Reduces waste (46%) ' Overall it’s a winner: comfort and avoiding landfill waste are super important to me.' To find the best pads for heavy flow, Dr. Cullwell advises focusing on the length, width and coverage. "Choose pads with heavy absorbency and opt for longer and wider pads for nighttime use," she says. "Consider using period-absorbing underwear for extra coverage at night. Avoid scented or fragranced pads, as these can cause allergic reactions or irritation." The best pads for heavy flow 2023: To dry them, we recommend hanging them up to air-dry, hanging them in an airing cupboard is fine if you have one, but don’t put them on direct heat or into a tumble dryer as this may cause shrinkage.

The regular flow Medium Flo pad is your go-to for those in-between, business-as-usual period days, and can also be used for leaky bladder days. We also use none 🙅‍♀️ of the nasties you'll find in conventional tampons and pads - no fragrances, no dyes, no allergens or harsh chemicals like chlorine bleach. Nothing but natural goodness in our products! And ALL of our products are vegan + cruelty-free, certified by PETA and The Vegetarian Society. Due to the prevalence of plastic in many period products – such as applicators and pads, not to mention other reusable products as well – using period pants is a good move for the environment, especially if you can get a significant wear out of each pair!It's worth remembering that, like ordinary pants, period pants won't last forever. Some manufacturers give you a rough idea of how long they're expected to last – from the brands we looked at this tends to be around two years, or 50-60 washes, but some don't specify and one brand (Love Luna) suggests a year at most.

Period pants are washable and reusable absorbent pants that can be used instead of, or alongside, disposable products such as sanitary towels or tampons. Good quality (37%) ' I think they're great, and would have been fantastic to use as a young person whilst at school. I actually bought them first for my daughter. She was only 10 when she started her period and I wanted her to be as comfortable and confident as possible.' Sanitary pads might seem a bit retro and remind you of our first period, but they’ve recently had an eco revamp to make them – dare we say – cool, and a great option for making your menstrual cycle as green as you can.Bear in mind, the style may affect the absorbency level – a skimpier pant is likely to have a lighter absorbency. Vulvar Care.” Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/4976-vulvar-care. Accessed 21 June 2022. If you're still not convinced, you can wear period pants with a tampon, pad or menstrual cup too, using them as an extra layer of support instead. How do you wash period pants? When asked, 99.3% of 908 people asked said they were pleased they had made the switch to Wear ’em Out reusable period pads. (Survey undertaken by Wear ’em Out) Charity Partners: Guidance says that it's totally hygienic to wear a pair of period pants for 10-12 hours, as long as you are wearing the correct pair for you. What are the sustainability benefits of using period pants?

If you’re up for trying out these more planet-friendly alternatives, take a look at the recyclable and reusable sanitary pads we rate below. It also has a range of pants made from recycled fabric off-cuts discarded by fast-fashion manufacturers.

Best rated

Some manufacturers have branched out into period proof swimwear and gym wear, too, or pants that are easily removed and swapped when you're out and about. Absorbency The tampon wrappers are 100% recyclable (to be replaced by compostable, plant-based wrappers in Summer 2021). In December 2021, we surveyed users of period pants to find out what they liked and disliked, and how they rated the brands they'd used on factors such as leak protection, comfort and value for money. While the upfront cost of period pants is higher, especially as you realistically need multiple pairs to last you through a period, they should pay for themselves over time.

Wear ’em Out work closely with a Sussex based charity called Champion Chanzige. They aim to make sustainable changes to the lives of children attending schools in the Kisaware district of Tanzania. To date, projects have provided two refurbished school libraries, six classrooms, four drinking water storage systems, educational resources such as library books in Kiswahili and English, computers for access to e-learning resources, ecological workshops that provide schools with the means to create kitchen gardens or small farms, and menstrual hygiene workshops. The latter workshops focus on reproductive health education and how best to manage menstruation to ensure the maximum attendance at school. Wear ’em Out donate their pads to this organisation to ensure students do not miss classes due to period poverty related issues. You can find out more here. The Products Explained: Cotton is the best material for DIY pads because it’s a natural, breathable fabric, she adds. Synthetic fibers, such as polyester and lace, can irritate the delicate skin around your genitals — and make vaginal infections more likely. Objectively speaking, the applicator tampons (albeit 95% plant-based & recyclable) still bring waste into the world. If it’s not rinsed and properly recycled, it’ll end up in landfill and contribute to unnecessary pollution. Sebert Kuhlmann, Anne, et al. “Unmet Menstrual Hygiene Needs Among Low-Income Women.” Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 133, no. 2, Feb. 2019, pp. 238–44. Accessed 21 June 2022. If sustainability is very important to you but you can’t deal with a menstrual cup, then this is the one for you.Not sure period pants are for you? See our full guide to eco menstrual products for alternative options including menstrual cups, washable pads and reusable tampon applicators In our survey, people were mostly positive about their overall experience of using period pants, with 75% saying they liked or loved them. If you don’t have pads or tampons, it’s actually easier than you might think to make your own reusable pad. “Take advantage of an old clean cotton T-shirt (or any cotton material),” suggests Dr. Corniero. Simply cut out a few strips and layer them in your underwear. Period pants come in an increasingly broad range of shapes and sizes, including an ever-expanding range of colours. For the record, you’re considered to have a heavy flow when you soak through one or more pads or tampons every hour for several hours in a row, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Needing to change your pad or tampon during the night and needing to wear more than one pad at once to control your flow also qualify, ACOG says.