Why period panties will change your life

What does "Taking control of your privacy so you no longer have to endure it" mean? At Gapianne, we wanted to give women the opportunity to find the solution that suits them best. This doesn't mean that we have the answer to everything and that all solutions will be perfect, but at least several options are available to us, and it's up to us to choose the most comfortable and most suitable one!

Which menstrual protection should I choose?

We know that periods are not always a pleasure. Bloating, sensitive breasts, headaches, stomach aches, acne, diarrhea or constipation… All joy. But, we can try to welcome our cycle with kindness and try to adopt a vision more in tune with our body, thanking it for its power to renew its endometrium to welcome life during a future potential fertilization (or simply to express healthy cycles and have a healthy body). Preparing your body and mind for the arrival of your period allows you to experience your menstrual cycle with more serenity and better welcome your period . By adapting your diet, anticipating your symptoms, doing yoga or meditation for example.

Let's stop suffering, know our options, and find the most suitable one. One of the essential questions beyond managing pain and other symptoms is: what protection will I wear? Historically, women protected themselves with cloths or sponges. Several protections have been identified—aside from a few outlandish or not yet sufficiently developed ones—and today we have different options:

- The tampons

- Towels

- The cup

- Menstrual panties

They all have their pros and cons: Irritating tampons, smelly pads that make us feel like we're wearing a diaper, total embarrassment if we want to change our cup at the office, caught in the act with the Holy Grail engorged with blood in the sink, or stuck in menstrual panties that are too tight or not adapted to our flow. Okay!

But it's still great to have the choice, and we hope that in a few years, many other solutions even more adapted to our bodies will emerge. For example, we're currently hearing about clip-on panty bottoms that need to be changed regularly... We'll be testing them out for you soon. In the meantime, here's what we think of menstrual panties and why they can change your life.

5 reasons why period panties will change your life

First of all, Anne, my partner, had already worked on the subject and broken down for you the differences between menstrual panties and sanitary napkins with a complete article which goes over how to choose your menstrual panties , how to use them and how they work concretely. I invite you to read it if you are still looking to be convinced: find the article here. But I will add to that the reasons why we personally think that this invention is revolutionary.

1- PROTECTION THAT LOOKS LIKE NORMAL PANTIES!

Period underwear looks like what we wear every day, even though a special layer allows the blood to be absorbed at the bottom of the panties. In reality, their main advantage is that they avoid the discomfort that a pad can cause. Period panties are really more comfortable while keeping us just as dry, because they are designed to absorb menstrual blood . We can therefore be confident and comfortable as in our own panties! You can keep them on for sports, for example, and stay active, which can be more difficult with a pad or tampon. In addition, somemenstrual panties have no seams , so they are invisible. They also limit odors and the feeling of humidity for maximum comfort.

2- THE ANTI-LEAK EMERGENCY SOLUTION

There are specific menstrual panties for heavy flows . We also recommend that you consider it - if you are one of those who have very heavy flows - as a safety measure in addition to other protection. If your flow requires several tampons per day and you prefer not to wear your menstrual panties for an extended period, do not hesitate, for example, to use a tampon or a cup as usual, and wear menstrual panties in addition to be prepared for any leaks!

This is also the best solution I've found for sleeping. You need to get a fairly absorbent panty for the first few nights and it becomes an ideal leak-proof solution that saves you the 4 a.m. trip to change your tampon, terrified by the risk of toxic shock syndrome, and allows you to sleep comfortably all night (phew!).

Finally, they are an excellent solution for your irregular flows, because they can be worn as a preventative measure before your period in case it arrives unexpectedly, but also at the end of your cycle during the last irregular bleeding.

3- IT DOESN'T IRRITATE YOUR VAGINA

Those affected know! No more tampon irritation! Removing and inserting them multiple times a day can quickly create pain and dryness on our very sensitive mucous membranes. Hygienic underwear, chemical-free and external to your vagina, offers you a gentler solution while remaining just as effective.

4- LONG-LASTING PROTECTION

Sanitary underwear is washable and reusable, which means you can go through a full cycle without having to throw anything in the trash! We all start by being sensitive to reducing our waste and protecting the environment (well done for those who have always been), the most sustainable options like cups or menstrual panties allow us to no longer produce as much waste each month as with tampons or pads (9,000 period protections over the course of a woman's life on average)...

5- A LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION

It's true that menstrual panties cost more than a box of tampons or pads. But if you keep them for 3 years, washing them in cold water on a delicate cycle after rinsing, the math is easy. It remains one of the least expensive solutions for long-term period protection, competing with the UPC.

Gapianne chose the Smoon brand

At Gapianne, we have tested many and our favorites are those from the SMOON brand

Invisible, thin

Comfortable to wear, as it is seamless, with a very light material that hugs the skin and our curves

Dries quickly, no wet effect

Odorless

Economical

Durable and eco-designed (French and Italian materials)

High waist, low waist, medium flow, light flow, heavy flow, menstrual swimsuit, in a kit to try on... We invite you to look at our different models to find what suits you best.

Gapianne Invisible & Effective Menstrual Panties - Medium Flow - Smoon | Gapianne €35 Smoon menstrual panties, designed for medium flows, offer up to 12 hours of absorption (2 tampons) while ensuring great comfort. Thin and seamless, they keep you dry and discreet.

Gapianne Invisible & Effective Menstrual Panties - Heavy Flow - Smoon | Gapianne €39 Looking for period panties for heavy flow? Artémis is the super absorbent ++ menstrual panty from the Smoon range. With an absorption capacity twice as great as the Séléné panty - the equivalent of 4 classic tampons or 2 super absorbent tampons - it offers up to 12 hours of protection, without odor or moisture, day and night. Its seamless technology guarantees incredible comfort and perfect invisibility under clothing.

Our choice does not stop there, because in addition to menstrual panties, the Smoon brand offers a whole range of incredible menstrual outfits: Sports Leggings , Sports Cycling Shorts , Swimsuits , Boyshorts and Menstrual Panties for young girls .

And for female cyclists, we have an incredible pair of menstrual shorts from the Wilma brand.

We are (very) open to your feedback and suggestions on the subject, don't hesitate to share your experiences and advice with us on the site chat or on insta!