What Are Period Pants?

New period products are constantly popping up on the market. One of the most popular of these is the period panty, also known as period underwear.

These period pants are able to avoid leakage while also replacing single-use, disposable menstrual products such as tampons and pads.

The menstrual cycle

During a woman's reproductive years, her ovaries release an egg called an ovum about every 28 days. The ovum moves from the fallopian tubes to the uterus. In preparation for fertilization of the ovum, the uterus builds up a layer of blood, mucus, and tissue ready to grow a foetus. When fertilization fails, the uterus expels tissue lining, mucus, blood, and tiny egg (period blood) out through the small cervix opening to start the whole process over again. This may vary from a watery, bright red appearance to a thick, dark-coloured glob. It is what many women spend money for every month if they still need to switch to period pants.

Read more: Understanding the menstrual cycle.

What exactly are period pants?

Since the mid-1990s period underwear or menstrual underwear have been alternatives to more traditional menstrual care items. These re-useable and absorbable undergarments are to be worn in lieu of older methods, such as menstrual pads, liners and tampons.

Ideally, period underwear is used only during lighter flow days and as a backup for other methods (e.g. period cups and tampons) during heavier flow days.

Although they may look just like regular undergarments, they are constructed with additional layers and unique fabrics in the crotch area to absorb menstrual blood. They are leak-proof knickers with an incredibly absorbent gusset made from fabric that neutralizes unpleasant odour. They are washable and are, therefore, reusable.

How do period pants work?

Period underwear is an absorbent material that holds more than one tampon's worth of blood flow. It is designed with a moisture barrier for prolonged comfort and a layer to prevent leaks or staining. Some people also recommend using it overnight at the end of your period. This is the time when it is most effective.

Advantages of using period pants

• Sustainability. Single-use period products contribute largely to plastic pollution. Many of the products that have been on the market for decades and take over 1,000 years to decompose. Period pollution keeps growing as many women continue to buy, use, and dispose of traditional period products. But period pants are washable and created with organic materials such as cotton, making them a more sustainable option.

• Economically friendly. Period panties are also becoming increasingly popular as a decision that is not just financially astute but also environmentally responsible. These underwear products can be a one-off purchase and last well if you take care of them. This can replace the constant expenditure of buying tampons, sanitary pads, and menstrual cups during your period.

• Comfort and convenience. Period panties are undeniably comfortable and convenient. They stay in place better than a traditional pad. They can be worn alone all day without worrying about changing a tampon or alongside a menstrual cup or tampon on heavy days or postpartum. Investing in the best period underwear will make you feel like regular underwear. Leak-proof underwear has also been upgraded into different styles, colours, and absorbency levels. They can be purchased as hipster boyshorts, cheeky and full brief silhouettes, period bikinis, period thongs, and period sleep shorts.

• Safety and hygiene. Period underwear is designed to be super absorbent and moisture-wicking to keep you fresh and dry. They are specially designed to neutralize foul odours and bacteria and are hygienic and odour-free. In addition, they come with a pocket on the front panel that can hold a small heat pack that you can use to relieve menstrual cramps. They also help avoid the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) as they are worn externally.

Can you wear period pants all day?

Depending on your menstrual flow, you can wear your period pants all day. They can be worn all day if they go with the right absorbency level you need. The underwear should feel dry as the menstrual blood is locked away. Most period underwear brands recommend changing when you think wetness since this usually indicates that it has absorbed all it can.

In addition, the absorbency you need will change as your menstruation progresses. For instance, you need the maximum absorbency on the first day and much lighter protection on the final few days.

Read more: How do I know when my period will come?

Wearing sanitary pads with period pants

Wearing pads along with period pants depends on your own preferences. However, it is recommended that you should also use a pad or tampon with your period pants if you want double protection during heavier flows. As long as you are comfortable, it's safe to use both simultaneously.

Are period pants expensive?

Switching to period underwear requires a more significant initial investment than traditional period products. It may be an expensive alternative if chosen as a sole-period product. Along with these budgetary cons, you're buying something intrinsically reusable and washable. They are designed to last for much longer and, in the long run, work out cheaper than your single-use, plastic-made conventional products.

What are some brands that sell period pants?

Ruby Love period pants

Ruby Love manufactures period underwear, swimwear, activewear, and sleepwear that come in various cuts and colours yet have consistent absorbency throughout. They include separate pads that may be reused and inserted into the underwear to provide an additional layer of protection against leaks. According to reviews, Ruby Love's boy shorts may leak after one overnight wear. Still, their bikini and hipster are perfectly efficient for lighter-flow days.

