrual cup.

A menstrual cup (or a Diva Cup as some call it) is a small silicone device shaped like a cup with a small extension on the bottom. It is similar to a tampon as it is inserted into the vagina. It collects blood without any spills. And the best part is that you leave it in for up to 12 hours without having to change it. To change it you simply, take it out, drain it and rinse it in clean water. And then it is ready to be used again and again. The menstrual cup is reusable, can last years, and ultimately saves money because you never have to buy a pad or a tampon again.

One of the main concerns I had when I first got my menstrual cup was that it was going to be painful. The reality is, it’s not painful at all. You may feel a slight discomfort at first, but this is normal. The more you use it, the more your body gets used to it. A menstrual cup comes in many sizes, depending on age. It can be as small as xs (extra small), for teens, to large, for people over the age of 30 or those who have given birth.

There are many different menstrual cups that you can buy online, ranging from R150 to R500. This may seem expensive, but remember, you won’t need to buy a tampon or pad for at least 5 years. Please make sure to read the reviews of the cup you choose to buy and make sure it is made of high quality materials.

My early fears and the overwhelming sensations of those first days have now transformed into a deeper understanding of my body’s rhythms and needs.

To every person stepping into this phase of life, remember, it’s not just about managing your period; it’s about embracing it as a natural, empowering aspect of who you are. Whether you’re sketching out your symptoms in an app or deciding between a pad and a menstrual cup, each decision you make is a step towards understanding and loving your body more. So, take these tools, share your experiences, and let’s destigmatize menstruation together, one cycle at a time.

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