Period underwear
{{Short description|Menstrual garment}}
File:Menstrual underwear period underwear 1.jpg
File:Period panties in nature.jpg
Period underwear (also known as menstrual underwear or period panties) are absorbent garments designed to be worn during menstruation. Period underwear is designed like conventional underwear but it is made up of highly absorbent fabrics to soak up menstrual blood. Most commercially manufactured period underwear makes use of microfiber polyester fabric. It is recommended that period underwear should be changed at least once every 8-12 hours to ensure optimal hygiene and comfort.{{Cite web |title=How Often to Change Period Underwear: A Comprehensive Guide |url=https://allmatters.com/en-gb/blogs/blog/how-often-to-change-period-underwear-a-comprehensive-guide |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=AllMatters |language=en}}
Overview
The market for period underwear has developed as a response to consumer preference moving away from traditional menstrual hygiene management products, such as sanitary pads and tampons.{{Cite web|title=Best period underwear of 2021, according to experts|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/best-period-underwear-ncna1273695|access-date=2021-11-05|website=NBC News|language=en}} Different brands use different, often patented, technology for anti-microbial action, moisture-wicking{{Cite web|last1=Benton|first1=Emilia|last2=Gomez|first2=Jasmine|last3=Jones|first3=Alexis|date=2020-12-01|title=These Disposable Period Panties Are $9 And Make You Forget You're On Your Period|url=https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/g26411652/period-panties/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=Women's Health|language=en-US}} and optimal absorption.
Julie Sygiel{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/profiles-strategies/2015/12/the-bizwomen-interview-dear-kate-founder-julie.html?page=all|title=The Bizwomen Interview: Dear Kate founder Julie Sygiel|first=Mary|last=Johnson|date=15 December 2015|access-date=5 November 2021|website=The Business Journals}} was cited by the BBC in 2015 as an early developer of the technology, with her company 'Dear Kate'.{{Cite news|title=Julie Sygiel, 27, USA|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-34805139|access-date=2021-11-05}}
Period underwear is considered to be an eco-friendly way to cut down on waste{{Cite web|date=2021-09-01|title=The rise of period pants: are they the answer to menstrual landfill – and women's prayers?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/01/the-rise-of-period-pants-are-they-the-answer-to-menstrual-landfill-and-womens-prayers|access-date=2021-11-05|website=the Guardian|language=en}} and reduce spending.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-05|title=What are the environmental impacts of period products?|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/periods-environmental-impact-tampons-pads-b1952168.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/periods-environmental-impact-tampons-pads-b1952168.html |archive-date=2022-05-25 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-05|website=The Independent|language=en}} It is estimated that the disposal of menstrual products generates 200,000 tonnes of plastic waste in the United Kingdom each year.{{Cite web|title=How period pants can help you reduce your plastics use and protect the environment|url=https://www.scotsman.com/recommended/period-pants-uk-2021-how-they-work-why-theyre-better-for-the-environment-and-the-best-from-thinx-modibodi-3131821|access-date=2021-11-05|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=A Guide to Environmentally Friendly Menstrual and Period Products|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/3k3ym5/eco-friendly-sustainable-period-menstrual-guide-2019|access-date=2021-11-05|website=www.vice.com|language=en}}
Nancy Redd, a writer for The New York Times, described the product's features: "some menstrual-underwear styles are gorgeous but leaky, and others have Hoover Dam–level security but diaper-like silhouettes. The style that will be best for you depends on your period flow and preferences".{{Cite news|date=2021-09-15|title=The Best Period Underwear|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/thinx-period-panties/|access-date=2021-11-05|issn=0362-4331}}
Some manufacturers of period underwear are extending their ranges into other leak-proof clothes such as swimsuits, sportswear and sleepwear.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-05|title=Go with the flow: how period clothing went mainstream|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/nov/05/go-with-the-flow-how-period-clothing-went-mainstream|access-date=2021-11-05|website=the Guardian|language=en}}
In the United Kingdom, period underwear was subject to value-added tax at 20% until 2024, despite the fact that other menstrual products were exempted from the tax in 2021.{{cite news|title=Period pants could get cheaper after VAT is removed|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67855869|website=BBC News|date=1 January 2024}} The exemption for period underwear was brought in after tampon tax campaigners petitioned for the tax to be removed.{{cite news|title=John Lewis and Waitrose join drive to make reusable period products cheaper|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/26/john-lewis-waitrose-join-drive-make-reusable-period-products-cheaper|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Clea|last=Skopeliti|date=26 August 2023}}
Risks
Some companies (like Thinx, Ruby Love, and Knix) are facing class action lawsuits for period underwear products that contain potentially harmful toxins like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which may be linked to adverse health outcomes like cancer.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-26 |title=Lawsuit Investigation Looks at PFAS Levels in Menstrual Underwear |url=https://www.classaction.org/thinx-underwear-toxic-chemicals-lawsuit |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=www.classaction.org |language=en}} Thinx settled a lawsuit in January 2023 but made no admission of guilt or wrongdoing in the settlement.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-19 |title=Thinx period underwear was supposed to be ‘non-toxic’. Now customers feel betrayed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jan/19/thinx-underwear-menstruation-period-pfas |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} Some brands of period underwear have been found to contain silver used as an antimicrobial agent. Concerns have been raised about the possible health impact of silver migrating into the body, but limited research has been done and little scientific data exists.{{cite web|title=Are your period pants safe?|url=https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/are-your-period-pants-safe-a65153r2NQj3|date=17 November 2023|website=Which?}}
See also
References
{{Lingerie}}
{{Menstrual cycle}}