Emma’s story in one line
“It took me a couple of cycles to really get the hang of it, but now I’d never go back to pads or tampons.”
Starting my period at high school
No one really prepares you for your first period at high school. I was already stressing about sport, classes and just trying to fit in, so the last thing I needed was to worry about leaking through my school dress.
For ages, I used pads and tampons, and honestly, I hated them. Pads felt bulky and uncomfortable, and tampons always made me a bit nervous — especially at school, when you never know whether you are going to get a chance to change.
I started searching things like “how to stop leaking on your period at school” and “best period products for teens”, and I kept seeing people talk about menstrual discs. I had never heard of them before, but after reading a few reviews, I saw people my age saying they felt like a better fit for school, sport and busy days. That is how I found my mimi.
Trying a menstrual disc for the first time
I was super nervous the first time I tried the disc. I read the guides on the my mimi website — they were written in a way that made it feel less scary — and I watched a couple of TikToks too.
The first go was a bit awkward, and it definitely took me a few tries to get the angle right. But the disc was soft and the loop tab made removal feel less intimidating. I kept thinking it would be uncomfortable, but once it was in, I barely noticed it.
What surprised me most
What shocked me was how “normal” I felt. I was not stressed about my period for the first time ever. I was not checking my bag for spare pads or sneaking off to change a tampon between classes.
I wore the disc at school, through PE and even at basketball practice after. I felt like I could focus on what I was doing rather than constantly thinking about my period. Even sleeping felt easier because I was not waking up worried that I had leaked on the sheets.
I know a lot of people my age feel weird about trying something new with their period. For me, switching to my mimi made life feel easier. It is reusable, which my mum and I both care about, and I felt more confident during my period.
Would I recommend it?
Definitely. I wish I had known about menstrual discs sooner. If you are a teenager and you are sick of feeling embarrassed, uncomfortable or worried during your period, I would say give yourself time to learn it.
It took me a couple of cycles to really get the hang of it, but now I would not go back to pads or tampons.
