How long do period panties last?

In just a few years, menstrual panties have become THE menstrual protection loved by menstruating people. Practical, comfortable, pretty: it has won our hearts! However, and in particular because it is a new form of hygienic protection, its use is still subject to questions. You regularly ask us, in our chat 💬 and on our social networks, about how long it is appropriate to keep menstrual panties on. You are therefore wondering, on the one hand, “ How long can I wear my menstrual panties every day? ” and, on the other hand, “ What is the total lifespan of period panties? ”. In this article, we answer all these questions about wearing and keeping period panties.

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How long to keep menstrual panties while using them?

This is the first question you ask yourself about wearing period panties: how long can you keep them on every day, during the day?

How long to keep your panties on?

Menstrual panties can be worn for up to 12 consecutive hours in the same day without risk to health. So you can wear it all day or all night without problem. For hygiene reasons, and in particular to avoid the development of bacteria and irritation of your vulva, you should not wear it for any longer. For these same reasons (hygiene and health), do not wear your period panties for two consecutive days without washing them : once removed, your panties must be cleaned.

Obviously, this duration of 12 hours depends on the flow of your period and the absorption of your menstrual panties : if your flow is significant and your panties are on the verge of overflowing or overflowing, you will need to change them more regularly to avoid leaks!

More concretely :

• If your flow is normal, medium flow panties (equivalent to two medium tampons) can be kept for between 4 and 8 hours. If you want to ensure a full day, opt for abundant flow panties;
• If your flow is heavy, or even very heavy (hemorrhagic), very heavy flow panties will last you between 2 hours and 4 hours, like two super tampons. To keep it longer, you will want to combine it with another method of protection (tampon, cup, menstrual towel).

🌈 On our e-shop, we have selected for you panties from the French brand Smoon whose ethical values ​​we love. The quality of the panties is validated by our customers! They are available in different sizes and absorption: medium flow teen size panties (from 10 years old), heavy flow teen size panties (from 10 years old), medium flow panties , abundant and very abundant (especially for associated losses postpartum). We also offer packs combining several absorptions to respond to changes in flow during your period.

How do you know when your panties are full?

But how do menstrual panties work exactly? Menstrual panties work using an absorbent pad made of natural materials positioned at your crotch. Often black in color, it can be rather complicated to know if it is “full” or not. However, there are several signs that can tell you that your period panties may be overflowing:

• Unpleasant wet feeling: if you have the feeling that the pad is too wet, unpleasant to wear, this means that the panties are almost full.
• Blood is visible on the pad: if you have the impression that there is blood suspended on your absorbent pad, this means that the pad is no longer able to absorb it. It may leak and overflow very soon!
• Leaks: If you notice leaks, from the back of your menstrual panties or directly into your clothes, this means that your panties need to be changed. It is either too full or the pad is too narrow.

What are the risks of wearing your panties for too long?

If you wear your menstrual panties for too long , there are several risks linked to the development of bacteria in the blood and vaginal discharge:

• Irritation of your vulva: if you leave your vulva in contact with the pad wet with blood for too long, without changing your menstrual panties, you may suffer from irritation of your vulva. If there is discomfort in the vulva, it may be necessary to moisturize your vulva . 🌈 Surround your irritated vulva with softness thanks to the vulva care balm from the Baûbo brand that we have selected for you on our e-shop. It’s one of our bestsellers: you love it!
• Imbalance of the vaginal flora: the balance of the vaginal flora is linked to the presence of good and bad bacteria in the vagina. Contact with the wet pad can increase the presence of bad bacteria and generate an imbalance in the vaginal flora and lead to mycoses.
• Development of vaginal mycosis: vaginal mycosis is often the result of an imbalance in the vaginal flora. The proliferation of bad bacteria and fungi can cause irritation, internal itching or even a burning sensation. You will need to contact your doctor for treatment.

Unlike cups and tampons, which keep blood inside the body and prevent it from flowing naturally, menstrual panties do not pose any risk of toxic shock.

How to easily change menstrual panties during the day?

