If you’ve never tried period pants before, they can sound a bit… strange. Underwear that replaces pads? Where does the blood go? Are leaks risky?
Before I bought mine, I had a million questions for my friend who recommended them. Some of the questions were pretty TMI, which I’ll get into (you need to know what you’re dealing with!) But honestly, once you try them, you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with anything else. I find them so easy and sooo much nicer/easier than wearing pads/tampons.
I’ve been using mine for a while now and I love them. They’re comfortable, easy, and genuinely make my period easier to deal/cope with.
If you’re curious or you’re thinking about trying them, here are the most common questions I had and everything you need to know before buying a pair.
TL;DR (summary)
★★★★★
Yes, there are cons but for me, due to them taking away stress, I give them 5/5!
Pros: less smelly than pads; you see less blood whilst wearing them (but not when cleaning); no need to use pads, which helps the environment and your bank account; they’re very comfy in general, whilst sleeping and working out.
Cons: pricy upfront; can be messy when cleaning; worry about leaking more because you can’t actually see the blood; I have to organise better because I only have 3 pairs, which means I have to be on top of laundry.
How do period pants work?
Period pants look and feel like normal knickers, but they have thicker layers inside. They’re thicker than normal knickers but not quite as thick as a pad. Mine are knickers from M&S, but you can get all types, including thongs, mid-rise, and high-waist.
They have:
- a soft top layer that’s comfy to wear
- an absorbent middle layer that holds the blood
- a leak-proof bottom layer to stop blood escaping
They don’t feel bulky, or ‘wet’, and I find mine very comfy.
You can’t see the blood, or at least I can’t with mine because they have a black gusset. I wear my period pants for 6-7 days (obviously clean daily!) and it’s only when I’m on days 2-3 when I’m heavy that I worry a little about leaking. On the heavy days, I put on a clean pair in the morning, then change into another in the evening.
I’ve never soaked through my period pants, but I wouldn’t say I have a very heavy period. You can probably get period pants for very heavy flows. When I first got mine, I worried I would soak through, so I kept a sanitary pad with me at all times. I’ve worn a pad over my period pants and had no trouble. The only time I’ve thought “ooh, yeah, I need to change” is towards the end of the day on my heavy flow days. I simply change into a new pair, and keep these on and change the following day again.
My top tip: buy period pants that are a completely different colour to your usual, so they’re easy to spot in 1) your drawers 2) when washing. You aren’t allowed to tumble-dry period pants, so a different colour makes separating the wash very easy! I personally bought the 3 pack of hot pink from M&S because I own absolutely no other pink pants!
Are period pants hygienic and safe?
Yes, completely! As long as you wash them properly, they’re just as hygienic as pads. They’re also great if you have sensitive skin because they don’t have perfumes, plastics, or chemicals like some disposable products.
And they don’t smell, as long as you rinse and wash them after wearing.
How much can they absorb?
Different pairs have different absorbencies:
- light flow – spotting, very light days
- medium flow – most days of your period
- heavy flow – great for your heavier days or overnight
Most people can use medium or heavy pairs instead of pads or tampons. If you have a very heavy day, you might prefer to change halfway through or use them as backup – but you’ll quickly learn what works best for your body.
I haven’t used tampons for years because I really don’t like them, and I don’t think they actually absorb much blood anyway.
Can they replace pads and tampons?
For me, yes 100%. I use them on their own and feel completely comfortable and ‘covered’. I use them as a full replacement for disposable products.
I’m not sure what the official wording is, but I’ve worn pads on top of my period pants when they were new & I wasn’t sure how risk-free they were.
If you have a very heavy period, you could look at ‘heavy absorption’ pants, wear the pants with a pad, and/or change throughout the day (I do this on my heaviest day).
How long can you wear period pants for?
Most pairs can be worn for 8–12 hours, depending on your flow. So they’re good for daytime, work, and overnight. One of the best things is that they don’t move around as pads do, so you are supposed to get far fewer leaks, especially during the night.
