Period pants - what are they like and how many should I buy for one cycle?

[PinkestMoon]

I have quite long periods (7 days plus). I'd like to switch to period pants but gosh they're expensive. Would I need a pair a day? Would love to hear stories of what they're like.

Following as I would also like to know! 😁

I keep wondering about them. But if one pair doesn’t last the day, I have no I idea what I would do at work? I can’t get undressed to change them and keep a dirty pair around! And washing them? I don’t want to put them in a laundry basket with the rest of my washing

yes a pair a day and also a fresh pair for overnight too. I think they are great. I've got modibody. They are pricey but in the long term will be much cheaper than buying tampons/pads.

with modibody you rinse them out in cold water (bit grim) then wash as normal 30 degree wash with rest of things.

you can get different pants i think - like a pair for heavier flow/overnight versus light. I'm not a sales rep honest! Just think they are so much better than pads/tampons and I wish they were sold in supermarkets.

There are quite a few other threads, if you search. Popular brands are wuka, modibodi, thinx and cheeky wipes.

I have 4 pairs, and wear 2-3 pairs a day. On my heavier days, I change them during the day, but on the light days, I just change them in the morning and before I go to bed. 4 pairs is doable for me, but it means I'm constantly washing them. As it's only a 5-6 days a month, I don't mind.

I bought a pair every month for a few months to build up my supply. It helped me to see how they would work with my lifestyle and also, how many I needed, as they are an expensive purchase.

Got these for my daughter. 6 pairs of which two are from m and s so a bit cheaper. Easy to use. I would say two pairs a day. Chuck on a short wash and hang to dry overnight. They take a while to dry and you can’t put them in a dryer. There is also a swimming bottom version which are good for lighter days. Excellent and no fuss. Have a spare pair in your bag if you feel the need to change(brands we own are m and s, thinx and midi bodi)

DD and I both have them. One pair all day, another at night. You can buy different ones for light, moderate, heavy or night time just as with other sanitary products.

How many you need depends how often you wash them but tbh I do a load of washing every day as there are 5 of us and just sling them in with everything else - everyone's underwear has been in contact with microscopic traces of bodily waste to put it delicately - periods are no different and the pants aren't wet or anything if you buy the right absorbancy. You can't tumble dry them (shouldn't not can't) so its good to have around 6 pairs.

You can use pads in addition just while at work if it makes you feel safer/ more confident exactly as with ordinary underwear.

*by how often you wash them I mean whether you put a wash on every day or every second day or whatever.

As an alternative, I've been using reusable pads for a few months now and absolutely love them. Easy to change during the day if needed. I tend to rinse in cold water before I put them in the washing basket. Haven't used period pants but I can't see how they'd be better tbh

I wouldn't be able to go the whole day without changing them, and couldn't really manage this at work, so I only use them at night (they are great for this) and I wear them with a moon cup as a back up on really heavy days.

M&S sometimes do theirs as part of a 4 for the price of 3 deal

Thanks all, I think I'd need quite a few pairs - I actually didn't factor in the new pair at night thing! Didn't now m&s did them - that's good to know! I wish they were just a little bit cheaper but then I've only looked at modibodi so will do some shopping around

Yes definitely a pair a day. Maybe less if you use a mooncup also.

I find on lighter days Primark ones (around £15 for 3 pairs) have never let me down and then I use the more expensive ones when heavier just in case.

They take ages to dry so need to have one pair a day minimum. But you could also start by buying 2/3 and build up over the months thats what I did. 100% worth it, I love them.

Sounds stupid but are they just like a big pair of knickers with the stuff nappies have in? And do they leak?

Are they dry against your skin all day ?

They do feel dry. I love them for night time. I've never had a leak at night with mine (modibodi).

They're fairly comfortable. Bit sweaty compared with cotton pads but ok.

If changing "pants" would be complicated I use a reusable pad on top with the period pants as back up which works well.

Also good as a back up for tampons or a moon cup.

Need to change regularly for a long day of sport as sweat definitely takes up some of the capacity and they can leak but they're less chafy for running than pads. Although would have doubts running in a torrential downpour from my experience with sweat.

PeakyBlender the modibodi ones are tencyl and Marino wool and don't feel nappy like - they're whatever size you choose, bikini briefs style or full high waisted or shorts or whatever. They do stay feeling dry.

I have a few pairs (couple from sainsburys at £8 each on offer and another from boots, don’t remember brand name). I prefer moon cup and reusable pads (honour your flow) for versatility. They are better for lighter days in my opinion and I don’t think I’d feel all that secure wearing them to work etc. It is a bit like wearing a nappy and they swell a bit as they ‘fill up’ !!

I bleed for about 5 days and I change mine 2-3 times over 24 hours. On very heavy days (I'm peri-menopausal) I need to wear a pad some days and overnight.

The Primark ones are cheap and good for most days.
I use them as a backup to a mooncup on a heavy day.

@BlackCoffeeInAPoolOfSunshine

PeakyBlender the modibodi ones are tencyl and Marino wool and don't feel nappy like - they're whatever size you choose, bikini briefs style or full high waisted or shorts or whatever. They do stay feeling dry.

Thank you, I had no idea they did bikini type ones. I shall investigate.