How Often should you Change your Period Panties, Tampons and Pad

Many women can identify with the feelings that take place when Aunt Flow arrives into town. In addition to feelings is also the focus on hygiene and overall maintenance to a sensitive area.  For instance absorbency, odor control, and one’s personal preference on health risks all have to be taken into consideration. With many sanitary product options out there for women, it’s nice to see how absorbent each of these are and beneficial to know how often we need to change each of them out to ensure we are maintaining a well-balanced body during this time of cleansing.

While many women stick with maxi pads or tampons, there is another approach to assist with your menstrual cycle. Period panties are an absorbent undergarment in which a layered gusset draws moisture away from the skin, is odor resistant and naturally antimicrobial. A good rule of thumb is to consider period panties, like ours, to replace a panty liner. Opt for changing your panties as often as you would a liner and use them typically the first few days leading up to your cycle (especially if untimely)  and the last days where there is less bleeding.

Many women will wear our period panties with their tampons or menstrual cups as a added layer of protection against leaks and odors.

If you use tampons during your period, aim for wearing a tampon that is saturated and needs changing every three to five hours. With the different levels of absorbency, stick with the one that is equivalent to that flow. If you are going through tampons every two-to-three hours, you may want to opt for the next higher level of absorbency. Changing every three-to-five hours can prevent a rare but potentially fatal disease called Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). Even if your flow has slowed, you still should change it every three-to-five hours. Many women find tampons are convenient, particularly with heavy flows. They can wear a tampon if they want to go in the water and some women claim tampons are more comfortable when sleeping than with the use of a bulky pad.

 If you are using maxi pads or sanitary napkins, they should be changed as often as necessary to prevent the pad from being soaked and saturated during your cycle. You can wear a pad overnight or six or more hours during the day. If you have heavy flow you may need to change it more often. With using a pad, you may also find that the pad may develop an odor after several hours. You should change them then for that reason. Pads come in different levels of absorbency starting off with panty liners for light days to super on your heavy days.  A starting point to wearing pads may be every six hours, but again, this all varies on your own personal process. When using a pad, you don’t have to worry about TSS. Still, you will want to be mindful of the outer rubbing that can take place against your sensitive skin and ensure you are wearing a pad that fits your size properly to avoid chafing.

Women endure a seven-day flow. What this all comes down to?  Absorbency.   Are you having to change more frequently? Absorbency is key when it comes down to how often you need to change. No one wants to change every two hours. Find the products that best suit you and the scenarios in which you will be during the week. While many options are there, all these options are based on one’s personal preference.

Our suggested solution? Add our period panties to your arsenal so that you not only have back-up protection but also be certain that you are staying dry, leak-free and clear of TSS, as our panties boast a power mesh layer that does not pool bacteria because it dries quickly! Getting you back to the things you love quickly and confidently!