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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:
Original poster
DontWantTheRivalry · 06/02/2022 23:42

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?

This was Plan:A and the doctor faxed a prescription over to the Chemist but then the GP phoned me about 30 minutes later and said that I can’t take the medication because of a chronic health condition I have.

Therefore I’m back on their ‘Plan: do nothing’

OP posts:
L0stinCyberspace · 06/02/2022 23:48

@DontWantTheRivalry I had the same dreadful flooding and clots. I was using period pants and mooncup a decade ago but it was just so stressful as the moon cup would overflow, clots would sit on the surface of the pants and were horrible, so eventually I gave in and had Mirena.

Can you take a progesterone-only oral pill?

HouseIsOnFire · 06/02/2022 23:53

I tried modibodi and they couldn't keep up with my flow/clots but they do have a no questions- refund policy on your first pair, so you really don't have anything to lose trying them!

Vispa · 07/02/2022 00:01

Of course not unreasonable - how will you know unless you try a pair..? Try Modibodi's highest absorbency 24hrs/maxi period pants, they are fab, so comfy, highly absorbant (much more than a pad). You can also pop a cloth pad onto, then remove when needed and still have the period pants on ready to go and/or as back up. The leak proof section goes right up the back to the waistline so very good protection. (Don't bother with bodyform ones they're nowhere near as good.)

Maria1982 · 07/02/2022 00:10

To answer your original question, I think not unreasonable at all, try some and see if they suit you. I do also think a moon cup could be helpful though.

Having read all your other updates though -
Massive sympathy, as having stupidly heavy periods is such a pain. I was going to suggest tranexamic acid but I see you can’t take it - what a pain.
Endometrial ablation has been suggested I see - less radical than hysterectomy and would definitely help.

ThisTownAintBigEnoughForBoth · 07/02/2022 07:48

About the mooncup again OP, not wanting to push you in that direction but as you've said you're interested. I'm not going to lie, with heavy periods it can sometimes be a little messy. But ime no worse than using pads. Inserting it has a knack and I'm sure Google can explain that better than me. But the combination of it and period pants has saved me a few times during flooding.

PrivateHall · 07/02/2022 07:56

OP I think you would need to remove clots from the surface with toilet paper and flush them, what's I do but I suspect yours are much worse than mine so I honestly can't say if it will work for you.

This is what I use - icenisilver.com/

I exercise a lot and they are aimed towards that market, hence how I came across them. They are expensive but honestly amazing.

PrivateHall · 07/02/2022 07:57

Also, I didn't even discuss it with DH - it is an essential purchase and so doesn't require discussion in my book!

reluctantbrit · 07/02/2022 08:01

I have one day with extreme flooding and the only way so far are Modibodi's 24hr which are great but still need changing after 6 hours. But I feel I can do things instead of just stayting at home and running to the bathroom every 2 hours and still having stained trousers.

Expensive but so far I didn't have to buy new trousers or bedsheets anymore.

Inmyonesie · 07/02/2022 08:02

I had extremely heavy periods (flooding after 2hrs, big clots) and period pants couldn't cope. I used them with a tampon. Been better since starting mini pill. Is recommend speaking to gp as having such heavy periods isn't normal.

RealBecca · 07/02/2022 08:03

As well as a different dr opinion, I'd layer up 3 ways- moon cup, cloth pad (more absorbent) and period pants x

doadeer · 07/02/2022 08:12

I find a cup and period pants is ideal.. I don't like the sensation of flooding out onto the pad as I can't relax. I find a cup holds a lot and I have peace of mind with my modi body pants on. They are expensive though.

lennybruceisnotafraid · 07/02/2022 08:13

Definitely memstrual cup, even if you have to empty every hour, it's better than flooding. I use ecolilly reusable pads as a back up.

In terms of inserting, it's daunting first go and then so easy: fold it over, insert and then a bit of an adjust and it pings open inside. Yes it's messy but nothing a bit of a wipe with loo roll can't sort on your hands and then a normal hand wash. And I have very heavy periods too.

I don't have clotting so I can see why you'd be apprehensive, give it a go.

doadeer · 07/02/2022 08:14

With the cup - practice in the shower when you're new to it. You do have to be willing to get up there!

purplesequins · 07/02/2022 08:19

go for it.
maybe also try reusable pads.

tbh I feel cheated by disposables, the reusables are so much better for heavy periods.
I was wearing night time pads on the heaviest days and had to change every 2 hours or so. a reusable pad (plus period pant for leak protection) has me covered for 6 hours or more)

PenStation · 07/02/2022 08:23

Modibodi period pants with a moon cup is a game changer. You can add a reuseable pad on top if you need. Definitely try for ablation.

Aprilx · 07/02/2022 08:25

Thankfully my periods are over and I was a little younger than average when they stopped, so I have never tried period pants. But I was like you for thirty years (the pill didn’t help by the way) and I used to double up on protection, if period pants had been around I would have seen it as another way to double up or perhaps triple up, I wouldn’t have thought it the solution by itself though.

ittakes2 · 07/02/2022 08:33

I was you - used period pants with a pad on heavy days. Used this at night and still slept on towel due to leakage.
But the miracle changer was acupuncture - after three months I had light periods and never needed any of that again.

EnterFunnyNameHere · 07/02/2022 08:42

Definitely try period pants to help manage the symptoms, but it makes me FURIOUS how often period issues are dismissed if you can't use the first option treatment. Please, please ask about ablation! You shouldn't have your life so restricted by something that can be medically rectified.

GrowBabyGrow · 07/02/2022 08:57

I think your friend is unreasonable for dismissing your idea out of hand. I don't think she knows what she's talking about.

I found wuka's super heavy were really really good. Most brands have a 'try for X month's' deal so if they don't work for you it is possible to return them (washed but used). You could just buy one or two pairs and see how you go.

Some have mentioned modi bodi as well. Only flag is that they and some other brands have wool in the gusset. So not great if allergic to wool or vegan.

ihaveonecat · 07/02/2022 09:03

[quote buckeejit]Try these
https://www.honouryourflow.co.uk/extremely-heavy-flow-66-c.asp?uid=5af17bef-f482-4381-b46a-5043c85bbdfe[/quote]
Second these, they're fantastic

somethingischasingme · 07/02/2022 09:13

My daughter wears hers with a pad that she changes throughout the day- she wears the period pants to ensure no leakage at school/ on the bus if she can't get to a loo etc. She wears them at night and we have swimming ones for swimming. See good, wash well, last etc.

Mama234567 · 07/02/2022 09:14

I use WUKA ones and I love them, they stay completely dry which amazed me I thought they would be like swimming costume material but they're just dry really absorbant pants. I especially like them for overnight because thats when I would usually leak if just wearing normal knickers and a sanitary towel and don't like wearing tampons overnight.... I don't get many clots but I do have heavy periods and cramps for the first day or so. In your position I think the pants are worth a try.

Only negative is I get a bit paranoid that they smell as the day goes on as whenever I go for a wee etc.. there is an odor and you can't change the pants as easily as a sanitary towel.

frazzledasarock · 07/02/2022 09:18

Primark does period pants. My DD's use them.

Use them in conjunction with sanitary towels, so even if the towel floods the pants will wick away the blood and you shouldn't leak.

Definitely worth buying, and the Primark ones don't cost a fortune.

Morechocolatethanbarbara · 07/02/2022 09:22

Definitely look into an ablation. I ended up going private just to fast track and it has changed my life.

I was you a couple of years ago and my periods were horrendous as was my anaemia.

Not my periods either don't happen at all or are super light 2 day events.

Complete game-changer.

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