How often is it normal for sanitary towels to leak?

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I have a DD who uses sanitary towels. Personally, I have not used sanitary towels in over 30 years, so I’m struggling to remember what’s normal re frequency of leaks. My ex DH wants me to speak to her, as he thinks there must be something she can do about it. I will tell him that the leaks are normal, but I also wanted to check if the rates she experiences are normal.

I have name changed in case I decide to show him this thread, it’s not a first post due to being some kind of weird period troll

Same here with the leaking. I have floods on the first 2 days and often leak around the sides even if I wear pads with wings. So often my knickers are completely stain free but the leak has gone onto my trousers from where the blood has gone off the wings and underneath, so I get two seperate stains one each side. It's really frustrating and happens even if I wear period pants as well because the gush often happens so quickly it can't get soaked up in time before staining.

Exactly! One time the leak bypassed my pants & pj bottoms completely and went straight on to the bed sheet. I was like wtaf was that about. That was the point I realised it was totally random and whatever I did to prevent was probably pointless. Especially at night when you you're asleep and don't have as much control over your movements

The first year or two of my period i had loads of leaks - it was because i was using the same sanitary pads as my mother, who had a completely different need to me (much lighter, didnt use wings etc). Once i had some of my own money, i used to buy more absorbent pads, with longer length and wings and i’ve not really leaked since.

Yes this has happened to me too! Genuinely can't work out how that could have happened but it definitely did!

I won't leak with the first lad after starting, but guaranteed that the 2nd to 4th will leak.

When I was younger, from onset of periods to probably early 30s, I'd have leaked more than not. I don't think that leaking is that unusual with pads

Now, I have two sorts, a slightly fatter one for the leaking times and thinner for rest of the period.

It took me a long time to find the best ones for me.

Tbh, I'd be telling your husband to butt out of it. Don't make her any more self aware by discussing his opinion, just discuss if the brands and types she's using suit her.

Get her the long ones. I find the regular ones too short and always end up leaking in the front. Also scrap the wings. They seem to move more and you leak from the side.

Maxi are better I find as I'm quite heavy the first few days. I don't leak often maybe once every 4 months. Maybe she just isn't changing it enough.

Fairly frequent leaks was my experience at that age - I was quite heavy from early on and much later discovered I has endometriosis. If I was starting now I'd use period pants as they seem to be better. But I do remember needing to get larger/more absorbent STs than my mother thought I'd need. For night especially they needed to be extra long (and absorbent - but the length was important). And I wasn't that tall!

I used to leak all the time, since I have period pants I don’t. I used to flood so a pad had no chance of containing it, and I have never found tampons comfortable.

I think they can often leak.if they don't stay in place, particularly at night, or if the absorbancy isn't right.
So need well fitting, wider gusset knickers and a good pad but there will always be a few leaks in bedding at night or in knickers etc. Especially if periods are heavy. As long as it doesn't go through to outer clothing it's annoying but not a big issue.
Always infinity foam pads are really good.
Why is your ex so concerned about it?

What brand is every one using and do you wear them all day without a pad?

Leaks shouldn’t be frequent. She either needs to change then more often or use more absorbent ones. Firm fitting underwear with a decent gusset is important too. Leaks will be caused by pad not being able absorb any more or not fitting well, either due to style of underwear, shape of pad or improper placement of pad in the underwear.

Buy period pants, maybe reusable towels?

Bodyform night time ones throughout the day have always stopped me leaking.
When I was a teen, I leaked loads and it settled when I was about 18/19 but started again in my twenties.
Before I got the coil (and my periods are now minimal) I always used Bodyform night ones and also period pants at the same time for super protection as my periods were like tsunamis.

I leaked a lot. I used to cut up and layer pads to cover nearly my entire underwear like a nappy but would still manage to leak ionto the bed sheets. But nowadays definitely period underwear are the way to go. She can still use pads on top if she prefers but at least it will contain the leaks and if you get them in black it will make leaks less visible to her (seemingly highly strung) dad when he is doing her laundry. He needs to get over that though, girls have periods and from time to time we all leak.

I think it depends on how heavy her periods are. I have quite a heavy flow and leak every period on heaviest days. I use tampons and towels though to minimise leakage in day - at night, there's not much hope even with tampon and two towels on my heavy days as I also sleep, so can't be at a loo as frequently as I need! Long towels, night time towels, maternity towels are a mix of what I use now. I've stopped using the ones with wings as even with big granny knickers, the wings don't fall in the right place for extra long length. I sometimes wear two towels to make them longer and minimise leakage. I sympathise with your DD as it's a pain.

Your poor DD. How old is she?

I leaked from when I started my period in my teens until my mid twenties. I'd have to use 2 night time pads set out in a T-shape in my underwear when I went to bed and it would still happen. My periods improved when I started the contraceptive pill and also after I had ablation surgery for endometriosis. Do she have any other symptoms? It might be worth seeing a doctor.

Also, I have now switched to reusable sanitary towels (not able to use tampons or moon cups) and I've found them to be more absorbant although my flow is lighter now so hard to tell how they would have held up a few years ago

I have always leaked, and loads as a teenager. Without wearing a tampon at night I’d always leak - the blood seems to run and pool either at the front or back of my body depending on the angle im sleeping at - pre tampons I would always wearing two sanitary towels so I had complete coverage. I find wings better now than they used to be.

I have flooding and leaked through a lot. I now use period pants and hardly leak at all. I think pads just aren't suitable enough for women that flood. please explain ex that it's not her fault....

Omg this 👏🏻

Completely normal for some people, please don’t worry💕 I’ve just given birth and haven’t been signed off yet so wearing pads and have serious school PTSD pre-tampon.

Think someone else mentioned maternity pads, they’re a godsend and def worth trying. The Lilets ones are about £1.79 from Asda/ Savers. They’re huge and super absorbent. Can’t comment on pants as they weren’t a thing back then but might be worth doubling up with a bigger pad which might absorb any leaks.

Do wish I’d used tampons earlier though. Might be worth trying some light purple applicator ones and see how that goes, know it’s a bit of an awkward one as a school kid though.

Remember having to sleep on a bath towel and that awful dash to the toilet when you feel a heavy bit/clot. Also in class when you get up and pray the chairs not red, ugh the pain! Poor kid, much love to her 🤗💕 She’ll get through this xxx

DD moved to period pants 3 months after starting her period. Main reason - leaks.

I think a lot had to do with positioning the pad, not wanting to change at school and in general being highly embarrased about it. The latter was difficult for me to understand as she knew about periods all her life as I bleed heavily.

She has her period now for 3 years and the only time she needs pads is when she has her period during Scout camps. So much better with pants.

I moved to pants as well. As a teen in anage with thick pads, no wings and leaks every day it wasn't nice to deal with it, knowing what to do or not. As an adult I bled through at work, during the night, anytime in my heavy days.

Was coming on to say Bodyform too. I react badly to the (godawful🤮🤮) scent that Always insist on using on all their pads and end up with ulceration on my labia so avoid them like the plague!!