Women Share Brilliantly Honest Stories Of Their First Periods To Tackle Social Taboos Around Menstruation | HuffPost Life

These Women Want To Tell You About Their First Period

Rachel Moss— The Huffington Post UK

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The majority of women have periods, and, slowly but surely, it seems we're finally learning to talk about them without blushing.

In the above advert, created by underwear brand Dear Kate, a group of 20 women share brilliantly honest stories of their "first time".

"It was definitely pink, it wasn't red like it is now, and I thought 'how did melted candy get into my underwear'," one laughs.

The women reveal the unusual ways they dealt with their period before they discovered tampons and sanitary pads, with some admitting to stuffing socks and kitchen roll in their knickers.

"I went to the grocery store and stole a pack on tampons," one admits. "But I didn't know about tampons so they were super plus!"

SEE ALSO:
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The aim of the advert is to tackle the taboo of talking about periods. After all, periods are natural, and women should't be ashamed of having them.

"Our goal with the film is to reframe the moment of getting your period so it's just as talked about and has just as much cachet as the time you first had sex, if not more," the video description reads.

Dear Kate's video comes after a photo showing menstruation by artist Rupi Kaur was removed from Instagram last month.

The image was later restored to Instagram with a full apology and it seems to have inspired more women to join the campaign to normalise periods.

We say, about bloody time.

Nicknames For Periods

(01 of13)

What it sounds like: A really bad horror film about a group of teens who drive their car out into the woods and get haunted by a ghost.
But what you're actually referencing: There are cramps, and yes, blood to deal with, but getting your period isn't a curse of any sort — it's part of being a woman of a certain age. Periods involve our ovaries releasing eggs, while hormonal changes prepare our uteruses for pregnancy. See ... not so scary.

(02 of13)

What it sounds like: A really cool and urban aunt who likes to listen to hip hop and buy vinyl records
But what you're actually referencing: Aunt Flo only visits once a month (a 28-day cycle to be exact). She is kind of uncomfortable, annoying and her conversations never stops flowing...

(03 of13)

What it sounds like: Your really really really old aunt who has a kind soul.
But what you're actually referencing: Similar to her sister Aunt Flo, Aunt Rose seems to be the nicer of the two: Because we all know things like rose petals and rose bushes resemble menstruation.

(04 of13)

What it sounds like: Like you have a giant wound and you can't stop bleeding. Ever.
But what you're actually referencing: You're being pretty literal here, but yes, a period means you're bleeding from your vagina.

(05 of13)

What it sounds like: A really trendy urban cafe.
But what you're actually referencing: The dot/dots that appear on your liner, pad and sometimes on your bed sheets and underwear. Also, dot = period.

(06 of13)

What it sounds like: Not just any friend, but a really annoying friend you don't like.
But what you're actually referencing: Sometimes we try to make the best of what life throws at us by staying positive and remembering our periods can be our friends.

(07 of13)

What it sounds like: When the plumbing went wrong ... for a week.
But what you're actually referencing: Again, the leak refers the constant flow of blood coming out of your body. We also assume people are referring to leaks they get on their pants or bedsheets. The worst.

(08 of13)

What it sounds like: Time of the month sounds like a hush-hush thing that happens to your body that only you and members of a secret club understand.
But what you're actually referencing: TOTM refers to time of the month when your period is taking place — just so we're all on the same page.

(09 of13)

What it sounds like: A newsletter or a magazine that comes out once a month
But what you're actually referencing: To add emphasis that everything is cool with your flow and your period only happens once a month.

(10 of13)

What it sounds like: Teenage slang
But what you're actually referencing: PMS actually stands for premenstrual syndrome, and isn't a synonym for your period at all.

(11 of13)

What it sounds like: A dirty old cloth you use to wash your dishes and floor
But what you're actually referencing: The rag is closely related to the pad or tampon we wear during periods... and how uncomfortable it is. It's also an unfortunate visual.

(12 of13)

What it sounds like:This river in China!
But what you're actually referencing: We're not sure with the obsession of words like "river," "water" or "flow" when it comes to describing your period. Our best guess? The assumption that when a woman is on her period, she is forever bleeding.

(13 of13)

What it sounds like: It sounds like what it is, the bleeding elevator from the 'The Shining.'
But what you're actually referencing: Periods are scary and women bleed and if you see/talk about this blood, something terrible will happen. Get a grip, people — the only thing frightening about periods is using phrases like "the shining" to describe it.

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