Should I buy Period Panties?
When you hear the name “period panties”, the first thing that comes to your mind is probably those old, washed-out granny panties that you wear when you are on your period to avoid messing up your nice ones. In this case, you would be wrong.
Period panties are next on our list of reusable period products that can change your experience with periods forever. If you are interested in a product like this, then you have definitely come to the right place. Here we will be discussing what these are, how to use them, and if they are worth the try.
What are period panties?
Period panties go by many names, such as menstrual panties, period underpants, and period underwear. But whatever name you give to them, they have the same function.
Period panties are underwear that is specially designed to stop menstrual blood from staining clothes. These work in the same way as a pad would inside of regular underwear, but instead, the underwear and pad are combined.
These are typically made of cotton, lined with two, three and even four layers of protection. The first layer is for removing moisture to ensure dryness and sealing away odor. The second layer is for absorbing the blood and preventing it from escaping to your clothes. The third layer is just an additional layer of protection. Some even contain antimicrobial silver that will help to fight bacteria and odor.
This design is superior to that of a pad because unlike a pad which stores the blood on the top layer, the panties store the blood in the middle layer. This eliminates the damp feeling that pads give, and give you additional comfort and security.
Period panties, like regular panties, come in many styles, such as boy shorts and bikini, and also in different colors and sizes. Some even come with a kind of kangaroo pouch in the front where you can place a heating pad to help with cramps. Once worn, they are washed, just like regular underwear, dried and worn again.
Choosing the right kind
Choosing the right kind of period underwear is dependent on how heavy your flow is and what size underwear you normally wear.
If you have a heavy flow, you might want to stay away from the thong types and go for boy shorts or briefs which give more coverage. For sizing, your seller will provide you with a size chart that will help you to choose the right underwear size, based on your pants size.
How to use period panties
When you go to buy period panties, try getting two or three at first. When they are in your possession, the first thing you should do is wash them, even if they came in a lot of packaging. Wash and them as you would your regular underwear.
When they are dry, slip them on. You do not need to put on a pad or insert a tampon because the panties will absorb all the blood. Some women have said they wear them all day, but you should change them after every shower, and, since you are on your period, that should be twice a day.
To take them off, just do it, in the same manner, you would any regular underwear.
Care
With period panties, you must wash them as soon as possible to avoid getting stains. If you are in public, remove and place in a Ziploc bag until you get the change to wash them.
To wash your period panties, you will have to run them under cold water to rinse out most of the blood. If you intend to hand wash, use the same kind of soap that you would use for delicatessuch as underwear or lingerie. If they can be machine washed, follow the instructions given by the seller. Under no circumstance should you wash your period panties in hot water. This will only help the stain to set.
If they were worn for a long time and have become smelly, you can add a few drops of tea tree oil or vinegar in your fabric softener to remove odor.
Once cleaned, hang in the sun to dry, as this will help to maintain the elasticity and quality of the fabric, or, if permitted, toss them in the dryer. Once they are dry, store them in your underwear drawer for later use.
Pros and Cons
Now that you know what they are and how to care for and use them, it is time to talk about the pros and cons of period panties. Here are a few of them:
Pros:
• Long nights rest- It is not advised to have a tampon in for more than 4 hours because this can cause infection. Wearing a pad for an extended period of time can also become quite smelly and can also cause an infection or rashes. So, this means that you have to get up in the middle of the night to change yours. This sucks, especially when you are super tired, or when you have trouble falling back asleep. The solution to this is period panties. This will give you full protection throughout the night, and you can get a full night sleep.
Cons:
It is worth it?
Period panties are worth it in the long run and can save you the pain of losing your favorite underwear to bloodstains. Depending on how heavy your flow is, buying period panties can eliminate pads and tampons from your life forever, and leave you with more in your pocket to buy wine and chocolate.
