Zahra Shahtahmasebi never really thought about how her Muslim faith views periods. When her’s first arrived she found herself feeling embarrassed, secretive and desperate not to make a fuss. But for Arwa Osman, it was quite the opposite.

“This was the time where I started wearing a hijab,” says Arwa. “So that moment was a big thing for me. I didn’t feel ashamed of it because I felt that it was celebrated by Islam, it was a happy moment.” 

First Blood is a series where women from different backgrounds revisit the arrival of their first period, and share what they’ve realised since.

In partnership with Libra.