A note on growing up
Of girls and butterflies
I still remember how shocked I had been when I first read about the lifecycle of a butterfly, back in first grade. It had taken me a few days to wrap my head around the fact that something which appeared as unusual as a chrysalis could in turn give rise to a butterfly. The caterpillars, I had been used to them. The chrysalises, however, were something I had seen for the first time in those textbooks. I had expected the change from a caterpillar to a butterfly to be something magical, something fantastical, and so I had been disappointed by the chrysalises.
Eleven years later, now perhaps I like the chrysalises just as much as the butterflies. They represent the stage of change, of growth, and what can be more magical? In this stage, the butterfly sheds away its old form and emerges as a beautiful wonder of nature. In humans, the process of puberty is something similar, and in girls, one of the most significant milestones of the onset of puberty is menstruation. At this stage, our bodies grow gradually into adulthood, taking their time to mature. One of our main reproductive organs, the uterus, in particular, as it begins to mature, periodically sheds away its unused uterine lining (which is where the fertilized eggs implant and later on develop into foetuses) to prepare our bodies for future chances of pregnancy. And even after we enter our adult years, it keeps doing the same to ensure proper functioning. Menstruation is nothing but the name given to this natural cyclic process.
Knowing all this, one might wonder: if it is such a necessary and normal function, why do we talk so little about it? Why do we often seem to avoid it? Humans are, naturally, quite afraid of change.
We all love the butterflies, but speak rarely of the chrysalises.
Similarly, we often see the signs of growth and change as something to hide. Something to avoid, to be ashamed of. However, these conceptions are in no way truthful. Change is not something to be ashamed of, growth is not something to hide. In fact, it is a thing to be embraced, to be celebrated. It indicates the transition between different stages of life, and as such, it should be anticipated, not dreaded (In fact, in case of too much delay in the start of menstruation, it is advisable to see a gynaecologist). Menstrual blood is one of the few sorts of human blood that do not flow due to violence or disease, so it is nonsensical to treat it as impure.
All this said, more often than not, menstruation leads to some of the main hassles for most girls and women. During menstruation, our bodies do not feel too comfortable. Most have abdominal cramps (which range from light to severe, depending on the individual), and for some, the cramps might even be unbearable. Sometimes it might make us drowsy, sometimes it causes mild or severe headaches, sometimes it is a reason for an upset stomach. All these symptoms, however, are generally normal, though it is recommended to visit a gynaecologist in case any symptoms reach extreme levels. It is an unfortunate (and frankly, quite irritating), but natural side effect of menstruation. It is nothing to be feared, as mild discomfort is expected. Severe levels of pain or problems, however, must be checked by gynaecologists.
Another one of the troubles associated with menstruation, is the problem of menstrual safety. Often due to both the fear of clothes getting stained, and the shame of those stains being seen in public, girls and women are forced to limit their own movements, to avoid doing tasks they enjoy. They also run a risk of infections and illnesses, due to the lack of access to menstrual safety measures, which may even be fatal.
Here, menstrual products, which refer to the sanitary supplies, such as sanitary pads and reusable cloth, are very much helpful. Each sanitary product has a different method of usage. All our bodies being different and unique, it is also true that different types of sanitary supplies suit the needs different bodies better. Menstrual Health Awareness programmes help us understand these types better, thus allowing us to make educated decisions on the matter of sanitary supplies. It should also be noted that the access to clean water, private spaces and safe disposal of sanitary products, is a major part of menstrual safety as well.
Thus, as we can see, periods, far from being something to be ashamed of, are a normal part of a girl’s life. It is not something to hide from one’s father or mother. In fact, in my case, when I have the worst cramps, my parents become my greatest support. And so we conclude that in a society where girls can finally speak and know of the exact happenings in their body without any stigma, they shall truly be able to fly as freely as the butterflies emerging from chrysalises.
— Oishani
