What is period underwear, and why is it the best?

Period underwear is an underwear style for absorbing menstrual blood, with the best thing being a disposable-free alternative for regular pads, tampons, and liners. The underpants are made of layers of cloth, with different layers fulfilling different roles: the topmost layer keeps your skin from being moist, middle layers soak and retain the menstrual liquid, and the bottom layer ensures there are no leakages. There's a different shape for period underwear from regular underwear, with absorbing cloth moved higher on the front and on the back end for maximum coverage.

One of the best advantages of period underwear is their usage, not just being money-savers in the long run, but also waste minimizers. Designed with the same fashion and feel of regular underwear, period underwear can be of different forms and sizes for different physiques and needs. All of them can be able to accommodate two to three tampons' worth of blood, and can be used on regular, heavy, and even heavy flow days.

Period underwear has been promoted for its reliability and comfort, with its discreet and comfortable way of holding menstruation without leak and pain. From office wear, sleeping, and even exercising, they provide steady and effective coverage of menstruation.

When searching for the best period underwear, consider the following

Absorbency levels

This is where it's useful. There are varying levels of period underwear, and they're mostly from lightweight up to heavy. Lightweight can be the best period underwear for a lean flow day, say for backup, and heavy for heavy flow days, where other period products can be layered on top of them. Align your underwear's capacity with your flow for leak prevention and for your satisfaction.

Material and texture

The comfort of the best period underwear also relates to what has been worn. Wear air-permeable, hypoallergenic stuff such as cotton, and also bamboo, with silky feel against your skin and lower risk of causing irritation. Some period underwear also consists of layers of moisture wicking material for being comfortable and not wet.

Fit and fashion

Just like normal underwear, period underwear must be comfortable and fitting for leak prevention. The underwear also exists in different forms such as bikinis, thongs, hipsters, and normal brief. Pick a fitting style that feels comfortable on your waist and legs. A fitting and comfortable style not only adds more comfort, but also enhances the performance of the underwear for leak prevention.

Breath ability and odor prevention

To stay odor-free and comfortable on your period, wear underwear of natural and moisture wicking material. Some of the best period underwear consists of natural or treated material with odor-resistant properties, and such underpants will maintain your underpants smelling and remaining fresh.

Choosing the best period underwear will be determined by these, your needs, your flow, and your style. So, therefore, therefore, you can opt for a product not only comfortable, but also with the amount of coverage necessary for your period.

Reviewing top 4 most popular period underwear styles

When selecting the best period underwear, focusing on different forms and their individual offerings becomes very significant.

Mary (High waist)

• Ideal for: Daily wear for the entire menstrual cycle, including heavy flow days.

• Features: Full, from head to tail, day and evening wear, and up to 3 tampons' absorption.

• Recommended: This style works best for individuals who want stable, day and evening wear without altering too drastically. Good for working days and evening trips.

Jasmine (Basic)

• Ideal for: Longer periods of use, including overnight sleeping and extended use for a whole day.

• Features: Leak-proof, comfortable and with an absorption layer extending fully from front to back.

• Recommended: Opt for evening coverage if evening coverage is what you're on the lookout for. Also recommended for use with period cups when menstruating for extra security.

Lily (Lace + bamboofibers)

• Ideal for: Active days, including sporting and exercise.

• Features: Durable, lightweight, and remains on even when exercising strenuously.

• Recommended: Lily for busy individuals who want underwear that doesn't ride up when they're on the move. Its style also accommodates tropical weather or summer because of ventilation.

Rose (Thong)

• Ideal for: for milder days towards the end of your period, for low incontinence.

• Features: Absorbs 2 tampons, with a more tapered shape for smaller days.

• Recommended: Choose Rose for low flow days when lower absorbency without compromise on leak-free peace of mind is of importance. Its discreet, compact design means also best for wear with clingy clothing.

Cost vs. duration

When considering period underwear, longevity and costs are two of the main factors. To start with, period underwear can be more expensive compared to tampons and pads. But period underwear has a very long lifetime, unlike tampons and pads, and this means you're possibly saving money.

Is the investment worth making?

This table clearly shows that while the upfront cost of period underwear is higher, the total expenditure over three years is significantly lower compared to the ongoing cost of disposable pads, making it a cost-effective option in the long run. 

A quality period underwear can cost between 20 and 40 euros. While more expensive in the beginning, such underwear can be washed and reused and can even be made durable for 2–5 years if treated with care. Compare this with repeat disposable expense of a couple of hundreds of dollars for the same period of years.

Durability and Maintenance

The durability of period underwear is mostly determined by their use. The top brands recommend washing them in cold water and air-drying them without bleach and without fabric softener. Proper use not only leads towards their longevity, but also towards leak-free use and comfort.

Long-Term Savings

Over time, period underwear's savings pay for themselves. If you transition, your regular purchase of disposable good’s decreases, in effect lowering your overall period goods expenditure. Besides, you're not wasting anything, and on top of savings, you're also gaining a natural boost.

In conclusion, when choosing the best period underwear, regard them as an investment in your and the environment's general well-being. The higher up-front expenditure is outweighed with savings and longevity, and they're every single purchase worth for anybody who wants to be more eco-conscious and lower their overall expenditure.

Environmental Impact

Period underwear, on the other hand, can be extremely sustainable. Conventional period products such as pads and tampons generate bulk amounts of trash. A person tends to use a maximum of 10,000 disposable period products in their life, and they end up as waste and may take centuries to biodegrade as they are made from plastic.

Period underwear can be washed and reworn for years, though. Your period waste can be reduced by wearing them. The period underwear, in general, contains organic cotton and bamboo, and other such natural fiber. Not only are they doing good to the planet, your body also feels comfortable wearing them as there's no use of chemicals, unlike disposable ones.

Also, the manufacturing of period underwear also consumes less water and energy during production than manufacturing disposable ones. The other companies that produce period underwear also follow ethical methods of producing their underwear, such as not only is their underwear sustainable, their treatment of the human rights of the people producing them is also just.

By wearing period underwear, you are not only making a decision for your own health, but for the earth as well. Adding this to your period routine can, in total, amount to huge positives for the earth.