How long do period panties last?

In just a few years, menstrual panties have become THE menstrual protection beloved by menstruating people. Practical, comfortable, pretty: they have won our hearts! However, and particularly because they are a new form of hygienic protection, their use is still subject to questions. You regularly ask us, on our chat 💬 and on our social networks, about the appropriate length of time to keep menstrual panties. You are 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 menstrual panties? ” In this article, we answer all these questions about wearing and storing menstrual panties.

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How long should you keep menstrual panties in place while using them?

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

How long should you keep your panties on?

Menstrual panties can be worn for up to 12 consecutive hours in a single day without any health risks. You can therefore wear them all day or all night without any problem. For hygiene reasons, and in particular to prevent the growth of bacteria and irritation of your vulva, you should not wear them for longer than this. 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.

Of course, this 12-hour duration depends on your period flow and the absorbency of your menstrual panties : if your flow is heavy and your panties are about to overflow or are overflowing, you will need to change them more regularly to avoid leaks!

More concretely:

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

🌈 On our e-shop, we have selected for you the panties of 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 absorbency: teen panties teen size medium flow (from 10 years old), teen panties heavy flow (from 10 years old), medium, heavy and very heavy flow panties (especially for losses associated with postpartum). We also offer packs combining several absorbencies to respond to the evolution of the flow during your period.

How do you know when your panties are full?

But how exactly do menstrual panties work ? Menstrual panties work by using an absorbent pad made of natural materials positioned at the crotch. Often black in color, it can be quite difficult to know if it's "full" or not. However, there are several signs that can indicate that your menstrual panties are at risk of overflowing:

• Unpleasant wet feeling: If you feel 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 feel like there is blood floating 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, either on the back of your period panties or directly into your clothes, it means your panties need changing. They are either too full or the pad is too tight.

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 blood-damp pad for too long, without changing your menstrual panties, you may suffer from irritation of your vulva. In case of 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'll love it!
• Vaginal flora imbalance: The balance of 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 of vaginal flora and lead to yeast infections.
• Development of vaginal yeast infection: Vaginal yeast infection is often the result of an imbalance in the vaginal flora. The proliferation of harmful bacteria and fungi can cause irritation, internal itching, or even a burning sensation. You will need to consult your doctor for treatment.

Unlike cups and tampons, which trap 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 menstrual panties can be worn for up to 12 hours, on days with heavy menstrual flow it may be necessary to change them several times throughout the day. How to change your menstrual panties during the day?

Tips for a discreet and practical change

The main problem with menstrual panties is when they need to be changed; they are smelly and dirty when worn.

When changing at work, at school, or on the go, there are several tips to ease 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 to clean your panties and wipes to feel fresher when you change.
2. Use a leak-proof carrier bag to store your used underwear: a plastic storage bag or a pretty leak-proof plastic pouch will help you avoid odors and stains associated with used underwear. Choose an opaque bag if you're embarrassed by the idea of ​​it being seen at the bottom of your bag, or put it in an opaque pouch dedicated to your protection (clean diapers, wipes, etc.).
3. If possible, rinse your panties immediately: To prevent the blood from drying and being more difficult to remove later, we recommend that you rinse your panties immediately in cold water whenever possible.
4. Put a sanitary pad over your panties: To avoid having used panties in your bag, you can put a disposable sanitary pad 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 forgirls having their first period who do not want to have a change 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 properly between uses: To maintain good hygiene, it is first essential to wash your menstrual panties properly between your cycles.
• Don't wear your underwear for more than 12 hours: This recommendation is linked to the growth of bacteria in the pad. Some brands may recommend shorter periods, particularly because their pads are made from materials that may react differently.
• Opt for wipes to freshen up: When you change your menstrual panties on the same day, we highly recommend cleaning yourself with intimate wipes. They'll give you a nice boost of freshness, and you'll feel comfortable for the rest of the day. 🌈 On our site, we've selected biodegradable intimate wipes from the My Lubie brand for you. Their advantage? You can flush them down the toilet after cleaning yourself.

How long should you keep menstrual panties?

