(( VaginaPagina ))

My first period was when I was 13, in January of 7th grade (I turned 13 in September). It happened on a Sunday, and my parents had a few friends over, because it was football season, and they were having a "Steelers party". (I'm from Pittsburgh, what can I say??) I felt something wet in my underwear and rushed to the bathroom. Lo and behold, it was blood. I was a little freaked out, but I had been waiting for it. I ran up to my room where I had some pads (my mom bought me some 'just in case'). I didn't want to tell my mom then becuase there were other people around. The next few days were pretty much hell. I had the worst cramps I've ever experienced in my life. The next day, Monday, was the day of my science class's "Mock Trial". So I had to dress up and wear a skirt. After I was 'questioned' I ran to the nurses office and told her I had just got my period, and she gave me a new pad, some pain pills, and a gel pack thing that you can heat up as a heating pad. I curled up on a plastic bench/cot and tried the best I could not to cry from the terrible pain. To this day, the first two days of my period are the absolute worst... terrible, terrible cramps, even on birth control. But anyway, as I was changing my pad, soemthing that I will always remember happened... I got a bright pink little piece of uteran lining on my hand. Anyway, that's not really that important, just something that has stuck in my mind.

I told my mom a few days later and she was a little hurt that I didn't tell her right away. She went out and bought me a really pretty gold bracelet, a book of "growing up" prayers (I'm not religious, but they were written by a woman for her daughter, and they are beautiful), and a book on Teen Sexuality. It was a little awkward, but it was one of those mother-daughter bonding moments.

I used pads up until college, which started almost a year ago. I never really wanted to use tampons because I am a self-professed former vagina-phobe :\ I really had this huge phobia of sticking ANYTHING up there (I still have a slight phobia, but I have for the most part gotten over it). I remember when I was maybe 14 or 15 my mom tried getting me to use tampons and I passed out on the toilet trying to use one because I was so scared, lol. Ah, well... I've grown up now, and tampons have made my life so much easier. I really don't mind them, though I doubt I will ever use a DivaCup. The idea just isn't too appealing to me, I guess. *shrug*

Sex while menstruating... I only do it in the shower to avoid the mess. As my boyfriend likes to say, "You're not a warrior until you've bloodied your sword." Hahaha. Hope that wasn't too inappropriate, I thought it was funny :P

Hope I helped! You can use my name if you want... I'm Stacey, 19, from PA :]