A girl’s new best friend!
Being a woman isn’t an easy task, especially when it comes to periods. It requires good hygiene care, fulfilling cravings and consuming painkillers to manage menstruation symptoms.
One challenge that women often face during menstruation is hygiene. Throughout the course of the menstruation cycle, it’s common for women of menstruating age to turn to disposable menstrual products, such as pads, liners and tampons to get them through their cycle with proper coverage.
It is true that the vast majority of women do it without much of a second thought as they’ve been brought up and taught to use sanitary pads ever since puberty hits. Now, there are many available options we may look into that can provide the same necessities at the same time limit the amount of sanitary pads we use in our daily lifestyle.
Have you ever considered ditching disposable menstrual products and use something that’s reusable, like a period underwear instead? So, what is reusable period underwear and how does it benefit us during our periods?
What exactly is reusable period underwear?
Period underwear is a type of underwear that is meant to be worn specifically during your period to replace the usage of disposable menstrual products like tampons and pads. They’re also reusable! All you’ll need to do is to wash it and you may wear it again.
How do they work?
Period underwear is designed to look and feel like regular underwear, but with additional layers and special fabrics to absorb menstrual blood.
It is made up of an absorbent substance that absorbs menstrual flow, a moisture barrier that keeps you comfortable and a layer to prevent leaks and stains.
In addition to providing comfort and leak-proof benefits which is what most if not all women truly wants, period panties are a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution.
Why switch to period underwear?
In addition to providing comfort and leak-proof benefits which is what most, if not all women truly want, period underwear are a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution. According to the Global Citizen, menstrual products like pads and tampons wind up in landfills before breaking down into microplastics, which pollute our oceans, rivers and beaches as well as taint our drinking water.
Although menstrual products are a necessity, the waste generated through it can be minimised by using reusable products such as period underwear. Period underwear is a viable alternative to traditional hygiene products because it can be reused for a longer period of time.
Furthermore, you may also avoid the frantic dash to the nearest store to stock up on sanitary pads as you’re always prepared with period underwear in your closet.
Can you wear period underwear all day?
This depends on your cycle stage. Just make sure you purchase the right type of period underwear based on your cycle stage and you might be able to wear it all day.
Before completely switching to period underwear, try it out during lighter flows or use it as an extra layer of protection on heavy days with a tampon or menstrual cup. On lighter days, you may only require one pair of period underwear.
They’re hassle-free!
How many times have you been out and about when your period started and unfortunately, you realised that you didn’t have any sanitary products with you? Or perhaps, the many times you’ve reached into your bag only to discover that you’ve run out of sanitary pads?
Well, we’ve been in your shoes and truly know how dreadful the situation can be. However, period underwear can prevent such things from occurring as you already have a pair on before you head out.
In short, period underwear have more advantages than you might think. For example, they generate significantly less waste. On top of that, because they can be reused, they’re inexpensive compared to the traditional menstrual products that needs to be stocked up regularly. Furthermore, they are easy to use and might make managing your period more comfortable.
How many pairs are needed?
If you’re planning to give period underwear a try, get several pairs that you can use during lighter and heavier flows. Once you’ve decided to completely switch to period underwear, you’ll probably want to set aside five to seven days worth of pairs depending on the length of your flow. In this case, you don’t need to launder every other day.
The cost of not maintaining menstrual hygiene
No matter your menstrual product choice, it is crucial to maintain cleanliness and good menstrual hygiene. The lack of menstrual hygiene can pose unwanted physical health risk such as:
- Fungal or bacterial infections.
- Vulvar dermatitis (irritation of the skin such as swelling and blisters and itchiness).
- Folliculitis around the genital area.
How to care for period underwear?
| It’s really important to keep period underwear as clean as possible. Here’s how you can care for period underwear the right way: Step 1: Soak Start by soaking and rinsing them with cold water. Step 2: Wash When using a washing machine, it is best to place them in a washable mesh bag and wash them on a delicate cycle. You could also consider hand-washing using a mild detergent to help your underwear last longer and hold its elasticity. Step 3: Dry To preserve the fabric’s integrity, lay underwear flat or hang it to dry under the sun instead of putting it in the dryer. Step 4: Treat Concerned about stains or lingering odours? Period undies are stain-resistant and shouldn’t retain a scent with the proper care, but you can also soak them in a vinegar/water mixture before laundering. |
Sources: Grove, Everyday Health, Womens Health, Global Citizen
