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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To spend money on period pants?

132 replies

DontWantTheRivalry · 06/02/2022 17:58

I have the most horrendous periods - I won’t go into detail but the flooding, leaking and huge clots are big problems for me and have a big impact on my life.

I don’t use tampons because they’d just flood so instead I wear sanitary towels that I have to change every 1-2 hours as a minimum.

I’m so done with it. I’m fed up of not being able to leave my house when I’m on my period for fear of leaking and I’m fed up of of having to sit and sleep on towels and I’m really fed up of throwing clothes away because they are ruined by huge floods.

I have been reading about period pants and although they are expensive I’m thinking they may be my only option.

I was talking to my good friend about it and she said that in my circumstances period pants would be pointless as they wouldn’t be able to cope with my flow and clots. She said I would just be wasting my money.

It made me feel really upset because I can’t cope anymore with the impact my period has in my life and I really thought they might be a life changer for me.

AIBU to at least try even them even if it so expensive?

Has anyone else used them for very heavy periods?

I’m one step away from asking for a hysterectomy! I am just so fed up with it all Sad

OP posts:
NannyR · 06/02/2022 20:17

Cheeky pants have a trial thing where you can return them for a refund after a couple of months if you don't get on with them, so it might be worth a try. However, I don't find them totally reliable - the problem for me is that the gusset is a bit narrow and the elastic trim has wicked onto my jeans on heavy days once or twice. I love them for normal/lighter days though. Cloth pads feel so much more reliable than disposables on heavy days, I've tried several brands and find the imse vimse brand works best, they've never leaked.

kitcat15 · 06/02/2022 20:34

Primark are selling them now

LucyFox · 06/02/2022 20:41

I’m peri menopausal and also suffer from clots/flooding etc. Let’s just say there’s a reason why I only ever wear black trousers ...
I find on most days decent heavy flow/night period pants are fine, but on my heaviest day I do double up with a pad and change that regularly - the period pants being backup for leakage. I would definitely look at where the absorbency is on the period pants, do you leak mostly at the back, sides, front? Not all are the same shape/size of coverage as it were ...
I recently had to travel on a heavy day & I used incontinence pants, with period pants over the top & it was life-saving. I will definitely do it again if i’m ever really nervous or need to be super secure!

Mookie81 · 06/02/2022 20:54

I wear Modibodi ones- I have 2 pairs, heavy/overnight, and I've ordered a third pair that are maxi 24 hours.
This month has been really heavy, I can feel myself flooding a lot, and the pants hold everything- no smell and the pad layer keeps everything in, I’ve not leaked one bit.
I want to build up enough pairs to get through a whole period without washing pairs in between. I would recommend them to everyone.
I think if you have heavy periods, don't cheap out and pay more for higher quality (if you're able to).

museumum · 06/02/2022 21:01

Mooncup is ideal for clots. It catches them rather than tampons which just let clots slip down the side. I’d try the mooncup and period pants together.

LuciaInTheGarden · 06/02/2022 21:02

Cheeky Wipes period pants have the absorbent layer go from the front waistband to the back waistband rather than being the size of a normal towel.

www.cheekywipes.com/high-waisted-period-pants/feeling-comfy-high-waisted-period-pants.html

Also less than £15 a pair.

ButtockUp · 06/02/2022 21:03

I bought some period pants on the strength of MN recommendations. I don't have periods any more but am wary of some bladder weakness.

They were very thick and bulky and I felt like I was back in the 70s .
I've reverted back to my usual liners.

Darbs76 · 06/02/2022 21:03

I’d buy them as a protection from the leaking but definitely not alone. My daughters first period led to a blood transfusion due to heavy prolonged bleeding for a month before medication stopped it, so I got her some and they did still leak through but this was very heavy bleeding. They are great now since her periods have calmed somewhat

FateHasRedesignedMost · 06/02/2022 21:23

You use them with a cup or a pad, you don’t just bleed into them. They’re like an extra layer of protection. Then only change them if the cup/pad overflows.

I wouldn’t wear them for a heavy period with nothing else, you’d be changing them every hour as they’d be soaked in blood (and smelling of blood too).

Lillits make disposable period pants that a lot of women swear by post partum; I haven’t tried them but apparently you wear with a pad, and if the pants get soiled you just tear them off (like a nappy) and put a fresh pair on. Saves getting trousers on and off!

absolutelyknackeredcow · 06/02/2022 21:25

I'm a big convert - and have heavy flow and clots (although not as heavy as you).

I find the modibod are worth the money and on a day at work I can get away with only one or two changes.

I bought a few and then slowly built up a collection. It's a lot of washing though - but we tend to have a wash on most days so not too much bother but you do need a lot if you are heavy! I'm not sure how much cheaper they are with the outlay and washing but they do feel better than pads and tampons and I often wear them just before I'm due in case i start.

