Are period pants any good for super heavy flow?

[Ariadne0liver]

I have fibroids which means that the first 1 - 2 days (and nights) of my period are super heavy. For context, I'm usually needing to change a pad every 3 hours - and it's an Always pad that is made like an old school sanitary pad/maternity pad, not a super thin pad or anything. There's also often large clots (apologies for the TMI!).

I'd really love to move to period pants just purely to cut down on the number of pads I'm using - and also to hopefully get more sleep overnight as at the moment I wake every couple of hours as I'm so worried about leaking/need to change the pad. But would period pants be any good for me? If you've had a really heavy flow and moved to them, what was your experience like? And if you'd recommend it, which brand did you use? They're all fairly expensive to begin with and I don't want to buy one that will be no use. Thanks for your help!

M&S ones are good. My trick is to put a period pant on with an actual pad too at the start of the day. When the pad is done I take it off and spend the remainder of the day in the pants. Still using pads, but much much less. It works for me and the period pants have always lasted for the remainder of the day once pad is off.
Have you ever slept on a bed pad too so you don’t need to worry about leaking?

I use ModiBodi and they are perfect.

For reference I used to use 2 pads overlapping and they still only lasted a couple of hours.

Primark ones are OK for Light days, but don't last all day.

M&S are better.
But Modi Bodi have been the best for me.

I use Modibodi also and have found them great for light and medium days. For heavy days, which tend to be very heavy, at night I wear underwear with a maxi night pad, then period pants over the top, and between the two I can manage most of the night without leaks.

Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful! It's good to know that it is possible/ways to make it possible 😄 @LilacPony I've tried a bed pad but even with that I seem to wake up, I think it is just so deeply embedded in me now 🤦‍♀️

I use M&S heavy flow ones, they are big fitting so go down a size!

Use with a pad initially and then just use the pants after that. I tend to use them for overnight and I haven’t had any leaking.

Modi bodi or wuka super heavy massive bucket loads flow (or whatever their specific name for the highest level is). Theyre a good few notches above things like M&S and primark heavy.

Go for ones with a lot of coverage of the absorbency. Some are more gusset type, other styles are waist band to waistband.

Can these things be used for swimming, sorry to cut in op,are there anything that can be used whilst swimming like this

Period pants are an external period product, as opposed to tampons and cups, so the blood is exiting your body and would go into the water. You might see some marketed as such like they do swim nappies but it's literally not possible.

My daughter has heavy periods and m&s are great for the average period but they have not been so good for a really heavy cycle :(

Avoid Love Luna. I've had two pairs leak on me on light-medium days.

M and S I've not had leak.

I think Wuka and Modubodi are said to be the cream of the crop

I used to use flowette super guard period pants. They were absolutely brilliant and I never worried about leaking. Super comfortable as well.

Not what you asked but I had the same issue with fibroids anbd very heavy bleeding until I moved to a Mirena coil. Life changing - no more running to the loo, planning work trips around period, and waking up at night. Just in case that’s something you’d want to try at some point

I have the Wuka night time ones and really like them. I do still wear a pad though, which I know defeats the purpose from a sustainability/environmental perspective.

But I can sleep knowing I don’t need to worry about leaking.

Just to add @Ariadne0liver - I much prefer to use incontinence nighttime pads when my period is at its heaviest. They are far bigger and far more comfortable. The boots ones are my favourite, then the Tena ladies a close second. Yes it’s like wearing a nappy but it all stays in position in my big pants and they are nice and long too.

Yes. I’ve never leaked once. I wish they were around when I was a teenager.

I have an extremely heavy flow and have to use a Tampax Super Plus tampon and a night time heaviest flow pad at the same time and even then I only last about 2 hours max in the first few days. I did a ridiculously large amount of research into the millilitre capacity of all the supposedly ‘super heavy flow’ period pants on the market and the highest absorbency were Cheeky Pants but even they filled up and leaked within 2 hours. So, I do as a PP suggested and use them along with a pad (& tampon personally) and they’re essentially just a back up. I wouldn’t wear only them overnight though, def not.
My other trick for in bed; is to use Tena disposable knickers for bladder leakage! They’re like Pull Up nappies for adults but they bloody work! They don’t leak either.

Either of these work great.

i second disposable knickers for overnight - my periods have got ridiculously heavy in the past few years (soaking through a super plus tampon in less than 2 hours for the first 2 days) and Tena or even tesco own incontinence pants are great overnight.
As for period pants for daytime, the best I’ve found are the flowette pants for very heavy flow. They feel thick but are comfortable and discreet, i feel more secure in them than the cheeky pants for heavy flow.

I use the heaviest absorption Wuka and they last me at least 8hrs of peri flooding without leaking.

M&S for lighter days.

Thanks everyone so much, these are all really helpful - I'd never even thought about incontinence pads/pants but will definitely explore that and look into the brands you've recommended. @Pepperama I've never thought about a Mirena coil - I was on the pill in my twenties and it gave me terrible anxiety so I've steered clear of hormonal contraception but I'm really ignorant about the Mirena and unsure if it would have the same effect?! Thanks again everyone, this has been so helpful!

I have ones marketed for heavy flow but they're only useful as a backup for me on my heaviest days. For overnight, where appearance is not an issue i use really thick rewashable pads as well. For me, and this may be anatomy related, I can feel the flow with period pants which stops me from sleeping, the washable pads are literally like having a towel between your legs.

The cheeky pants shorts style pants are good - they have padding from the waistband to waistband and feel really comfy and secure for sleeping in.

I use an ultra tampon with a pad at night, wake up leaking and the period pants contain the gush enough until I can get to the loo. The benefit of them is that they cover a much bigger area, when I'm lying down pads often miss where I bleed.

Disclaimer am peri waiting for surgery (ablation/hysterectomy)

I have these, they’re absolutely brilliant, I’ve never leaked once!

I bought modibodi quite a few years ago so they may have changed the design since then, but they didn't work at night for me.

I mistakenly thought the entire garment would be absorbent, but it's actually just a pad shaped section in the gusset. It didn't go far back enough for me so when I lay down at night the blood still found it's way out past the pad section and leaked at the back.

Hoping they have updated the design since then as I really want to go back to pants.

Hey OP
I have a PCOS and SUPER heavy flows - my underwear often looks like a crazy paving of sanitary towels, which I change every 2-3 hours - and I wanted to move to reusable, too.
I invested in the Cheeky Pants ones, but unfortunately for the first 2 days / nights they just don't cut it, and I have to wear pads as well. I've also found that, while comfortable, the way the boy shorts fit just aren't "it".
I do love that the padding is from waistband to waistband, though, so I definitely feel more secure overnight.
@ScaryM0nster - would you recommend the Wuka ones for super super heavy flow?

Heavy periods are not ok. You can get transemic acid from your GP which will reduce flow (you just take the tablets during your period). You might also need a mirena coil. Heavy periods will impact your iron levels and can lead to exhaustion. Pls make a Gp appt.