Does it really work?
Period underwear, much like reusable sanitary pads and menstrual cups, has soared in popularity of late. One writer puts it to the test...
From its eco-creds to the fact that it can be more convenient than traditional pads and tampons (hello, middle of the night emergency run to the bathroom), period underwear’s star is on the rise. In fact, in 2021, searches for ‘period pants’ were up 170% on the previous year in the UK. To put the hype to the test, I ringfenced my next period as one to experiment: no pads, no tampons, just several pairs of period pants and (thankfully) a week WFH.
From Thinx’s thong cuts to bikini briefs by Ohne, Wuka’s cotton hipsters and Panty’s classic cut, the range of styles from a number of brands is vast. Gone are the days when period underwear was solely functional-looking (read: ugly). Able to hold anywhere from one to five tampons’ worth of blood, period underwear is formulated to be absorbent without growing wet, to neutralise odours, prevent leaks and wick away moisture.
Does it pass the absorbency test? A resounding yes. Once I chose the correct pair for where I was in my cycle, the underwear was leakproof, didn’t grow overly wet or feel uncomfortable. In fact, when I first felt the dull ache of PMS set in, I donned a pair of light-absorbency period pants for extra insurance against any sudden surprises. It gave me extra reassurance that, whatever happened, I wouldn’t need to make any emergency toilet trips. What I found interesting was how much blood I wasn’t losing. I have very heavy (but short) periods, and constantly needing to change tampons made me think I was losing more blood than I actually was. I needed enough support for where I was in my flow, b
