Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Women's health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Original poster

Personal hygiene issues while on period…

54 replies

Immaculately · 03/03/2022 19:45

Hi all,

Name change for obvious reasons.

I have a slight issue when I’m on my period -I sweat so much more, I get body odour so much faster, I need double the amount of deodorant, my hair gets disgustingly greasy much faster and I have a particularly heavy periods which doesn’t help with odour.

I make sure to bathe every night, scrub myself multiple times all over with plenty soap, put on lashings of deodorant, use shampoo for greasy hair, I change my period products (tampons) regularly but have such a heavy flow I regularly bleed onto my pants which I can’t change for my entire shift. My sweat smells so much more on my period when it never smells the rest of the month?

I’m going to start packing spare pants in a small bag and change them as soon as I bleed through, it is SO DIFFICULT getting to the toilet in my job though which is part of the issue.

Please recommend some personal hygiene tips/tricks or specific products to buy!!!!

OP posts:
Kirstyr455 · 03/03/2022 19:50

I bought a mooncup after years of heavy periods soaking through pads tampons etc. Its changed my life.

MrsElm · 03/03/2022 19:53

Can you shower in the morning? I sweat a lot through the night, and like to be fresh for the day.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 03/03/2022 19:59

I think you need to tackle you’re periods!

You could wear period pants as well as a tampon. Bug l used to take Tranxenamic Acid which had a huge effect on my heavy periods.

Shabtipup · 03/03/2022 20:01

@Immaculately

Hi all,

Name change for obvious reasons.

I have a slight issue when I’m on my period -I sweat so much more, I get body odour so much faster, I need double the amount of deodorant, my hair gets disgustingly greasy much faster and I have a particularly heavy periods which doesn’t help with odour.

I make sure to bathe every night, scrub myself multiple times all over with plenty soap, put on lashings of deodorant, use shampoo for greasy hair, I change my period products (tampons) regularly but have such a heavy flow I regularly bleed onto my pants which I can’t change for my entire shift. My sweat smells so much more on my period when it never smells the rest of the month?

I’m going to start packing spare pants in a small bag and change them as soon as I bleed through, it is SO DIFFICULT getting to the toilet in my job though which is part of the issue.

Please recommend some personal hygiene tips/tricks or specific products to buy!!!!

You could look into chrorophyll supplements, I've never tried them but it allegedly neutralises all body odour (even farts lol) do a bit of research it does sound too good to be true but it might be worth a go? Im thinking of trying it too. For greasy hair could you try dry shampoo and just apply throughout the day? Also just to add, there is nothing wrong with you I suffer the same thing and I think many women do. Hormones!! Confused
GandTfortea · 03/03/2022 20:05

Period pants ,a sanitary towel and moon cup or tampon all at once .
I’m fat and 48 and on destrogil pill ,so no periods ever ..worth a try

koalalala · 03/03/2022 20:14

I usually wear a sanitary towel / period pants as well as a tampon as I flood. Is this an option?

Susu49 · 03/03/2022 20:36

You could try a super strength anti perspirant, either sprays or wipes which can be handy for places like face. Just avoid intimate areas!

Susu49 · 03/03/2022 20:37

Worth having a chat with your gp too

bellac11 · 03/03/2022 20:39

Genuine question, do you think your sense of smell is more heightened when you have your period?

rolypolydoly · 03/03/2022 20:52

It shouldn't be so difficult to get to a loo during work time. What is it you do?

Could you try tampons + period pants / disposable pants while at work?

Also keep some wipes (scented?) with you so you can have a quick freshen up when you need it.

If you're soaking through often I'd speak to GP

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 03/03/2022 20:54

I used to teach. It was impossible to get to the toilet.

I used to wear a tampon and 2 pads. I remember once being so desperate, l had to change a tampon in the stock room during lesson change.

Russell19 · 03/03/2022 20:55

Going to the toilet is a priority, a right, you must make time for this every few hours at work.

WTF475878237NC · 03/03/2022 20:57

There are some 48 hour deodorants out there now that are much stronger. Are you using soap not shower gel?

catfunk · 03/03/2022 21:01

Op I feel the same on my period. In summer I end up showering twice a day and use super tampons and pads together. Mitchum roll on deodorant then a nice body spray all over under my clothes. Use moist toilet paper.
I used to worry about bleeding through tampons but in reality I wasn't changing them often enough.
If you're not allowed to use a bathroom at work you could raise a grievance - go down the protected characteristic route.

catfunk · 03/03/2022 21:02

Also natural fabrics and pears soap rather than shower gel works wonders for me

Nomoreusernames1244 · 03/03/2022 21:04

It could be your sense of smell being heightened rather than actually smelling more.

Do you live with anyone? Any close friends you can ask?

It’s fairly uncommon for someone who showers daily to smell. It takes a while for bacteria on the skin to convert fresh sweat and body fluids to odour.

