PERIOD UNDIES - YAY OR NAY? MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE!
13 / OCTOBER / 2021
SHEREE'S HEALTH DIARIES
Isn’t it just the worst when you think your period is over, so you put on your good underwear only to have a spotting occur the day you thought you were in the clear? (EVERY TIME!)
I knew there had to be a better option!
Period underwear are becoming more and more popular over past years, as people shift away from the conventional tampons and pads to something that is more natural and sustainable.
Up until these past years, I had never really thought anything more of ‘popping in a tampon’ and blocking my flow, and had done this ever since I could remember. More recent years I had changed to organic tampons and pads to reduce the impact I was having on the planet…
But in all seriousness, the pads were the worst and most uncomfortable, I used to do the ‘naughty thing’ sometimes and sleep with a tampon in. Toxic shock syndrome anyone? In all seriousness… this isn’t a joke and so I did stop after realising how common it was.
Tampons aside… I started to connect more to my cycle, understanding that ‘that time of the month’ was not something to be dreaded or something to be blocked up and look the other way.
Rather, my whole perspective on periods shifted when I discovered the magic that they bring and the importance of connecting to our cycle.
Your monthly bleed is a time to really release, let go, cleanse and shed. Although this shedding is not just physically shedding the uterine lining, but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually all that is no longer serving you. Letting go of all that may have accumulated these past months.
It was upon this realisation and truly understanding what my body was designed to do that I started to question if tampons and pads were really what my body needed and if I should be blocking my natural flow every single month!
So, I decided to give period underwear a try!
MY EXPERIENCE
A beautiful brand here in New Zealand that I had been following for a while had some great designs and beautiful story so I did some more research, and bought myself a few pairs to try out for my next bleed from @awwaperiodcare
Here’s how it went…
I was a little nervous in all honesty! What if they leak? What if they smell? Are they going to be comfortable? Will they show through my activewear? Will it feel weird? Is washing them going to be gross?
Well I was able to answer all of those questions after the first day, no leakage, no smell, definitely comfortable (as comfortable as they can be whilst having a layer of absorbency), for the most part they didn’t show through my activewear (I am talking panty lines here) – but that is the same for any underwear, it depends on the style.
It did feel kinda strange at first, like anything new, they take a bit to get used to, but after the first day it felt completely natural, and I barely noticed a difference!
In regards to washing them, I actually view my period as a beautiful process, and the bleed is something natural that occurs from my body, so no, in my opinion it wasn’t ‘gross’ at all, but part of being a woman.
I have to say, overall I was very impressed and something I noticed whilst wearing them was how much more connected to my body I felt. I felt more in flow, I felt more at ease… AND I had less cramping than usual!
Now I don’t normally experience much cramping as it is, but it was even less than the odd little cramp, and I attribute this to the ability of my shedding being able to flow.
I found it really freeing, I didn’t feel like I was wasting a pad or having a tampon up unnecessarily on the off chance I bled early or the bleeding hadn’t stopped. I felt comfortable whilst I slept with no leakage and even did yoga comfortably.
I am honestly so impressed and excited about getting a few more in fun colours and styles! It’s definitely a change, but a super positive one in my opinion! Definitely recommend!
WANT TO KNOW MORE
Here are some questions I got asked about them…
How do period underwear work?
I am not an expert in this area, so have left it to those who are, here’s how AWWA period underwear work:
https://awwaperiodcare.com/pages/how-period-underwear-works
Are period underwear comfortable?
Yes! I found them comfortable, just make sure you get the right sizing as they are a tight fit.
Do period underwear smell?
Not that I experienced, and they are definitely designed to avoid the smell, but ‘the smell’ in general can be an indication of the vaginal microbiome being out of balance I have found, so it is worth looking into this.
Where to buy period underwear?
This is where I got mine!
Yours in Health,
Sheree xo
SHEREE BEAUMONT
Holistic Nutritionist, Personal Trainer & Wellness Coach I empower women like you to transform their lives, understand their bodies and feel their best from the inside out!
