I still remember the day I got my period – I was supposed to go to the pool with a school friend but because I had to wear a big pad I couldn’t go. I was so upset, I cried on my parents bed all afternoon. I didn’t want my friend to know so I told her I was unwell. This was just the first of many lies and excuses to come and even today, as a 36 year old, I feel the need to discreetly hide tampons and make excuses for cancelling plans if I have bad cramps – completely mortified that someone might actually see that I’m a woman.