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Period Pants for Heavy Periods: The Lowdown

11 December 2023  |  Admin

Are heavy periods making life a bit more challenging? Do you struggle to leave the house because your periods are so heavy? Or regularly bleed through a pad in an hour?

You're not alone.

Dealing with heavy flows can be tricky, but period pants are literally gamechangers! They do away with the need for tampons and pads

Period panties look and feel just like regular underwear but have built in absorbent layers to keep you leak free.

Let's dive into why they might be your new best friend for those heavier days.

Shop Bamboo Period Pants

"Game changer! These are quality products. As a big girl I always struggled while on my period. My periods are rather short, but I always get around 36 hours of heavy flow right in the middle... With these on, I am comfortable through the night and wake up to clean bedsheets every time! These pants are high waisted and comfortable however very thick. My bottom gets very warm, especially in summer months." Product Review of Bamboo Fearless Pants

Do Period Pants Work for Heavy Periods?

Yes, period pants work really well for heavy flows, as long as you select the correct absorbency level and brand.

That's because period pants are made from highly absorbent materials that are moisture wicking and soak up the flow, leaving you feeling dry and comfortable. They're leak proof too!

Heavy flow period pants can absorb between 4 and 6 pads or tampons worth of period blood. Look for pants with absorbency to the front and rear waistband. Absorbency just in the gusset area is useless for anything other than light flow when standing up!

They're a game-changer for many, providing reliable protection without the bulk or discomfort of traditional pads. Unlike sanitary pads they won't give you an unexpected bikini wax either!

It's natural to feel skeptical about their effectiveness if you're used to the 'norm' being single use products. But in fact, reusable products are actually miracle workers for heavy flow days. Remember thought that finding the correct fit and absorbency level is absolutely key to leak-free periods.

If you're unsure about whether you've chosen the right absorbency level or you're worried about leaks, we always recommend that you try out your pants at home first before venturing out.

"I find the website extremely easy to navigate and its absolutely full of really useful information, not only about the products but also hints and tips as well. Sustainable products normally come with a bit of a price tag however Cheeky Wipes regularly do deals to help make it affordable! I use the period pants and find them amazing! It's helped eliminate chafing and completely reduced my sanitary product waste as well ❤" Trustpilot Review

How to Get the Most Out of Your Period Pants

If you're considering switching to period pants here's some tips for how to get the most out of your period pants:

Consider doubling up

Whilst it isn't necessary to use a pad or menstrual cup alongside period pants for absorbency reasons, there are occasions when you might choose to do so.

For me, that's days when I knew I would be at work and was feeling too lazy to change my period knickers at lunchtime. So much easier to stick in a reusable pad first thing and then remove it at lunchtime for that fresh knicker feeling.

If you only have a limited number of pairs of period underwear (we understand it can take a bit of time to build up your stash

Doubling up is also a great idea for extra protection if you suffer with very heavy periods, endometriosis or flooding. When I say heavy periods, I mean 'bleed through a maxi pad in an hour' type heavy.

To truly make the most of period pants during heavy flows, consider pairing them with a reusable pad or a menstrual cup for added protection, especially on your heaviest days.

Our customers with endometriosis really rate our bamboo fearless pants plus our bamboo fearless pads for a game changing heavy period beating pairing! Read more about their recommendations here.

Shop Bamboo Night Pads

"I am so glad I've made the switch. This product has completely changed periods for me! I was suffering badly with skin irritation from disposable products but was always concerned about the ability of reusable products. Don't know what I was worried about! This product has changed things for me completely, zero irritation and very comfortable to wear. I would absolutely buy again without hesitation." Product Review of Bamboo Night Pads

Easy to wash

One of the biggest pushbacks we get is around washing period pants. Some people are horrified to even consider washing period pants in their washing machine because of 'all the blood'.

Let's get this in to perspective.

An 'average' period is around 85ml over 5 days. Even if your periods are FIVE times heavier than average, this equates to just under 450ml of blood over an entire period.

However we assume that most people have a wash going on every other day, so you would have roughly half of that amount of blood to wash at any one time, around 225ml.

An average washing machine uses 48.8 litres of water per washload. The blood to be removed is therefore 0.46% of the total washing load. It's really no big deal. Read our article 'Can you wash period pants with other clothes' to find out more.

Washing period underwear is really simple:

  • rinse in cold water or soak overnight in COLD water before washing (water 40c or over can 'set' the stains
  • wash with your nest full washload, using your normal detergent plus a scoop of stain remover
  • avoid fabric softener
  • air dry inside out for quickest drying

"Extremely comfortable and easy to use period pants and reusable pads. I’ve been trying to reduce my plastic use, but have had difficulties with menstrual cups in the past, so I generally rely on pads. I love the designs on these and how soft they are, and once you get into a routine of soaking them after use and washing them, they’re really not too difficult to use. I now have enough to go through a whole period without using disposable pads, but even if you start off with just a few, you’re still reducing your plastic waste, so I’d highly recommend trying them out. There’s also a lot of information on their website, so it’s a good resource too" Trustpilot Review

Conclusion

Reusable period pants offer a sustainable, reliable solution that's worth considering.

Finding the right fit and absorbency level is crucial for optimal performance. But making the switch to Cheeky period pants can help you be more comfortable, sustainable and confident during your period!

For more information on period pants and other reusable period products, feel free to drop us a line ( we LOVE to chat pee, poo and periods!) or explore our blogs below:

If you're ready to dive into the world of comfortable periods, check out our recommended products:

 

 

 

About the Author: Helen Rankin founded Cheeky Wipes, the original reusable wipes kit back in 2008 after disposable wipes caused her eczema to flare up. 4 kids later, internal period protection such as tampons or menstrual cups were no longer an option for her and she went on to develop their range of 'Simple Reusables' to include period pants, reusable panty liners and reusable sanitary pads.

The Cheeky customer services team pride themselves on providing honest, friendly advice and just LOVE to chat pee, poo and periods all day long, helping people make the switch to reusables! The Company was recognised for their hard work in developing environmentally friendly products with the Queens Award in Enterprise for Sustainable Development in 2021.