Daily liners/pantiliners

[sillybean]

Is it me or are these a bit of a con? Made to make women feel like they need to be fresh and clean down there.

I appreciate that some women may need them if they have lots of discharge/irregular periods/incontinence etc.

But I feel like this kind of liner and they way it's marketed is made to make women feel like natural smells and secretions are something that needs managing.

Sorry if this has been discussed before but I couldn't find anything.

I use pantyliners, because I've always had a lot of discharge and it stains my underwear. Pantyliners keep my feeling dry and protects my underwear, which makes it last longer.

About a year ago, I invested in some reusable liners so I've minimised my environmental impact. I only ever bought the value ones which were 35p for 30 (so under a fiver a year), so it wasn't a big deal for me.

@DimidDavilby if I were to change my knickers as often as needed without using a liner I would be changing at least 5 times a day. I am a very dischargey woman.

@Pipandmum

I use them daily and my daughter does when she is expecting her period or tailing off. I wish I had realised they existed earlier. I hate any moisture down there and this stops that. They aren't wasteful if it is something that makes me feel comfortable and prevent embarrassing moisture on furniture. Women are different and if you don't need them great but I'm happy they are available.

Single use ones are wasteful regardless of why you use them.

There are reusable options if you need them. They're much cheaper in the long run too.

If you want to use single-use ones then use them by all means, but they're still wasteful.

I had never worn pantyliners at all until I got to late stages of pregnancy and needed them. Since then I have continued buying them but only for light period day's.

I would like to get into reusable pads or period underwear. I bought a menstrual cup (sorry for slight change in subject) and don't love it.

I hate pant liners and towels. Physically can’t cope with padding between my legs.

Knickers cope with discharge fine, and wash at the end of the day. Never felt the need for liners, and did I mention I fucking hate the things?

I use them a lot around when my period is due plus I sometimes leak when I sneeze post-baby. It makes me feel more confident, but I doubt women use these without having a specific reason.

When I first got my period aged 12 in the mid 1980s pantyliners were all my DM bought me. Unsurprisingly I leaked a lot, it was so humiliating and demeaning. That’s all she bought for the first couple of years until one day in the supermarket I just grabbed a packet of proper pads and threw them in the trolley and covered them up with food (I was an extremely shy child and was so humiliated by the whole situation) . It still makes me angry that an adult woman who had suffered heavy periods and fibroids which result in a hysterectomy in her 30’s could be so woefully ignorant that what she bought for her own DD was obviously inadequate.

To all mums - please buy your DD’s a selection of SanPro to try!!

Lockhart I disagree that reusables are cheaper in the long run.

I used Tesco's basic liners which are 28p for 30, so 1p each. The reusable ones I bought worked out to be £3.40 each. So, I would take me a year for 1 liner to pay for itself.

I did switch to reusable for environmental reasons, but I think it's a real shame that reusable products like these are so expensive.

They were fantastic for me as I always seemed to have quite a lot of discharge right from when I started my periods. My mum took me to the doctor at about 14 or 15 to be checked out because I was so wet and uncomfortable all the time. I was referred to a gynaecologist who found everything to be normal and told me about liners, saying that some women just produce more secretions than others. It really was a lot - not at the same level every day, but always there. I'm now in menopause and don't need/use them at all. The only upside to menopause I can think of!

I use them. It is not a con, as I need them and therefore it is my choice, I am not a passive victim of marketing.

@purpledagger

Lockhart I disagree that reusables are cheaper in the long run.

I used Tesco's basic liners which are 28p for 30, so 1p each. The reusable ones I bought worked out to be £3.40 each. So, I would take me a year for 1 liner to pay for itself.

I did switch to reusable for environmental reasons, but I think it's a real shame that reusable products like these are so expensive.

You can make your own reusable ones if you like. They needn't cost the earth!

Or, and this is also a good tip if you struggle with reusable ones moving around, you can thicken the lining of your underwear by cutting up old cotton socks or t-shirts and sewing a permanent pad in. Also customisable as you can make the "pad" as large or as thick as you need.

I use them. Wish I didnt need them but my weak bladder means that when I tried not using them in lockdown, I had to change pants about 3 times a day.

I use tena light liners and they are great.

I didn't even realise people wore them outside of periods?! (or a real need like excess discharge)

I got more discharge when it was pregnant and it bleached my black knickers as it changed the PH level I think. Did wear them a bit then but I feel they're so unhealthy for down there?! I always read that cotton fresh is best!

I only wear them on very long flights, where changing my underwear is difficult. Take the liner out just before landing and it's like having a clean pair of knickers on!

Used to use them occasionally when I still had periods, for the last day or so. But the scented ones are the work of the devil.

I wear them daily, have done for over 20 years. Pre covid, when going out after work, I would bring a pantyliner to change into at the end of the working day.

I've always had to wear them, or like a pp, I'd have to change my underwear a few times a day. Now post menopause, I use them to help with occasional incontinence.

They fulfil a need some women have.

@DimidDavilby

I find them so uncomfortable, like wearing a tiny nappy. Also unnecessary, surely they just do the job of pants? I change my pants every day I don't need to be any cleaner than that.

^ This

That's OK for those to say 'I don't need them, ichange my pants everyday' are you saying women who wear panty liners don't change their pants? I think that's quite judgemental and rude, women who wear them do so for that tiny bit of security in case of leaks. because in the end we will all be wearing big incontinence pads, you included Ms judgemental.

YANBU, I never buy them- just change knickers every day!

I bought washables about 4 years ago and not had to buy anything since. Wear them daily and underwear lasts much longer and never looks soiled. Great for stress incontinence and the moments in a public library where you realise there is no loo roll...just drop dry and of you go. I used Cheeky Wipes.

public library????!!! Toilet even

What other women have in their knickers is none of your concern. If you dont like them/need them don't use them.

I sometimes use pads. Of course, I also change my underwear daily, but I have some ongoing issues that mean I have a lot of discharge. I don’t want to change my underwear every time I have bad discharge, it’s easier to carry pads when out and about than having to take clean underwear/carry the worn ones about.

I feel uncomfortable without them. Each to their own.

@LoveEatYoga I swapped to reusable pads and I wish I had done it years ago. Have v heavy periods. For washing I stick them on a rinse cycle, then add the rest of my washing as usual