My family and I waited anxiously for my first period, or menarche, if you will, as it meant I’m “normal”, or as normal as I could be. 

10-year-old-me, about a year before we discovered I had hyperthyroidism

Quick background, I had hyperthyroidism, and when the treatments didn’t work, I underwent the RAI or Radioactive Iodine procedure and now I have hypothyroidism. 

13-year-old me, about a year with hypothyroidism

So, back to my puberty story. 

Since I got the RAI procedure before my first menstrual period, there were concerns that my puberty might be affected. It wasn’t, as I bled for the first time in May 2010, and have not missed one, ever. 

I wish that was all, and we lived happily ever after, but that’s not the case. 

Due to my hormonal issues, I always made it a point to keep myself in check. My family always made it a point to check on me every now and then, and, coming from a family in the medical field, discuss it from time to time. 

I thought that was normal, but when I started living alone, apparently it wasn’t. 

A study in 2010 said that most teens get their sexual education from friends (74.9%) and media (57.0%)*. As I grew older, this became my truth as I discovered that what I knew about my own body and how it works is not all there is. There is so much more to know and understand than a couple of hormone levels that I needed to keep in check. 

I met my first boyfriend during our JS Prom

When I had my first serious boyfriend, I didn’t get “the talk” from my grandmother, but I did get the “learn from your parents and don’t make the same mistake talk”, and the “You’re smart, be safe statement” from my father. When I had my first OB-Gyne visit, I got weird looks, and the initial judgemental questions from the doctor, until I explained I was there because of extreme dysmenorrhea and I can no longer afford absences from work. When I bought the medicine prescribed to me at a local drugstore, the pharmacist looked at me twice before ringing up my order. When somehow my friends saw that I was taking pills, they snickered and asked if I was having fun. 

The only one who was comfortable talking about sexual health was my best friend, and we were both very confused. We weren’t sure of exactly what to believe, and what risks we may have been taking by following contradicting statements online. As girls from a Catholic school, the only things we were sure of was “You don’t talk about it.” and “You don’t do it.”.

I only got myself figured out by 24. I now have an OB-Gyne that I completely trust and feel 101% comfortable with, taking the correct pills for my severe dysmenorrhea, found friends that are non-judgemental and provide help when needed, and I can finally talk to my family about sex and everything that comes it without getting shamed for it. 

Shout out to my PH Influencers <3

Shout out to my amazing BFFs <3

One of the best resources that I have found is RH Care Info, The Philippines' Reproductive Health Care Information Site. It is an interactive website aiming to educated and support everyone, especially the youth, about how important it is to be informed and how every individual has the right to make their own choices about their sexual and reproductive health. 

I browsed through their site and I am amazed at how easy it is to navigate and find exactly what I was looking for. The layout is also very friendly and not blatantly about sex ed. How I wish this was available during the times when I was confused and trying to find answers without being scared into thinking I had cancer or that I wasn’t normal. 

Here's how to use the Health Facility Locator on the website:

1. Pull the website or enter https://rh-care.info/providers/ in the address bar.

2. Fill up the required details, most especially your location.

3. Check your available clinics from the map or the list generated, and feel free to make your appointments through the provided contact details