BillyBilly · 03/03/2022 21:05

Consider going on the pill and not taking breaks. Or double up on period products. Or ask your GP for medication to help make your periods lighter and more manageable.
Driclor is excellent for heavy perspiration- but only on underarms. Maybe try something like Femfresh (terrible name!) spray or wipes- but not ideal if you can't get to the loo at work.... (outrageous!).
Can you tie your hair back in a high pony- then a bit of grease is a positive, in keeping it held back.

bellac11 · 03/03/2022 21:07

@Nomoreusernames1244

It could be your sense of smell being heightened rather than actually smelling more.

Do you live with anyone? Any close friends you can ask?

It’s fairly uncommon for someone who showers daily to smell. It takes a while for bacteria on the skin to convert fresh sweat and body fluids to odour.

I suggested the same, having said that though about the showering (I have to shower twice a day when Im on my period as I just feel wrong if not), I have a really annoying top that I wear that I do smell BOy in, despite showering and deodorant. Its very annoying
Original poster
Immaculately · 03/03/2022 21:09

@Russell19 is it a right? We had a threatening email at work to stop going to the toilet so much or we would be pulled up by senior management and questioned.

Do I need an official menorrhagia diagnosis? Because I feel this is the extent I’d need to go to to disappear to the toilet to wipe myself up, change pants, change period products and sort myself out every 2 hours as this is the rate I’m bleeding through a maximum absorbency tampon.

I work in childcare and every second I go off the floor is timed and everyone waits on me coming back so I just make do with my soaked pants and get on with it :(

I briefly mentioned to my GP before regarding my heavy periods as I have anaemia from them, he wasn’t the least bit interested and didn’t note it down

OP posts:
englishsongbird · 03/03/2022 21:09

@bellac11

Genuine question, do you think your sense of smell is more heightened when you have your period?
I think you might be onto something here bellac11. Mine definitely is. I wonder if it's the same hormone that affects the sense of smell in early pregnancy?

I definitely think OP needs to speak to their GP regarding the heavy periods though, and raise a grievance at work if they can't get to the loo.

feministqueen · 03/03/2022 21:13

@Immaculately if you're struggling that badly with periods that you're having to go to the toilet every 2 hours or more because you're flooding then you need to speak to your gp and your work about this.

Work need to know because they shouldn't be making you feel that you're unable to go to the toilet. You don't need to make a deal out of it, just make them aware and leave it at that.

For the sweat, you can look at deodorant with aluminium in which will help with that. They can be a bit costly but if it's only once a month that you need to use it it shouldn't be that bad

alsonotmyname · 03/03/2022 21:13

I flood too op and dr not interested as I've always had very heavy periods, I use a tampon with incontinence pads as they're more absorbent and sometimes period pants too

englishsongbird · 03/03/2022 21:13

[quote Immaculately]@Russell19 is it a right? We had a threatening email at work to stop going to the toilet so much or we would be pulled up by senior management and questioned.

Do I need an official menorrhagia diagnosis? Because I feel this is the extent I’d need to go to to disappear to the toilet to wipe myself up, change pants, change period products and sort myself out every 2 hours as this is the rate I’m bleeding through a maximum absorbency tampon.

I work in childcare and every second I go off the floor is timed and everyone waits on me coming back so I just make do with my soaked pants and get on with it :(

I briefly mentioned to my GP before regarding my heavy periods as I have anaemia from them, he wasn’t the least bit interested and didn’t note it down[/quote]
OP your GP sounds like an idiot. You have the right to speak to a different one if you aren't happy with how the first has dealt with it. I've never used the 'right to choose' before but perhaps others here have experience of it?

Is it worth trying a pair of period pants? Like Modibodi but cheaper... I saw them in Sainsbury's today, they are a lot easier to get hold of than they used to be.

feministqueen · 03/03/2022 21:14

[quote Immaculately]@Russell19 is it a right? We had a threatening email at work to stop going to the toilet so much or we would be pulled up by senior management and questioned.

Do I need an official menorrhagia diagnosis? Because I feel this is the extent I’d need to go to to disappear to the toilet to wipe myself up, change pants, change period products and sort myself out every 2 hours as this is the rate I’m bleeding through a maximum absorbency tampon.

I work in childcare and every second I go off the floor is timed and everyone waits on me coming back so I just make do with my soaked pants and get on with it :(

I briefly mentioned to my GP before regarding my heavy periods as I have anaemia from them, he wasn’t the least bit interested and didn’t note it down[/quote]
Sorry I missed the point about speaking to your gp. Go and speak to them again. Request a different doctor if needed.

Are you officially anaemic? That also needs sorting if not already done. Don't let them fob you off. It's not ok.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 03/03/2022 21:17

I have a mirena coil, which was suggested to deal with heavy periods, and I found it to be amazing - I simply don’t have periods at all.