02/04/2026
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we, as women, are introduced to our cycles and what that experience teaches us about our bodies. For many of us, it wasn’t something that was celebrated or even openly spoken about… and that has stayed with me ❤️
I was 15 when I experienced my first bleed, much later than all my friends. It reached a point where what should have been a natural unfolding instead became a quiet source of anxiety. I was made to feel that something might be wrong with me, that perhaps my body was failing me, that infertility could be looming before I had even begun womanhood.
So when I woke one morning and discovered, during my shower, that I had finally started my first period, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. This was a moment I had waited years for. A quiet initiation into womanhood. And yet, there was no celebration. No acknowledgment of the threshold I had crossed. I don’t even think I told anyone for quite some time. I simply stuck a pad to my knickers and went about my day, as though nothing sacred had occurred.
While my experience may not be universal, I do believe it reflects a broader cultural discomfort. We are still, as a society, remarkably quiet about menstruation. About its significance, its rhythms, and its deep connection to a woman’s overall health and wellbeing.
Menstrual health is often dismissed or minimised. We see countless women and young girls navigating conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, and debilitating menstrual pain, only to be told their suffering is “normal,” handed pain relief, and sent on their way. This normalisation of discomfort creates a dangerous disconnect between women and their bodies. Pain is not a nuisance to be silenced, it is communication. It is the body asking to be heard.
I would like to see that narrative change.
I would like to see a return to honouring the menarche ❤️the first bleed ❤️ as a rite of passage. A moment that is acknowledged, celebrated, and held with reverence. Because when a young girl understands from the very beginning that her cycle is not something to hide or endure, but something to listen to and work with, she enters womanhood with a sense of empowerment rather than shame.
This begins with conversation.
Open, honest, and ongoing conversations between mothers and daughters, and within communities of women, about menstruation, perimenopause, and menopause are essential. These are not isolated events, but phases within a continuous cycle that spans a woman’s entire life. When we speak openly about these transitions, we normalise them. We remove fear. We create space for education, support, and shared wisdom.
There is also profound value in teaching young girls to track their cycles from the very beginning. Understanding the phases of the menstrual cycle; the menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases, can offer insight into energy levels, emotional patterns, cognitive function, and physical wellbeing. A cycle is not just about bleeding; it is a dynamic, hormonal rhythm that influences nearly every system in the body.
For example, during the follicular phase, rising oestrogen can support creativity, motivation, and learning. Ovulation often brings increased confidence, communication, and connection. The luteal phase may invite introspection and discernment, while the menstrual phase itself is a time for rest, reflection, and renewal. When a young woman understands these shifts, she can begin to align her life with her biology, rather than constantly pushing against it.
Lifestyle practices can also be introduced in an age-appropriate and supportive way. Nutrition, rest, movement, and even the timing of activities can all be adapted to support hormonal balance. Emerging conversations around practices such as cycle syncing, including how eating patterns or gentle fasting may align with different phases. This can offer additional tools for regulation when approached mindfully and without rigidity.
We must also acknowledge the generational influences that shape menstrual health. The use of hormonal contraception, environmental exposures, stress patterns, and inherited beliefs around the body can all ripple through family lines. By bringing awareness to this, we create an opportunity not for blame, but for healing. Modalities such as homeopathy, herbal medicine, and other holistic approaches may offer gentle support for the body as it seeks to restore balance and regulate itself.
But above all, what is most needed is a shift in perspective.
Menstruation is not an inconvenience. It is not something to be hidden, suppressed, or endured in silence. It is a vital sign of health. It is a cyclical intelligence that, when honoured, can guide a woman through every stage of her life.
Imagine a world where a young girl’s first bleed is met with warmth, guidance, and celebration. Where she is taught to trust her body, to understand its rhythms, and to advocate for her health. Where pain is investigated, not dismissed. Where the wisdom of women is shared across generations, not lost in silence.
This is the world I would like to help create.
A world where we remember that the menstrual cycle is not just biological, it is deeply personal, profoundly powerful, and worthy of reverence ❤️
