Wearing period pants every day between cycles. Yes or no?

[BrightSparkInTheDark]

Are there any down sides (aside from the expense) of wearing period pants every day between periods? DD15 has ASD and is severely anxious about having to deal with periods at school to the point she’s struggling to attend (she’s not in MS). Her periods are not yet regular.

She feels secure if she has protection from period pants and it makes her life easier; she also finds them comfortable. I’m planning to order her multiple pairs of high protection pants to wear every day between cycles to help her.

DH thinks I’m mad. Are there any reasons this is not a good idea?

I would think it’s a positive thing for DH to be involved. And ideally with DD too. Mine is as likely to call after DD ‘have you got pads’ as she’s leaving for a sleepover as I am. Rather than having it as some shameful Victorian women’s secret.

I can completely understand his concern about cost.
It would be very expensive to wear them everyday but seems the only solution.

It is normal for couples to discuss things like this and to question the cost, even if you end up doing it anyway.

Most MNers have no concerns about money, so they won’t understand that discussing the cost of something is normal.

My DD has ASD and costs me a fortune as she can’t wear certain textures and often I have to work out whether I can afford to buy it or not.

I’ve never heard of flowette. I will have a look at those too.

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Are you buying the Red teen range? It's slightly cheaper than the Modibodi range. And further savings on the bundle packs, unless she only likes the boyshorts as those have to be bought individually.

We've been using them for over 4 years. The first couple of pairs bought aren't looking too great - material round the legs has gone a bit frilly - but all still function as they should. I do wash separately without fabric conditioner, no tumble drying or direct heat so they take a while.

I've worn modibodi everyday for about 5 years. The ones I bought 5 years ago are still absorbent, but some of the stitching is wcoming away on the wasteband.

They are an expensive initial cost, but I've probably spent £400 in the last 5 years on them. I don't think that's ridiculous. My daughter wears them during her period and pants from amazon that have an additional lining and and designed to wear with pads, but still have some absorbency in between. As she is anxious. Innersy or HBconnect.

My DD is autistic too, she really struggled with the pain once her periods established, as well as the not knowing for certain when it would happen. During lockdowns, she'd just stay in bed and we'd catch up school work afterwards but when she had to go back to school she was missing days. After six months of various medications, she went on the combined pill - we run 3 packs together so only a bleed after 60 days and it's lighter and less painful. She was 14 and I wasn't comfortable with the idea at first, but it's made a huge difference to her.

What about something like cotton reuseable pads for the inbetween days?

That way she has protection but you don't have to spend the full cost of period undies for everyday wear.

I wouldn't use synthetic reuseable pads, speaking from experience they can cause irritation.

If washing them is going to wear them out, she could wear cotton fitted sports shorts over normal knickers and keep a pair of period pants in her bag.

My DD is also autistic and wears hers daily. She says they are more comfortable and I think it’s also a sensory thing. I figure life is tough enough for her and what’s the point of forcing what society thinks is normal (regular underwear). We’d all wear whatever we find most comfortable as adults so why not give our kids a choice as well?

I've just scrolled back and realised disposable pantyliners haven't been mentioned, this is basically what I used to wear as a teen. They are discreet, especially if you avoid the OTT scented ones, they are safe/comfortable to wear daily, can be changed if they get sweaty or discharge and come in individual wrapping for school etc. Much cheaper than period pants. I would not have wanted to deal with washable pads as a teen (I know the pants are a good solution for most teens).

I do for other reasons and they are great. I get a year out of them.

I wear period pants every day as I have slight urinary incontinence. I have had no ill effects from this.

I wear the marks and Spencer ones.

Yes, do it. It’s unlikely to be forever. I’m assuming you pay for other things that ASD impacts? This is no different if it is just the cost that is an issue. There are some ModiBodi ones (not sure if that’s the brand she likes) on Vinted so that might help with the cost.

I love my modi bodi but find that the pads on some aren't as absorbent after a while. I can't work out why. As yours last so well, can you talk me through how you wash them? I rinse.mine then leave them wet and usually wash 3-4 pairs af a time one gentle cycle. So the longest a pair might sit before being washed is 36 hours.

The podcast sounds brilliant; I will listen to that too.

Can you wash ModiBodi at 30 degrees with powder only? I don’t tumble dry them but I do put them on a heated towel radiator on low otherwise they take ages to dry.

I absolutely get why the cost is putting DH off but he presumably has never had a period so IMO his opinion on the matter has less weight than DDs.

I think I saw you'd worked it out as £200. Could you maybe suggest DD contributes towards it? Say £50. I know it's awful to do but just think that that would help her realise there were cheaper options she has chosen not to do and that this is a luxury many can't afford? Sucks though.

Or perhaps buy her some now and then more for her birthday?

Can't believe that my money has got so tight that I actually suggested sanpro as a birthday gift.

Fine I think - don't wash with frantic softener as I read it breaks down the technology so wouldn't last as long

Because disposables are full of chemicals and terrible for the environment. Most people, especially teenagers, are moving away from disposables. She's clearly happy wearing reusable sanitary wear so why would she go backwards to wear disposable?

I wouldn’t want to wear every day as find they show a bit through tight clothes. But if it makes her happy can you buy 1 weeks worth and wash each week?

I've found them to be brilliant, honestly. I needed cotton due to sensory issues and they are very soft and comfortable in addition to being really absorbant. The absorbant bit goes right up the back too which is great for sleeping!

I can recommend WUKA period pants. They come in every size and go up to absorbency of super heavy flow. I bought some super heavy flow ones (I don't need that flow level) and they are so comfortable. If it will make her feel safe and secure every day they are a great investment.

One disadvantage might be a greater chance of thrush? Period pants are a brilliant invention but they aren’t the most breathable, especially when the weather warms up. Maybe alert your daughter that it is a possibility so she doesn’t suffer in silence if an attack comes on, and reassure her that it is easy to treat.

Another possible strategy to consider is the combined pill. This would make your DD’s bleeds predictable and has the potential to avoid them by taking the pill continuously.

I'm pretty sure, just going by her laundry, that my own ASD DD is doing the same. I haven't commented, as it's her business and if it makes her feel more comfortable, so much the better.

If you can afford it (buying enough to have some clean ones every day, and also replacing more frequently) I don't see why not. What I do is use a Mooncup every day, whether on my period or not. Less than £8 for a Superdrug branded one and I use the same one for 5+ years, and no extra laundry. I used to have very unpredictable periods, they've settled down now but I like that it keeps my knickers clean throughout the month.