Modibodi period pants

Modibodi offers period underwear, swimwear, and activewear advertised for periods and for "protection" against leaks caused by incontinence, sweat, and pregnancy. The underwear they sell comes in three styles, each with a different absorbency:

• Classic boy shorts for heavy-overnight

• Seam-free full briefs for moderate-heavy

• The sensual high-waist bikini for light-moderate menstrual flow

Modibodi also offers a variety of styles and colours, and patterns, including lace-topped versions.

Saalt period pants

Saalt manufactures period underwear and menstrual cups. As a sustainability-focused company, their underwear is made of post-consumer recycled water bottles. Saalt's products are marketed as less bulky and more comfortable. They offer a large range of styles and colours paired with different levels of absorbency.

How to care for period underwear

Here are tips on how to properly handle your period pants after using them:

1. Soak. Soak, and rinse your period pants in cold water after you remove them.

2. Wash. For machine wash, first place them in a washable mesh bag, then wash them on a delicate cycle. Hand-washing using mild detergent is also a good idea to make your period pants last longer. To avoid breaking down the natural fibres, don't use any fabric softeners.

3. Dry. Refrain from using the dryer to dry your period underwear. Instead, lay them flat or hang them dry to help maintain the fabric's quality.

4. Treat. Period pants are designed to resist stains and neutralize foul odour when adequately cared for. If you're worried about lingering smells and stains, you can soak them in a vinegar/water mixture before laundering them.

Cups, cloth pads, and tampons as sustainable complements

As stated above, you can wear period underwear alone all day or with other sanitary products. Here are other sustainable products to complement period underwear.

• Menstrual cups. A menstrual cup or a period cup is a small, flexible cup inserted in the vagina to collect menstrual blood. It can serve its purpose for up to 12 hours, holding multiple tampons' worth of period flow, and is reusable for up to 10 years. It is also odour-free and is made with medical-grade silicone for safety and comfort. Menstrual cups, like period underwear, also require a more significant initial investment than other sanitary products. Read more: What is a period cup?

• Reusable pads. A reusable cloth pad is made of highly absorbent materials to trap and absorb menstrual blood. You can use it for years, and although more pricey than disposable pads, it can save you money in the long run.

• Eco-friendly tampons. Not all tampons are mainly plastic. Some brands design them with cardboard applicators and paper packaging. Some tampons don't even come with an applicator, and some are advertised as low-waste. Eco-friendly tampons are easy to insert and easy to use on the go. The downside is that they are single-use, expensive as they are bought every menstruation, and have the potential to leak. They also require changing every four to six hours.

Other conventional menstrual products

• Sanitary napkins or disposable menstrual pads. They are rectangular absorbent products that women prefer to use on lighter days. There is a trend to make pads thinner and less bulky without compromising their level of protection.

• Disposable tampons. They absorb the menstrual fluid inside the body after it has left the uterus, providing discreet protection. Tampons are mainly rayon, cotton cellulosic absorbent material, or a mixture of these fibres. They can be used throughout the reproductive age, starting menarche (first menstrual bleeding) of young girls until the last menstruation of menopausal women.

• Panty liners. These thin, absorbent pads are worn in the underwear gusset to absorb vaginal discharge or light menstrual flow. They are thin versions of pads to prevent stains and keep underwear clean.

Sanitary napkins, conventional tampons, and panty liners are single-used products that largely contribute to environmental waste and take much to a woman's monthly budget. Period underwear, on the other hand, may not be for everyone. But, if you've never tried it and are fed up with the fuss of switching to single-use sanitary products or want something more sustainable, it would be worth trying them.

Bottom line

For starters, period pants are created to give the impression of being a part of your body rather than an accessory or addition to your underwear. In addition, they have the appearance of standard underwear.

Period pants are a type of underwear that is made to soak up blood when a woman is having her period. They are better than traditional menstrual products like pads and tampons in a number of ways. One of the main advantages of period pants is that they are more convenient and comfortable to wear than other products. Unlike pads, which can bunch up or cause irritation, period pants are designed to fit comfortably and stay in place throughout the day.

They also offer better leak protection than pads, as the absorbent material is sewn directly into the pants. In addition, period pants are more environmentally friendly than disposable pads and tampons, as they can be washed and reused. Overall, period pants offer a comfortable, convenient, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional menstrual products.

Because of the way they are made, you won't have to stop what you're doing to worry about your period so you can get on with your day.

To learn more about your menstrual cycle and other women's health challenges, we encourage you to read through our Women's Health Hub here.