Arabellla · 06/02/2022 22:05

@FateHasRedesignedMost

You use them with a cup or a pad, you don’t just bleed into them. They’re like an extra layer of protection. Then only change them if the cup/pad overflows.

I wouldn’t wear them for a heavy period with nothing else, you’d be changing them every hour as they’d be soaked in blood (and smelling of blood too).

Lillits make disposable period pants that a lot of women swear by post partum; I haven’t tried them but apparently you wear with a pad, and if the pants get soiled you just tear them off (like a nappy) and put a fresh pair on. Saves getting trousers on and off!

Of course you can bleed into period pants.
Isonthecase · 06/02/2022 22:13

I use a mooncup with period pants as a back up and have been pleased with the combo. It also helps measure how heavy they are which means you can give the doctor an actual amount when pushing for that referral.

elliejjtiny · 06/02/2022 22:15

I have periods like yours and period pants changed my life. Before I was spending £40 a month on what was basically an adult sized pull up and using 2 sanitary towels at the same time as well. Now I use a night time cloth sanitary towel and period pants and I very rarely leak during the day now although I still usually leak during the night on my heaviest days.

atgnat · 06/02/2022 22:18

OP, cups (and discs) come in various sizes, and some have higher capacity. I couldn't get on with cups but menstrual discs (I use Lumma) are great. The biggest Lumma apparently has a 55ml capacity.

LittleWins · 06/02/2022 22:20

I swear by modibody and have a horror film situation every month. The shorts are my favourite - true to size and so comfortable! I have about 10 pairs now.

If you say your birthday is tomorrow they’ll send you a £20 off voucher too ;)

LittleWins · 06/02/2022 22:22

@FateHasRedesignedMost

You use them with a cup or a pad, you don’t just bleed into them. They’re like an extra layer of protection. Then only change them if the cup/pad overflows.

I wouldn’t wear them for a heavy period with nothing else, you’d be changing them every hour as they’d be soaked in blood (and smelling of blood too).

Lillits make disposable period pants that a lot of women swear by post partum; I haven’t tried them but apparently you wear with a pad, and if the pants get soiled you just tear them off (like a nappy) and put a fresh pair on. Saves getting trousers on and off!

You do just bleed into them.

The other benefit is they’re so much better for the planet too.

MrPenguinsPoppers · 06/02/2022 22:22

I use Amazon Innersay ones for light days and tampon back up and period.co for heavy nights as they do a cycle short that's pretty robust and leak proof.
Primark ones are also surprisingly good for medium flow.
Recently bought modibodi but I remain unconvinced. The absorbency is good but they seem to pinch and cut (ironically it says on them they may be uncomfortable to begin with but let's be honest why would you then continue to wear them until they weren't?)

Houseofvelour · 06/02/2022 22:28

I love them! Before I got a mirena coil, I had tsunami periods.
I bought the heavy flow, overnight ones from modi bodi and I'd use a bodyform night pad with them and they'd stop leaks when I went to bed. I wouldn't trust them on their own though.

cadentiasidera · 06/02/2022 22:54

I like period pants but mostly use them on my lighter days or as back up for heavy days with a cup. I really didn't think I'd get on with a cup but I found one for £5 (flowcup.com/) so I thought it was worth a try. They hold a lot and do a much much better job than tampons. My period is so much easier now!

I used to have much heavier periods but they improved after being on the pill. When they were bad I found mefenamic acid helpful in managing pain but it also seemed to stop the flow being so heavy.

Hope you find something that helps but also agree that you might need to push this with the GP as it sounds like you need a referral.

Original poster
DontWantTheRivalry · 06/02/2022 22:57

Thank you everyone for your comments - it seems like noon cups are recommended.

Part of the reason I’ve never used one before is because I can’t imagine how to insert it….never mind thinking how messy it must be to remove especially if full of clots?!

However, as they’ve been mentioned quite frequently I’m going to go and Google them.

OP posts:
HW1989 · 06/02/2022 23:03

Definitely invest in period pants. They are fantastic. On the heavy days I use the pants and a cup. On lighter days just the pants are fine.

Yamalt · 06/02/2022 23:06

If your family is finished then an ablation could be ideal.

abbs1 · 06/02/2022 23:07

Hi OP, I was having same issue as you and it got worse after i had my first child. Contraception like the pill etc was giving me awful side effects so i couldn't take them. the dr prescribed me tranemexic acid and mefanamic acid to take for the pain and to stop me losing so much blood as i was borderline amaemic. It honestly changed my life and wish id been on it for years.
I felt like i had my life back and not stuck inside for days each month worrying about leaks and pain.
Could you ask for it possibly to help you?

MistyFrequencies · 06/02/2022 23:07

Modibodi 24hr pants last me about 8hrs on my heavy days- which used to mean at least a super tampon per hour, usually wore a pad too as often floods and leaks.