6 x why it is completely okay to be on your period

Everyone had it. All my girlfriends, classmates. My mother. Everyone. Except me. And I wanted it so badly too. To belong. To interestingly tell your gym teacher that you unfortunately couldn't participate today because you know what. I heard my gym teacher joking to the other girls that he was dealing with a world wonder here. “You are on your period every week, that's impressive.” Not that I didn't want to participate in gym class, of course I would still do that if I was ‘it’ too, but to drop it so quasi-nonchalantly, yes, that seemed like something to me.

In the magical middle compartment of my classmates' school bags were those brightly colored pouches containing their sanitary pads. Getting your period. I couldn't wait for it to happen. When the time came, I danced down the stairs to my mother. I don't think we went out to eat, but it was celebrated. And my aunt was also called. Now I was one of them. Child-off.

When I got it, the questions also came. Sleepover? Swimming? Horse riding? Gym class, of course. Could all that be done or was it suddenly difficult? By now I have been on my period many times and have a solution for every situation.

1. Sleepover

At some point, you know your body and exactly how much blood you lose on which day. I always used two sanitary pads when I went to sleep, sticking one behind the other. This way, you had the least chance of leaking.

2. Leaking

Speaking of. Leaking. It happens to all of us, especially when it’s inconvenient. Imagine you're staying somewhere and you've leaked. You don't necessarily have to tell that. Just take the sheets off the bed, make a bundle so you don't see The Stain, neatly place it by the washing machine, and just say that you took the bed off for a moment. They will find you a neat guest, throwing the whole bunch in the machine at once and never knowing you had an accident.

3. Swimming

The tampon is your best friend here. Don't go too wild with slides and other fun, because then it absorbs a lot of water and almost pops out. But otherwise: no problem.

4. No trash can in the toilet

I have quite a few gay friends who think of every detail, but not of a trash can in the toilet. Because you might find it a bit in your face to walk around with your rolled-up pad and deposit it in the kitchen trash can, I have the following tip: Libresse works with the Roll-press-go system. Roll your used pad in the wrapper of your new one, press it closed (the wrapper is odor- and leak-proof), and then throw it somewhere in a trash can.

5. No pads around

Ask another woman. There's a good chance she has something and it creates an instant bond. Why on earth would you be ashamed of that? We all have it, we all know it, we all understand it.

6. Then something else

Wear whatever you want. There is really no one zooming in on your butt to see if there might be a pad in there. Really no one. And if so, what does it matter? You are a woman and you do it. You can only be proud of that.