Period undies are a relatively new concept for many, but they are starting to become more mainstream. It’s easy to consider for teenagers, because the undies offer a super easy and natural transition into womanhood and teens generally have lighter periods. But for some women, with a more regular and or heavy period, it’s a little harder to get your head around the concept of period undies. Let’s delve into some of the finer details – but *warning* this article is not for the faint-hearted.
How much do they actually absorb? While most women experience their period for a significant portion of their lives, we don’t tend to investigate it too closely. Funny that. However, it may interest you to know that we don’t actually bleed as much as we think we do. The average female loses about 2 to 3 tablespoons or 30-40mls of blood during her period. For those with heavy periods, this may be closer to 80mls plus.
Ignoring the fact that many of us experience a heavier flow at the start of our period, let’s assume that we are losing approx. 10mls per day or 40mls over 4 days. Most period undies will absorb 5mls (1 tampon) or even up to 20mls.
After trying a few brands, I found that the Vivo Bodywear range has been designed for ultra-high absorbency. CEO and Owner Tamsin Somerville explains why, “I tried many other pairs of period undies and the problem was that they only just absorbed the bare minimum. This meant that when I sat down, I could feel the dampness seeping back out. My main goal when designing the Vivo Bodywear undies was to ensure they have an amazing stay-dry top layer and that I felt dry and secure when wearing them. Because no one wants to feel damp and yucky.” Click this link to view the Vivo Bodywear range.
What happens if I get clots? Small blood clots during our period are totally normal, so expect this to happen at some point. Depending on the size of the clot, you will likely need to wipe these off with toilet paper when you go pee. It sounds nastier than it actually is. In reality, its quick and painless.
Will I feel damp? After you go pee, you may feel a slight dampness for 2 seconds, but that is all. Any longer than that and either your undies are not absorbent enough, or it’s time for a change, or the stay-dry top layer is not up to scratch.
Will I see the blood? Unlike pads, which are white, period undies have a black gusset, which means you generally can’t see any blood. That’s assuming you have a pair with a good quality one-way absorbency top layer.
What do they feel like? Period undies look and feel just like regular undies but with a slightly thicker crotch area (aka gusset) to allow for the special absorbent technology. There’s no need to wear a pad or tampons, instead the top layer of the gusset swiftly transfers the menstrual flow through to the absorbency layers, and away from your girly parts. It’s the sneaky scientifically enhanced fabrics that keeping you feeling dry, while also killing the bacteria and smells.
How do I change my undies when in public? When using high absorbency brands, one pair of undies will generally last you all day, but if you are wearing other less absorbent knickers, then changing reusable undies when out in public may be required. But don’t worry, it’s not a huge issue. It’s a little awkward in the bathroom stall, but since you are already sitting down to go pee, you just have to add in the extra step of whipping on a clean pair of undies. Just make sure you invest in a wet bag, for carrying your clean undies, and then for storing your used undies. And don’t forget to rinse them once you get home!
READ ALSO: BE PERIOD-SMART! IS THERE A MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO PERIOD PRODUCTS?
How do I wash them? A common concern with period underwear is around the washing process. The good news is, washing period underwear is super easy. Just rinse, wash, and dry. I rinse mine in the laundry tub. It’s as simple as turning on the tap and hold them under cold water. I do a slight squeeze before putting them into the washing machine (just so they don’t drip) but that’s the extent to how much I touch them. I then wash the undies with my next normal load (when I’m being good, I use my laundry bag). Then I hang dry. Or if my husband is doing the washing, then they go into the dryer. Which is fine for the Vivo Bodywear range, but not ok for my other brands.
For me, period undies have been a game changer. They’re super easy and comfy. Any while I appreciate this might be too much info, I think my vagina is getting dryer as I age, so period undies provide a perfect alternative to insertables. I’m also becoming more aware of what I purchase and what I waste, and so spending less money on expensive single-use products, makes me feel like a better human.