I haven’t had any leaks since using my new pants. Previously, I’ve woken up sometimes with pads completely twisted, doing absolutely bugger all and leaked on the bed.
How do you know when your period pant is full?
Apparently, you’ll be able to feel it just like how you can feel it with a normal pad. Although I have heavy days, I haven’t actually felt the pants become heavy, but that’s apparently (from reading reviews) what you should expect.
Can you wear period pants with a pad?
Yes, you can! I haven’t since first using them (now I trust them), but if you know you’re going to be unable to check for a while and you’re due for a heavy flow, I’d definitely wear a pad which you can remove during the day when it’s full.
How many pairs do you actually need?
I have 3 pairs for a 6-7-day period. I’m able to wash and reuse within those days, but I’m probably going to buy another set that’s for those lighter days. The ones I’ve got are for heavy days.
A mix of medium- and heavy-flow pairs works best for most people.
How do you wash period pants?
This was one of my biggest questions. Obviously, the blood will come out in the washing machine, so either it makes sense to 1) wash them altogether without anything else or 2) rinse beforehand so they can go in with other delicates.
Here’s my real routine:
- I rinse them in my morning shower after I take them off, whilst I’m actually showering. It’s quick, gets all the blood out, and I clean the shower afterwards. This reduces the need for me to actually handle them with my hands which I’m not a huge fan of.
- Once the blood is rinsed out, I put them in the normal washing basket.
- I wash them with everything else on a normal 30° wash.
- No fabric softener (it affects absorbency).
- Air dry only – absolutely no tumble dryer.
And that’s it. No soaking, no messing about. Once rinsed, they literally look like normal underwear going into the wash.
Absolutely no tumble dryer!
If you prefer to rinse them by hand to get the blood out, that’s also fine and another way to prepare them for washing. Do you see lots of blood? Yes. Does it get on your hands? Yes (you could wear gloves). Does it mean you have to wash your sink down? Yes.
The last option for washing is to simply wash them altogether in the washing machine. I’m not sure if the blood will have some sort of weird adverse effect on the washing machine pipes or make the inside smell – I doubt it, but putting it here just incase!
Are they comfortable?
Yes. They’re honestly more comfortable than wearing pads, especially on warm days or if you move around a lot. My period pants are soft, stretchy and not bulky at all. They just feel like normal pants.
They don’t feel ‘hot’ even after working out.
Can you wear them overnight or for workouts?
Yes – I do!
- Overnight: there’s no movement, no crinkly pad feeling, no waking up worrying about leaks.
- Workouts: not that I exercise much when I’m on my period, but if I do, they’re comfy and keep everything in place, even while running
- Also helpful for light bladder leaks or extra discharge.
Are period pants worth the money?
100%. They save money long-term, they’re kinder to your skin, and you’re not throwing away disposable products every month. If you buy good ones, they last 1–2 years easily.
I bought 3 pairs from M&S for £20.
Where do you buy them from?
I got mine from Marks and Spencer’s, from a friend’s recommendation. I got the 3pk heavy absorbency period full briefs for £20.
I got them in hot pink so I could tell them apart from all my other underwear (I literally have nothing else pink).
It’s on my list to buy another set, although the hot pink aren’t in stock with M&S at the moment. I struggle to keep on top of laundry only having 3 pairs, considering I wear a clean pair daily for 5-6 days and change 2x per day on my 1-2 heavy days.
Are period pants eco-friendly?
Yes – they reduce waste, especially if you switch from pads or tampons. Even using them for half a cycle makes an environmental difference.
Final thoughts: should you try period pants?
If you’re even slightly curious, try one pair. That’s all you need to see if they’re for you. They’re comfortable, practical, and honestly make your period feel so much easier. I genuinely love mine. They’ve made my period not quite as horrific (I get bad period pain) so it’s just one less thing to worry about.