Everything you need to know about your menstrual flow

VISCOSITY AND FLOW OF PERIODS

How is my menstrual flow?

Our periods pantsare made to last up to 12 hours and up to 4 tampons in terms of absorption for our most absorbent model, but this is a maximum estimate that depends on several factors.

Among them is the viscosity of the flow: some have very liquid bleeding, while others have periods more viscous, with clots. And nothing abnormal!

A very liquid flow may s'flow faster than the panty's absorption speed, while a more viscous flow will give it more time to do its job!

A flow is considered average if bleeding totals around 40 to 50ml per cycle... that's barely a quarter of a glass of water! Below 30ml per cycle, the bleeding is light. Above 60ml, the flow is heavy, even hemorrhagic. By way of comparison, the capacity of a menstrual cup is around 25ml. To find out how abundant your flow is, take our Higham test!

In any case, it's best to do a few tests with one or two pairs of menstrual briefs before buying more, as the feel and effectiveness of menstrual lingerie can vary widely.

We don't all bleed the same way!

Taking the Higham test

A CENTRAL FLOW?

What is the meaning of my menstrual flow?

The shape of your lips and your daily positions also influence the direction of your flow.

Some women have a very central flow, which accumulates in the center of the panty, the narrowest area, causing it to overflow rapidly, while the rest of the absorbent zone is far from saturated. Women whose flow direction is towards the front or back generally benefit from a longer wearing time before the absorbent zone is saturated!

This is by no means inevitable, as it is possible to use interlabial petals to redirect the flow and thus achieve a better distribution of bleeding.

This explains why some women with an abundant flow last a whole day without any problem, while others with a flow that s's weaker sometimes only last a few hours...It's very personal!

  • Light flow, spotting and white discharge

    For light bleeding or the end of a cycle, we highly recommend our pretty thongs or panties.

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  • Intermediate flows

    Our collection of panties is perfect for all medium-flow women! High-waisted, low-waisted, it's up to you to choose the model you like best!

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  • Abundant to hemorrhagic flow

    If you absolutely must change your protection every 4 hours or more, we recommend our extra-absorbent shortys! Don't hesitate to change more often, or use period pants in addition to protection if it's not enough on its own. 

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IT'S A TASK

What is acid loss?

Some women notice light stains on the absorbent pad that don't wash off. This is a discoloration phenomenon that can occur when vaginal secretions are a little more acidic. It only discolors the cotton, but in no way affects the panty's functionality.

This problem is specific to all dark-bottomed panties (menstrual or not), as it depends on our personal acidity (blood-white discharge), which can vary and be more or less important during the same cycle. A lighter-colored absorbent bottom, on the other hand, would inevitably leave traces of blood behind after washing, which is why the overwhelming majority of menstrual lingerie is black on the inside!

This does not spare organic cottons and Oeko-tex-certified fabrics, and is by no means a sign of poor material quality. It depends on the materials, the dyes used and the acidity of the flow: that's why some knickers react, and others don't! However, this is only an aesthetic aspect, and in no way detracts from the effectiveness of menstrual pants. However, some very acidic discharges can even go so far as to cause small holes in the thin cotton fabric.

We advise you to change your underwear more regularly and to rinse it quickly after wearing if you don't want to alter the aesthetics of the inside of your panties too much. To minimize them, rinse them in cold, soap-free water as soon as possible after wearing them, then put them in the washing machine.

Find out more about maintenance

SATURATION OF THE ABSORBENT ZONE OF MENSTRUAL PANTS

How to avoid leaks at periods

Depending on where you are during the day, the orientation of your flow and its viscosity, the absorbent zone can become saturated at its narrowest point, while the rest is still unfilled.

Menstrual lingerie is waterproof in the absorbent zone, but if the maximum absorption capacity of the panty has been reached, leakage generally occurs on the sides and through the seams - unfortunately, this is the critical point found with all menstrual panties!

Don't forget to wash your lingerie once or twice before wearing it, to maximize its absorption capacity.
In the meantime, we recommend that you change your clothes more often, or use period pants in addition to protection if this is not sufficient on its own.

Don't hesitate to test them under different conditions (with or without additional protection, at the end or beginning of periods etc...) to find out what suits your flow best!

WHICH PANTIES TO CHOOSE?

Our model comparator

Want to know more about the fit of each of our models? Take a look here.

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