Period product labelling should be changed

[DwangelaForever]

AIBU to think that in 2020 with so much progress made to de-stigmatise periods and help people understand that periods are a natural and normal part of life, that we should get rid of the "night" label for the heaviest flows?

I have suffered with heavy periods since I was 12, teenage me was mortified at the thought of using a "night time" pad during the day as they are marketed as night time rather than the heaviest flow?

Another thing that annoys me is the label and design of the long pads where they say a certain way round is the "correct" way just because they say most leaks are at the back? My body isn't built like this lol for some reason any time I need extra coverage, I "leak" to the front and if I wore a pad the "correct way" it would offer absolutely zero protection.

Lol sorry for the weird rant, currently on atm if you haven't already guessed lol.

That's a good point. I had never thought of that before. Thanks for educating me.

The night ones don't dissolve if used in the day though. Nothing happens if u wear the "wrong one"

Buy what fits and wear whatever way round it fits. No ones gonna check.

You won't be alone honestly.

Hope you have plenty if chocolate and pain killers

Totally see your reasoning! I’ve always worn night time pads in the day and never even thought anything of it. I can totally see how it would be off putting as a self conscious teenager though!

Probably better to say something like:

• ‘Ultra Heavy. Perfect for night time and heavy days.’

Night pads are longer so they're less likely to leak when you're laying down.

But at night you're lying down and so you need pads that are better suited for less upright positions.

How are you going to choose the right pads for night if you get rid of the night time pads?

It's not a "stigma" to need different pads for night time 🤷

I can see where you're coming from but then again I can see alternative point to keep the labelling as is.

'Night' ones are marketed for nights because that's the longest time most women will wear them for. Therefore they will need to absorb the most blood and therefore be more absorbant. I get that for some women like yourself they need to be used in the day. But I think for the vast majority of people they really are night time pass and that is the genuine intention behind them as a product.

As far as 'front' and 'back' labelling goes I think this needs to stay. For many young girls starting their first period this is valuable information. It's essentially directions for usage according to the common majority. Yes for people like yourself who diverge from the norm you learn to use them the other way round to suit your own body but for the vast majority of people they use the front and back as instructed and that is correct for them, and companies have to cater to the majorities of their markets. It'd be like criticising the directions on a conditioner that say 'put on ends of hair, leave for 10 minutes'. This will work for the vast majority of people. Just because some people will find that putting it in their scalp and leaving for 5 minutes is actually best for them and their unique body doesn't mean the basic instructions that suit the masses should change. I'm the same vein I'm aware that most tampon packets say 'change every 4-6 hours' or something similar. I've found for my body I need to change about every 3 hours but this doesn't mean I think the instructions that suit the masses should change. I think they're a good starting point and from there people can adapt the use to fit their personal situation.

I agree periods need further destigmatisation but I think this needs to be done through education and visibility rather than nitpicking over general instruction on products that are actually designed to help women.

I'm sure last time I checked you could in fact buy pads for heavy flow that don't say "night" on them.

Isn’t this the reason they have maxi pads?

Ha, I opened this and thought it was going to be about erasing the word ''women' from period product packaging! I'll just go back to FWR...

Ditto nothing

I can't see that Ultra Heavy Flow or similar is any less stigmatising that "Night" TBH.
I get where you're coming from with the say it like it is - but don't really see replacing night with "honest" wording would make that much difference.
goes off to watch tampon ad of woman skipping along the beach or doing a parachute jump wearing white trousers

I always thought "night time" and "maxi" pads are different.
During the day women are upright so flow will drop more vertically due to gravity, with perhaps some flow escaping at the top or round the bottom.
A night a woman may lie on her back, side or front, so night time pads need to be much longer- they are also worn for a longer time so need to be more absorbent too.
For a heavy daytime flow many women prefer a daytime maxi pad to minimise bulk.

I think the night time wording is designed to inform actually.

What a wierd post What does it matter what is on the pack if it works for you

So what if it says night. I just assumed it's a marketing angle. A night pad to me just looks like a long pad going by another name. Wear it whatever way round you like. I don't think I've even read the instructions on a period pad, I've just learnt the best position for me. Which changed incidently, after having a baby.

As a teenager I might have been mortified by "heaviest flow" or "ultra heavy". I was mortified very easily.

I think "night" is helpful so you know it will be long and wrap around your knickers! Even if you wear it in the day with a tampon too.

This has never bothered me. I can see why some teens might be though.

I’d never have worked pads out without the labels, if I’m honest

My parents didn’t give a damn, and it wouldn’t have occurred to me to get a heavier, longer one for night time, or which way round it went...

Well, Always decided to take the Venus symbol off of their packaging to be trans inclusive so I’d suggest it to them

We have pads that say 'heavy' or super heavy' flow as well.
How do you suggest to de-stigmatize this?

Night pads are designed in a slightly different way than day pads (longer/more absorbent etc).If you find them useful on other occasions than overnight then well,good for you.However message on the pack does not specify to steer clear if you intend to use them for anything else than a night time.

Wait, theres a right and wrong way round to wear them? I have never even noticed!

I always position mine further to the front as I lie on my front so if there was to be any leaks it would be that way.

But tbe labelling suits others. I only use pads at night and look for tbe pads that are labelled night. I want to quickly choose a pad that is capable of lasting tbe night, labelling heavy flow wouldn't give me tbe confidence I need to buy them. The word night allows me to identify that it will cope with longevity not just flow rates.

Sorry but no I don't get your point, it works for me fine.

I never knew this. I thought the night ones were made differently as they would need to be worn for more hours.

Yes YABU. Correct labelling isn't a stigma. What a weird thing to be upset about.

@nothingcomestonothing

Ha, I opened this and thought it was going to be about erasing the word ''women' from period product packaging! I'll just go back to FWR...

And me.

You're not alone. Currently on cd2 and I wear maternity pads for the first 3 days and then night pads after (upside down).
There's not much need for the night label.

Heavy flow or just the number would work.