Are period knickers worth buying? Do you use them?

[AmaniVibes]

Instead of using pads or tampons, I thought I would try period knickers. However, I'm a bit wary of buying unknown brands.

Any recommendations? Are they good for heavier flows? Easy to wash?

Thanks

Absolutely not, and will never use them. I refuse to go back to the dark ages and use stuff that creates far more work for me. If they cannot be thrown in the washing machine straight away, and tumble-dried later, then I'm out.

Hell will freeze over before I start faffing with bloody knickers, rinsing old blood and bits by hand (not gross at all), then washing them in the machine, then hanging them out and waiting for them to dry. Ridiculous, it's 2025, not the 16th century.

Pad, take off, wrap, throw out, put a new one in, job done.

They are good as backup but insufficient alone if you have a heavy flow. I have the Wuka super heavy duty ones and they are ok on light days, on heavier days I use them as backup. They go allll the way front to back so it's reassuring knowing I've got time to get to the bathroom when my tampon or pad starts to leak.

There was a thread about Modibodi recently. Here

Modibodi are far better than the Marks & Spencer‘s and Primark ones. My DD has extremely heavy periods and wouldn’t be able to rely on the Marks & Spencer’s or Primark ones, but finds that Modibody absorb a lot

They have been life changing for me! No more leaks in bed, no more panic about leaking, I only use tampons on heavier days if I’m going out and not having to use them is so much more comfortable on the other days.

Having a teen daughter meant that it was so simple for her to get to grips with managing her periods. Poor girl has a very heavy flow compared to me and has only had a couple of leaks - day two she needs to change pants x 3 whereas I only use one pair.

I've tried them and don't like them - I feel like I need to change them every time I go to the loo, and it's more effort to take my trousers off and change my pants each time than it is to change a pad, and with a pad I don't have to carry around dirty wet pants in a wet bag stuffed in my bag for the rest of the day until I get home.

I wish my teen would use hers more. She just won’t trust them

I loved mine for the first year or so, as they are really comfortable and they’ve never leaked. They started to get smelly though. I wash them thoroughly, I’ve tried various things on the gusset (white vinegar, antibacterial laundry detergent) but they start to smell again as soon as they get any moisture on them. I think I’ll probably have to throw them away.

I have 3 pairs that I now wear as 'just in case' pants - so the day before i'm due.

I have no idea how anyone uses them for an actual period tbh. Unless you're just sitting at home in PJ's, they're incredibly impractical ime. If you need to change in a public loo you have to strip naked from the waist down and then carry your blood soaked knickers home with you.

The one time I tried them I managed to get a huge smear of blood all down my shin whilst taking them off...then they flipped inside out and I put my hand on the inside 🙈. It's a good job I was at home because I was in such a bloody mess I had to jump straight in the shower. Not for me!

I'm quite old - 65 - but until last year I was on the kind of HRT that resulted in a withdrawal bleed. Also had spotting.

I used M&S period pants latterly, but I reckon that you'd need to use them with a towel for heavy flow.

I have not tried them yet. But I have thought about it.

Questions for those who have tried them -

• How many pairs of period knickers do you need to own?
• How long does one pair of period knickers last? (And by that I mean, for how many years do you own and use and wash a pair of period knickers before you throw them away?)

Love them!

Oh @SimplyBudgie im so sorry but I did laugh at your post!

I have pondered these but have horrendously heavy periods for the first few days (thanks PCOS) and lose massive and many many clots for the first 48 hours. I just don’t understand what happens to the big ‘pieces’ of actual lining etc, they must surely just sit in the gusset until you change the knickers? I use the super heavy tampons with a heavy duty pad if I’m in the office or out and about or just the tampons mostly when I’m home, I just whip it off and bin it. Not the most environmentally friendly but that’s something I’ve made my peace with.
If I was having to change my knickers hourly at work I’d be spending a lot of time in the work loo getting changed and loading up my handbag with plastic bags of bloody knickers to then take home and rinse out.
Don’t think these are for me but glad they suit some!

They definitely can't handle clots. They are great as backup though. I use the same solution as you but I've added in period pants as a third level of protection and there's peace of mind in knowing if the pad leaks I've got time to get to the loo.

Can I ask please does anyone use period pants for a slight bladder leak? I’m well past the stage of periods but wear a pad for the occasional drip. I buy supermarket bladder leak pads and I’m wondering if period pads would work.

Period pants not pads

I use them overnight. Game changer!

However I don’t use them during the day as I still can’t tell how you know when they’re full? Any tips?

They would but you can get specific ones for bladder issues too. If it's a tablespoon when you sneeze they would work. My primark ones never feel wet so they must lock the moisture away somehow

Thank you. I might give them a go.

Yes - I have M&S ones - love them. I can’t stand tampons and pads now and they are a godsend- usually 1-2 days heavy and 4 light - never need anything else

Im 55 so yeah when will it end!

I love mine and have a few brands. I have PCOS and very heavy periods.

Primark. These aren't great for me, I don't like the cut of them, but that's my fault for buying the wrong ones. They come in a pack of 3. 2 lighter day ones and 1 heavier. The lighter ones are useless for me. The 'heavy' day one is OK for a light day.

M&S. Also come in a pack of 3, I bought the heavy flow ones. They are better than the Primark, really comfy but still only fit light/ medium days.

Wuka. Bought some on a 3 for 2 offer. You need to size up. They are tight. Also not cotton so not as nice as some of the others. But a decent mid-price option.

ModiBodi. These are my favourites, but also the most expensive. I've got some full brief which I think are sold as 'heavy/overnight'. They cope with my heavy days and last overnight. Really really comfy. But they've developed holes in the top layer after a couple of years. Might be because I tumble dry them sometimes.
I've got a 'super heavy pair which are very thick and a bit too warm, but great for my heaviest night.
Finally a pair made from recycled fabrics I think. I hate them. Despite also being a 'full brief' cut they dont fit well and the fabric is more like a bikini. They are my emergency back ups.

Sure, up to you but yes it's 2025 and we're not rolling up rags to use are we, and it's 2025 and we need to reduce the amount of waste we create.

I use the Cheeky ones and love them. My periods are now a bit unpredictable and a couple of times when I've expected to start I have put a pair on and worn them all day which has been very useful. I usually change them halfway through the day but I dont flood and know my period isn't as heavy as some experience.

I once had to wear a pair all day on a heavier flow day on a very hot summer day. No leaks, I was comfortable and only felt a bit icky by the end of the day and I didn't smell - a pad all day would have been awful.

I sometimes wash mine together at 30 but regularly bung them in a dark was with other things at 40. They have even accidentally been through the tumble dyer a couple of times to no ill effect! The only problem is drying them when the heating isn't on and it's not a warm sunny day.

Best product ever. I haven’t bought a pad or tampon for 10 years. I use modi bodi and bonds (Aussie brand). I wish they had been around when I was a teen. They also stop leaks at night.

I always sun dry mine inside out and have never had issues with smells.

I love mine. I still need to use a tampon and a pad (and change every hour on day 2) but they are great for leaks and overflow. I used to have to wear an adult sized nappy before.