Tired of leaving your mark everywhere you go? We’ve got a few tips to keep your period where it belongs—in your pants!
From your very first period until your very last, you’ll live in fear of The Leak. It’s a canon event—no matter how seasoned you are with your cycle, a leak waits in the shadows, looking for the most inconvenient time to strike. Perhaps your period comes early, and you’re wearing white. Maybe it has touched upon your newly upholstered dining chair. Maybe you’ve woken up to a bigger bloodbath than you were expecting, and your sheets are bearing the consequences.
At this point, you’re probably resigning yourself to your fate. You’re on your knees, scrubbing at stains with baking soda and peroxide and tossing heaps of laundry in the wash. A blood stain isn’t the end of the world, but it certainly is a pain to get out. That’s why when it comes to period leaks, prevention is key. Ahead, we’re here to help you troubleshoot your leak issues, from choosing the right hygiene product to doubling down on protection.
Tip #1: Change your pad or tampon more frequently
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As a general rule, you should be changing your tampon every four to eight hours and your pad every four to six hours—maybe more if you’re having a particularly heavy flow day.
Changing your period products often is not just important to avoid leaks, but also for general hygiene and, in the case of tampons, to reduce the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome.
Tip #2: Choose the right absorbency for your flow
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If you’re already changing your tampons and pads regularly and you still find that they just aren’t pulling their weight, you may want to go up an absorbency class. You may also want to consider products that offer higher protection. For instance, with pads, you’ll want to look for bigger pads that offer more coverage and have wings to help them stay in place.
Tip #3: Change your choice of hygiene product
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If you find that your current period routine just isn’t cutting it, it might be time to try something new. Pads and tampons are generally effective and easily accessible, but there are loads of other options for period care now.
For instance, menstrual cups and discs can hold up to three times more menstrual fluid than pads and tampons, and they only need to be emptied every 12 hours. There is definitely a learning curve here, but once you get the hang of them, they’ll make your periods a lot easier (and more leak-free!). Menstrual underwear, on the other hand, takes the discomfort out of the pad-wearing experience and is reusable—that means you can spare yourself the diaper feeling and save more money each month!
Tip #4: Layer up on protection
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With tampons, it is a little tricky to find the sweet spot. Too absorbent and you risk dryness and discomfort, not absorbent enough and you risk leaking. Here, the best thing to do is opt for the lowest absorbency necessary and double up with a pad or period panties.
Alternatively, if you’ve got particularly heavy flow, you can consider the menstrual cup and pad/period panty combination—it’s one that will keep you comfortable and leak-free all day long! Alternatively, you can start leak-proofing your house. This means (dark coloured) towels on your bed and couch, ready to catch any strays.
You can also try sticking to dark colours until your period ends. After all, the best way to avoid stains is to make them undetectable. It’s time to go shopping for outfits in deep, dark colours. The blood stain may still be there, but at least you won’t be able to see it!
Tip #5: Get checked out by a gynaecologist
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If you’ve tried it all and you really can’t seem to stop the leaks from taking place, you may want to consider seeing a medical professional. It is, in fact, not normal to have a period so heavy that you bleed through your pads every couple of hours—it very well could indicate an underlying reproductive health condition like endometriosis or uterine fibroids. All in all, it’s safer to get yourself checked out sooner rather than later!
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