While you can keep menstrual panties on for up to 12 hours, on days with heavy menstrual flow it may be necessary to change your menstrual panties several times during your day. How to change your menstrual panties during the day?

Tips for a discreet and practical change

The main problem with period panties is when they need to be changed; it is odorous and dirty when used.

When changing at work, at school, or on the go, there are several tips to alleviate this limitation:

1. Opt for a menstrual bag: our first tip is to have a bag with everything you need for your menstrual hygiene, in other words one or two spare panties, a waterproof plastic storage bag to store your dirty panties, a solid soap for cleaning your panties and wipes to make you feel fresher when you change.
2. Take a waterproof carrying bag to store your used panties: a plastic storage bag or a pretty waterproof plastic pouch will help you avoid odors and stains linked to used panties. Take it opaque if you are embarrassed by the idea of ​​it being visible at the bottom of your bag or put it in an opaque pouch dedicated to your protections (clean diapers, wipes, etc.).
3. If possible, rinse your panties directly: to prevent the blood from drying and being more difficult to come off afterwards, we recommend that, when you can, you immediately rinse your panties in cold water.
4. Put a sanitary napkin over your panties: to avoid having used panties in your bag, it is possible to put a disposable sanitary napkin over your menstrual panties for the first part of the day. Once the latter is full, you remove it, and use the clean menstrual panties for the second part of the day. This is the technique we recommend to girls having their first period who don't want to have a spare pair of panties in their school bag.

Techniques for maintaining optimal hygiene

To maintain optimal hygiene when changing your menstrual panties , there are several techniques that we recommend you try:

• Clean your panties thoroughly between wearings: to maintain good hygiene, it is first of all essential to wash your menstrual panties thoroughly between your cycles.
• Do not wear your panties for more than 12 hours: this recommendation is associated with the development of bacteria in the pad. Some brands may recommend shorter times, particularly because their pad is made from materials that may react differently.
• Opt for wipes to freshen up: when you change your menstrual panties the same day, we can only recommend that you clean yourself with intimate wipes. They will give you a nice refresh and you will feel comfortable for the rest of the day. 🌈 On our site, we have selected for you the biodegradable intimate wipes from the My Lubie brand. Their advantage? You can throw them in the toilet after cleaning yourself.

How long to keep menstrual panties?

This is another question you ask yourself about period panties: how long do they last? Generally speaking, the lifespan of menstrual panties is 3 years. But it will depend on different factors: we talk to you about it without taboo!

The average lifespan of menstrual panties

Menstrual panty brands estimate the lifespan of their products between 2 and 5 years. Some indicate that it is even possible to keep your menstrual panties on for up to 7 years, this last figure is certainly a little exaggerated, as natural wear and tear often gets the better of our menstrual panties before this fateful date!

The Smoon brand that we invite you to discover and that we offer for sale on our site indicates, for example, an average lifespan of between 3 and 5 years, depending on the frequency of use.

Factors that influence the lifespan of menstrual panties

Several factors influence the lifespan of full-term menstrual panties:

• Frequency of use: this factor is not very surprising! The more you wear and wash your panties, the faster they will get damaged! If you use and wash your panties more than once per cycle, you will inevitably damage them more than if you only wear them once. This factor is often the one used by brands to justify announcing a lifespan of their panties that can go from simple to double.
• Duration of your periods: this factor is linked to the previous one since the longer your periods are, the more you will tend to wear your panties several times (unless you have a lot of them!).
• Use: if you use your panties in addition to other hygienic protection to reassure yourself (many of us wear tampons and cups in addition to our period panties), they will be less damaged by cycles and will last longer .
• Maintenance: the temperature at which you wash your panties, the detergent you use to wash your panties or even the way you dry them can have an impact on the lifespan of your period panties!
• Quality of the design of your panties: The last factor that can have an effect on how long your panties last is not completely up to you as it is associated with the quality of your period panties. Depending on the material used to serve as an absorbent pad, the overall fabric of your panties or even the elastics of your panties, the lifespan of your panties can be very shortened! A poor quality pad can in fact become smaller or less absorbent after a few washes. Likewise, panties made from poor quality fabric or designed with poor quality elastics can become deformed and lose their tightness. This is why you will need to choose your brand of menstrual panties carefully – we’ll talk about that later!

