A Beautiful Sunday, An Unexpected Surprise
Lovia, a bright and beautiful 15-year-old, was enjoying her holiday and eagerly looking forward to resuming school to prepare for her Junior Secondary School exams.
But one beautiful Sunday morning, she woke up to an unexpected sight, a small pool of blood on her bed. At first, panic gripped her. She almost screamed for help, but then she realized… this was the famous, much-talked-about, and quietly anticipated menstrual blood. Taking a deep breath, she whispered to herself, “Hmmm… I am now a woman.”
Unprepared but Determined
It was an unusual day for such a milestone; no one ever predicts the exact moment their first period will arrive.
Lovia’s elder sisters were away, her mother was already at church, and there was no sanitary pad in the house. So, she skipped church, had her bath, and wore a tight pair of panties, hoping to manage the flow until her mother returned with a pad.
A Shift in Mindset
That quiet affirmation, I am now a woman, sparked a subtle but lasting change in Lovia’s mind.
She began to recall and apply every menstrual hygiene lesson she had learned in school. She became more cautious and mindful, not only about her period but also in her daily life. She paid more attention to her clothing, choosing comfortable underwear, and adjusted her sitting posture to avoid awkward positions.
Like many African parents often warned, she kept her distance from boys after hearing, “If you let a boy touch you, you’ll get pregnant.” At 15, that advice was enough to keep her cautious (and yes, it made her smile later). But later that Sunday, after placing a phone call to her elder sisters, things became clearer. With giggles and excitement, she told them, “It has finally happened.” They cheered her on, reassured her, and went further to give her a proper talk, not just about menstrual hygiene, but also about sex education. They explained what their parents’ warning really meant: that African parents of those days often failed to pass the message correctly. They didn’t literally mean that a handshake or simple friendship with a boy could cause pregnancy but that was how it sounded to young girls. It was their way of scaring them into caution, though without the full explanation, it left confusion. Her sisters made it plain: in today’s world, parents are more open. They now explain clearly how interactions with boys could lead to pregnancy through unprotected sex and not through ordinary friendship or casual contact. The conversation had shifted from fear to knowledge, giving girls like Lovia a balanced sense of awareness and confidence.
That call became another turning point. Lovia didn’t just feel like a woman because of the blood she saw that morning she began to feel empowered by the knowledge and support of the women around her.
Growing Into Herself
Lovia began embracing her femininity, reading widely, attending women’s development events, and even learning to manage her moods during her cycle. Menstruation didn’t just mark a biological change for her; it became a turning point for growth in every area mentally, hygienically, physically, spiritually, and morally.
By the time she was ready for her Junior Secondary School exams, Lovia was no longer just a student. She was a young woman who had learned, unlearned, and relearned what it meant to be confident and self-aware.
Mantra for Every Girl
Menstruation is not a reason to feel dirty or ashamed. It is a reason to evolve into the confident woman you are meant to be. Because menstruation isn’t just a phase, it stays with us until menopause, shaping us along the way.
