AIBU to rage at knicker gussets - or is it me? (lighthearted!)

[littlebrownbag]

First off, by knicker gussets I mean the double fabric bit that covers your under-carriage. And I've always presumed it has the cottony bit to be kind to your delicate areas and catch the odd drop of fanny juice that may leak out.

Well, my anatomy seems to be that anything liquid that you'd want to be caught in your knickers winds its way through all my labia, to exit at the front. This means it misses the gusset and hits the flimsy fabric - so it's visible. Is that just me it happens to? Am I an outlier, or have all knicker manufacturers got womens' anatomy wrong for all this time?

While this has never been a significant problem up to now, aside from careful positioning of sanitary towels during periods, it's now an issue thanks to peri-menopoause causing my fanny to get quite runny. I really don't want to have to wear panty liners every single day (hot and itchy), but I do because otherwise I'll be washing knickers AND trousers every day and I generally get a 2-3 days wear out of my trousers.

Anyone else?

I guess I'm lucky enough to have the standard vag that knickers are designed for

Or, perhaps you have the weird one that knicker designers think we all have.

I thought it was normal for women to get discharge stains in underwear most days? I use panty liners otherwise feel icky. Definitely agree about gussets though!

soupdragon Haha, maybe!

Thank christ someone's finally mentioned this! I'm perimenopausal and and have 3 weeks of constant egg-white followed by the week from hell at the moment. I never quite know where to position a liner or towel for the best either, it depends whether I'll be lying down, sitting or standing as to which direction the flow will go.

Am now at the stage of life of requiring Tena pads from day 2 of any cold (it's like my bladder gives up trying after 1 day of coughing), I've tried the lighter daytime ones but I find I either get leaking at the front or the back so am stuck using the massive night time ones for the duration of any lingering cough, it's like carrying around a folded-open nappy.

My DS took to shouting out about 'mummy's skidders' (bleached black pants) as I was trying to discretely hang the washing out one day. I try to strategically place the peg over the offending area.

I've experienced this. I'm a pear shape so despite being a size 8-10 the bulk of my muscle and fat is around my backside and thighs. Presumably that affects the positioning of the gusset and also my thighs push in which may cause the channeling effect towards the front.

DM has always lamented my dull, functional taste in pants. She doesn't grasp that I find dainty lacy things uncomfortable and too insubstantial to do their job. Plus the seam tends to sit where it easily applies pressure uncomfortably. She's got a different body shape, she kept the bust genes for herself. Hrumph.

I love Cheeky Mama pads (from Cheeky wipes) the bamboo is absorbent but very breathable. It does the job to cover any running related mishaps which means I save tena purely for the higher intensity of a race.

OP - this sounds like a common problem. Maybe my fanny is positioned quite far back because I haven't noticed this happening. My gusset leakage is slap bang in the middle.

Wonder if there's a common denominator among front leakers (or among middle leakers). Anyone got any ideas?

Me too I thought I was unique

Quite glad I’m not

Superdrug pads are designed so there is more pad upfront (unless I am putting them on the wrong way)

Not heard of this gushing peri menopause problem another thing to look forward to

Yep - funnel fanny, acid gusset, rust gusset.
I dare anyone to tweet a link to this thread to M&S

This thread has been a revelation for me. I thought I had something wrong with me as I have always had this problem. I have clearly found my tribe!

Common denominator may be generous flaps? The thing is, many of us don't know how we compare to others. I'm glad to hear of other people strategically positioning the clothes peg!

I'm off to find a link to the pads that I like.

Good for daily wear.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01D1VSHJK/ref=ohauiisearchdetailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

picklemepopcorn

Thanks for the link. Now very taken with the idea of a cosy foof.

Coming late to the thread, but glad to discover it isn't just me.

I personally reckon its the quality of the seal in the mid section that results in the spillage from either end.

What a sentence.

Anytime you have a persistent problem with clothes fitting/not fitting, remember this: It's not you, it's the designer.

It's cheaper to put in too-small gussets.
It's cheaper to put in small/no pockets
It's cheaper to have shorter socks with less elastic.

Clothes for women are NOT made to work as well as clothes for men.

It's not because women's bodies are 'wrong' but because the 'design' is based on fake ideas of our daintiness where we have drip-free fannies, tiny feet and nothing to carry in our pockets.

Never blame yourself for poorly-made clothing.

How do those poppers work on a bike or under jeans, do you know, Pickle? Looks like it could be (ahem) an interesting combination.

Haven't read the whole thread, but you can get little fabric things called inter-labial pads that sit up, well, in the labia, and can direct leaking back into the 'right' place. Washable, and discreet.
I just use normal washable pads, so can't comment from personal experience.

Me too! Particularly annoying when I need 100% cotton round my clitoris in order to avoid thrush, buy pants with 100% cotton gusset, said nice soft gusset isn't where I need it as it stops a couple inches too far back.

I'm so confused. Which part of a reusable pad goes against your foof, the black fleecy bit or the patterned bit? Neither seems especially appealing...

And do they move around and end up appearing around the back of your underpants?

The dark fleecy bit against the skin, the popper underneath. It's less lumpy than a trouser seam and you have a nice bamboo pad to soften it! I honestly don't feel the popper, I'm aware of the pad if I think of it, but only in a rather snug, cosy way. I'm dry and chafe free! I don't find it shuffled forward and backward, it stays put better than the sticky back ones! If it has drifted, it can be gently tugged into position each t8me you use the loo. It doesn't wrinkle and move out of position the way a paper pad does.

I am speaking as an overweight pear, whose thighs rub, and every part touches at all times. Those with a thigh gap or no bum may have a different experience!

Fleece is liquid resistant, so usually doesn't go against the skin. But each pad is different.

I've noticed this too. I put it down to the fact I had surgery on my pelvis last year and thought I had gone a funny shape. The gusset seems to be halfway to me arse all the time! Thanks for starting this thread OP. I now know I'm not a freak after all. We should all get together and make a new brand of knickers with the gusset where yer actual foof is maybe?
Dragons Den anyone?

Strangely, the fleece stays dry while the inner soaks up any moisture. Like the fleece liner in a towelling nappy, I suppose.

This thread has become so useful. Thanks popcorn I might order some

Ooh, I thought I was the only one who had to position pads so much forward. I just thought I had a weirdly positioned fanjo.