H3 6 tips to extend the life of your period panties

Proper maintenance of your panties will increase their lifespan and ensure impeccable hygiene.

1. Choose your menstrual panties wisely: the quality of your menstrual panties greatly depends on their lifespan! We like French brands, European manufacturing and labels that reassure us about the products used – after all, we are going to wear these panties against our vulva! Our tip: select a brand with experience and good customer feedback. This will prove that its products hold up well!
2. Rinse your panties directly in cold water: When possible, rinse your panties immediately in cold water after removing them. This will prevent the blood from drying and sticking.
3. Wash your panties at 30°: brands recommend washing your panties by hand. For reasons of time and hygiene, however, a first rinse by hand to remove the blood and a machine wash at 30° max is ideal to protect your panties.
4. Use gentle detergents: for the planet, for your panties and for your intimate mucous membranes, adopting natural and gentle detergents is essential.
5. Air dry: Let your period panties air dry. ⚠️ Do not use the dryer to dry your pants! The heat from the latter risks shrinking the materials present in the pad and making it less absorbent.
6. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations: this is the last point on this list and it overlaps with all the previous points. To keep your menstrual panties alive for as long as possible, following the brand's advice (especially the instructions on the label) is the best method!

Lifespan and wear, when to change menstrual panties?

That is, the lifespan of menstrual panties is between 3 and 7 years. But how do you know that your panties have reached the end of their life and you need to throw them away? Our answer: Pay attention to signs of wear and tear on your period panties.

What signs of wear should you look out for?

Signs that your period panties are failing you include:

1. Loss of absorption: This first sign is certainly the most complicated to observe... after all, your menstrual cycle is not always so abundant and menstrual panties that overflow once are not necessarily at the end of their life! What you need to watch for is recurrence. Period panties that fail repeatedly are either period panties that do not have sufficient absorption for your menstrual cycle, or period panties at the end of their life. If it has no other signs of wear, you can save it for calmer moments in your flow, especially during the last days of your period.
2. Wear of the elastics and the elasticity of the fabric: Due to successive washes, your menstrual panties may tend to relax, in terms of its fabric and/or its elastics. This will affect its comfort but also its absorption: the deformed panties play less of their role and blood may tend to pass through the crotch! We recommend changing your panties at this time.
3. Fabric wear and tears: We all have panties with holes in them that we keep because we forgot to throw them away... It's up to you to keep your menstrual panties with holes if they continue to do their absorbent job! But overall, holes often mean that your clothes have been through a lot of successive washes and it is possible that the absorption is compromised.

H3 So, do I keep these menstrual panties or throw them away?

• My menstrual panties are in good condition but they absorb less/little: I keep them for moments in my cycle when my flow is lighter (at the very beginning of the cycle or at the end of the cycle). It can also be interesting if you tend to have a lot of white discharge at certain times of your cycle.
• My period panties are distended: if your panties are distended, their absorption quality will suffer. If not only do your panties no longer look like much but they no longer absorb anything, it's time to throw them away!
• My menstrual panties have holes: menstrual panties with holes can be kept if their absorption is not impacted. This, especially if you want to save some money. This, of course, depends on the size of the hole: if you have half of your buttock exposed, you will certainly have to consider throwing it away at one point or another! 😹

How to recycle your period panties

Last bonus point of this article! Many of you opt for menstrual panties for their practicality but also for their more ecological nature. 🌿 This is why the question of recycling your menstrual panties may worry you once they are worn out.

You can recycle your old menstrual panties like all of your old damaged clothes: once washed well, you can drop them off in the textile bins in your city. Do not throw them in the “classic” trash or organic waste!

Also note: more and more clothing brands (menstrual panties or not) are offering second life offers and taking back your old clothes for promotions. Look at your favorite brands: you could swap your old menstrual panties for vouchers and new pieces!