This is another question you may be asking yourself about menstrual panties: how long do they last? Generally speaking, the lifespan of menstrual panties is 3 years. But this will depend on several factors: we'll talk to you about it without taboo!

The average lifespan of menstrual panties

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

The Smoon brand, which we invite you to discover and which 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 menstrual panties over time:

• Frequency of use: this factor is not very surprising! The more you wear and wash your panties, the faster they will deteriorate! 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 used by brands to justify their announcements that their panties can last up to twice as long.
• Length of your period: this factor is linked to the previous one since the longer your period, 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 another sanitary protection for reassurance (many of us wear tampons and cups in addition to our period panties), they will be less damaged by cycles and will last longer.
• Care: 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 menstrual panties!
• Quality of your panties' design: The last factor that can affect the lifespan of your panties doesn't entirely depend on you, as it's associated with the quality of your menstrual 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 the latter can be significantly shortened! A poor-quality pad can indeed shrink or absorb less after a few washes. Similarly, panties made of poor-quality fabric or designed with poor-quality elastics can lose their shape and become less waterproof. This is why you'll need to choose your menstrual panties brand carefully—we'll talk about this later!

6 tips to extend the life of your menstrual panties

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

1. Choose your menstrual panties carefully: Their lifespan depends heavily on the quality of your menstrual panties! We love French brands, European manufacturing, and labels that reassure us about the products used—after all, we'll be wearing these panties against our vulva! Our tip: select a brand with a long history and good customer reviews. This will prove that their products are durable!
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°C: Brands recommend handwashing your panties. For reasons of time and hygiene, however, an initial hand rinse to remove any bleeding and a machine wash at 30°C max is ideal for protecting 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 a tumble dryer to dry your panties! The heat from the dryer can shrink the materials in the pad and make it less absorbent.
6. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations: This is the last point on this list and it overlaps with all of the previous points. To keep your menstrual panties alive for as long as possible, following the brand's recommendations (especially the instructions on the label) is the best method!

Lifespan and wear, when should you change your menstrual panties?

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

What are the signs of wear and tear to look out for?

Signs that your period panties are letting you down include:

1. Loss of absorbency: This first sign is certainly the most complicated to observe... after all, your menstrual cycle is not always this abundant and menstrual panties that overflow once are not necessarily at the end of their life! What you need to watch for is recurrence. Menstrual panties that fail repeatedly are either menstrual panties that do not have sufficient absorbency for your menstrual cycle, or menstrual panties at the end of their life. If they do not show other signs of wear, you can keep them for lighter moments of your flow, especially during the last days of your period.
2. Wear of elastics and fabric elasticity: Due to successive washes, your menstrual panties may tend to relax, in terms of their fabric and/or their elastics. This will affect their comfort but also their absorption: the deformed panties play their role less and blood may tend to pass through the crotch! We recommend that you change your panties at this time.
3. Fabric wear and tear: We all have panties with holes that we keep because we forgot to throw them away... You're free to keep your menstrual panties with holes if they continue to do their absorbency job! But overall, holes often mean that your clothes have been washed a lot and it's possible that the absorbency is affected.

So, should 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 times in my cycle when my flow is lighter (very beginning of cycle or end of cycle). They can also be interesting if you tend to have a lot of white discharge at certain times of your cycle.
• My period panties are stretched: If your panties are stretched, their absorbency will suffer. If not only do your panties no longer look like much, but they also no longer absorb anything, it's time to throw them away!
• My period panties have a hole: period panties with a hole can be kept if their absorbency is not affected. This is especially true if you want to save some money. This, of course, depends on the size of the hole: if you have half your butt exposed, you will certainly have to consider throwing them away at some point! 😹

How to recycle your menstrual panties

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

You can recycle your old menstrual panties just like any other old, damaged clothing: once they've been thoroughly washed, you can place them in your local textile bins. Don't throw them in the "regular" or organic waste bin!

Also worth noting: more and more clothing brands (menstrual panties and non-menstrual panties) are offering second-life deals and trade-in deals for your old clothes in exchange for discounts. Check out your favorite brands: you could trade in your old menstrual panties for vouchers and new pieces!