To have no idea about sanpro?

[squashedalmondcroissant]

This may sound ridiculous but I've had a mirena coil for nearly 15 years and haven't had a period for that entire time so the whole idea of having them is pretty alien to me now.

Unfortunately, for reasons not totally clear yet, I'm having issues with the coil and it's causing me a lot of pain so I'm having it removed at the end of the week and having a break from it while investigations are done.

So, for the first time in a long time I'm having to think about sanpro. I know things have advanced a lot in recent years and there are a lot more options widely available now, I really like the idea of reusables rather than disposables but I have no idea where to start!

I'm not sure what my flow will be like when it starts up again, it used to be heavy and I needed to change pads frequently so I'm not sure period pants will be up to the job and stop leaks. Same with reusable pads! How many do buy? I don't do much washing as it's only dp and I so if I'm changing several times a day won't I need a large stash of them?

I cannot, will not, use a moon cup or similar. I know a lot of women do and they are great for many but there's just no way I will get on with them, I never even used tampons when I had periods before so a moon cup is just a 100% no go. I don't like using anything internally.

Sorry for being so clueless but I don't want to make an expensive mistake or buy anything that won't be suitable for me so I need advice 😬

15 years you say?

The same Mirena for 15 years? I hope you weren't relying on it for contraception.

Reusable sanitary towels then?
Sure there'll be a few companies if you Google

@DramaAlpaca

The same Mirena for 15 years? I hope you weren't relying on it for contraception.

I think OP means she has had 'a' mirena, not the same mirena!

So you're looking at pads then.
Tbh I'd use disposable ones initially until you know where you are at. Good reusable are expensive. Or you could try amazon etc for cheap ones - but they are hit and miss.

Yes that's right, I've had 3 - as soon as I had one out I got the next one!

I'm sure there are many reusables out there but no one I know uses them IRL for me to ask for advice 😬

Go to the supermarket. Stock up. Take a few months to work out your flow then order something that does the job.

Buying inadequate reusable is no less wasteful of materials or (especially) money than using disposables for a short while.

I love reusables
I like rag hag (Etsy) and honour your flow. Easy to use, I just shove them on a rinse cycle then wash as normal (no fabric conditioner)

Rag hag I have a mix from heavy to light and then honour your flow slim mega for really heavy days. Never had a leak with either of those brands

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RagHagShop?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1157357113

https://www.honouryourflow.co.uk

The right period pants are up to the job, even with a very heavy flow. However, the more they hold the bulkier and more expensive they are, so there is a bit of a trade off, you don't want to go unnecessarily high capacity. I have Primark pants, Modibodi and Wuka. The Primark ones are cheap and don't hold much, I use at the tail end of my period. Both the other two makers do free delivery, so what I did was order a pair from each and try both (using disposable sanpro for the rest of that period), and then get more of the one I liked better.

The different brands list the capacity of their pants on their website, there are other makers that get good reviews, I tried Wuka and Modibodi because they had the highest capacity and I have very heavy flow.

I change mine twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. The pants take ages to dry once watched because of the padding, so yes, I now have lots of pairs.

M&S period pants

if you turn out to still have heavy flow, be very careful if offered tranexamic acid - after taking it for over a year for that reason (no idea what it did for my periods, still extremely heavy, but I suppose they could have been worse without the tranexamic acid) they did exactly what they were supposed to do, thickened the blood, stopped it flowing properly and gave me DVT.
Not wishing to derail thread, just passionate about warning people not to take tranexamic acid long term.

Another shout for Modi-Bodi! I bought mine about 2 years ago (7 pairs) and haven’t looked back since.

I rinse them in the sink so they run clear, then wash them altogether at the end of my period.

@squashedalmondcroissant

Yes that's right, I've had 3 - as soon as I had one out I got the next one!

I'm sure there are many reusables out there but no one I know uses them IRL for me to ask for advice 😬

Read the reviews people who have used them have posted

Take a look at Earthwise girls - I like their own brand ones but they also sell pads from lots of other makers.

Well, I googled 'reuseable pads', bought some and then used them.

I have floating lotus pads (bought a starter pack so a selection of sizes) which I love. I also have the bloom and Nora ones which I'm not so keen on (bought a starter pack of them and they were about twice the price for maybe two extra pads).

My periods are definitely a lot lighter than they used to be - I don't know if it's because of changing to reuseables or just a coincidence. I used to use super tampons and a night time pad and would get a couple of hours max before I would have to change. Now I change my pad because I think its been on too long. I have 6 floating lotus pads (cost about £30) and I rarely have to use the bloom and Nora ones.

I find my first two days heaviest & use Flo pads on those days. I then switch to Wuka period pants for days 3-6.
It means that although I am still using some disposable products to manage the heavier days, I've cut down the amount I use, & I find the period pants comfortable and effective for the 4 lighter days.

These are the disposable pads I like - they are SO soft and comfortable.
www.boots.com/flo-natural-bamboo-ultra-thin-day-night-pads-15pk-10267255

Search amazon for bamboo reusable pads. I use modibodis too, as I have endo, sometimes both together

You can use cloth pads with period pants for maximum protection too. Cloth pads are great, and they make ones suitable for heavy flow. Period pants are generally suitable for light flow. As well as being environmentally friendly, they are better financially long term. Many women say it helps reduce period pain too.

Definitely period pants!!! Life changing. And some disposable pads in the cupboard to use sometimes when you run out of pairs.

Buy one pair from a couple of brands to see which you like. I am not in UK but found the ones I got from the supermarket (U by Thinx by Kotex) I like more than the expensive Thinx I bought. So I’d start at the supermarket if they sell any at your local?

I use wuka period knickers, they're really good. I know you said you don't want to use a moon cup but honestly they're amazing, a total game changer. I bought mine last year aged 30 and I'd never used a tampon. Best £15 I ever spent

I really like Cheeky Wipes pads and period pants. They're pretty reasonably priced and a good starter option to get a decent initial stash.

I bought some cheap ones off Amazon to see if I liked using reusable, I did so I bought some more expensive ones, I actually preferred the cheaper ones in the end though!

@Meadmaiden you can get period pants suitable for heavy flow now. I have these Wuka ones wuka.co.uk/collections/super-heavy/products/wuka-ultimate-midi-brief-super-heavy-flow which say they hold 60 ml. They do me for 12 ish hours on my heaviest day, when I used to get through at least 4 super plus sized tampons and still need a pad for leaks. They have been a genuine game changer for me.

Modibodi also does some maxi ones that they claim hold 50 ml, I didn't find they worked anything like as well though, for me they didn't even last half a day before they leaked.