I Tried Period Underwear & I Hated Them

I tried period underwear and I hated them. Did I get the wrong pair? Am I using them wrong? Why use period underwear when you can just use cloth pads?

This post is not sponsored, but I did include links to affiliate retailers below.

What are Period Underwear?

The idea behind period underwear has been around, but in my memory, Thinx brand popularized the concept in the last decade. To the point where we were no longer explaining what it is or how they work.

The idea behind period underwear is that it’s an underwear you can wear all day that absorbs and catches your menstrual cycle. Ya, full day use is usually advertised – because who would want to change their underwear daily.

There are many different brands from big brands to small makers.

I tried two pairs and I’m not convinced, so help me out.

I hated Period Underwear because…

I don’t have the heaviest cycle, but I hated feeling damp all day.

I’m no stranger to cloth pads, that’s been part of my life for nearly a decade, but what I love about cloth pads is that I can swap them out every 2-3 hours for something clean and fresh.

But with period underwear, I felt like it didn’t wick away the moisture/clotting (because that’s a thing) from the menstrual cycle like I was expecting. Really, that’s a tall ask.

So, if you use period underwear, or menstrual underwear, do you have this problem?

I read that many people will use them with their cup… and that seems fab. I don’t use a cup because of a pre-existing trauma in my life. 

Sizing Kinda Sucks

I found period underwear sizing to not be awesome. I’m not sure about you, but my postpartum body is in fluctuation. It’s part bunion surgery, part motherhood, part carbs.

The one pair fits, but only some months depending on my body shape.

The other pair, didn’t fit. I ordered a XXL and I can’t squeeze them onto my booty. This is really disappointing. When you shell out a large sum of money on period underwear, you kinda hope they’ll be somewhat true to size. This pair was not, and once you max out the largest size, you suddenly realize that this is not a product for me.

Is Period Underwear really the best choice?

Period underwear feels like a hyped up expensive way to manage your menstrual cycle. I love using more natural products to control my cycle and reduce the pain and discomfort. But, coming in at over $30/per pair, menstrual underwear is a product that doesn’t always fit my body, and that my body sometimes grows out of.

The nice thing about menstrual pads and cups is that they always fit whether your body is 180lbs or 280lbs.

• If you find your body is in fluctuation, menstrual underwear might not be the best choice for you.
• If you have a plus size body, you might find menstrual underwear is not the most comfortable choice.
• If you find you clot heavily, then menstrual underwear might not be the best choice for you.
• If you’re on a budget, then menstrual underwear might not be the right choice for you.

Have you had this experience with menstrual underwear? Is it just me or ma I using them wrong?