Periods amirite?? Menstruation. That time of the month. Shark week (not that one). The Red WeddingTM. Whatever you want to call it, periods are, will be, or have been a perfectly normal occurrence for almost half the world’s population, since the dawn of time itself. In fact, there is evidence that our menstruating ancestors may have even invented period trackers in prehistoric times. And this was way before you could even access a calendar, let alone get one half price in the January sales. In this day and age, approximately 26% of the world’s current population host Aunty Flo roughly a dozen times a year. And as if that wasn’t enough, a menstruating person will on average ride the crimson tide for a total of seven years of their life! Damn, that’s a lot of blood. And when Mother Nature calls, it’s down to us to kit up and head straight over to the clean up on aisle five.
Across the world but especially in developed nations, the kit of choice for years has been the tried, the tested, the (one) true (pairing): towels and tampons. And to be honest, they do the trick. For most, they provide a clean, easy, affordable way for us to get on with our daily lives whilst we’re checked in at the Red Roof Inn. And if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
Except it is broke. It’s badly broke. And it definitely needs fixing.
I am sure it’s of no surprise to most of you when I say that, despite being inevitable and unavoidable, Mother Nature’s Gift has been proven over time to have devastating consequences for (you guessed it) Mother Nature herself. And just like that, I finally understand what Alanis Morissette was singing about. (It’s ironic, in case this joke went over anyone’s head.)
Let’s cut to the cold, hard facts:
- On average, people with periods have them for over 40 years of their life, and over this time they will use approximately, 11,000 disposable products, or roughly 125-150kg worth.
- The vast majority of these products will end up in landfills, beaches and oceans. And because around 90% of these disposables are made up of plastic (one sanitary pad is made up of the equivalent of 4 plastic carrier bags), they will only degrade after a few centuries. At least.
- Almost 700,000 panty liners, 2.5 million tampons and 1.4 million pads are flushed down the toilet EVERY DAY in the UK alone. This equates to roughly 2 billion+ disposables every year, resulting in 75% of the UK’s blocked drains and 7.3% of all items flushed down the toilet.
But fret not. There is a way to help to alleviate the potential burden of 40 years’ worth of your personal waste and it couldn’t be simpler. Two words, my friend: period pants.
Yes, period pants. And I don’t just mean the pants you risk for a biscuit and dare to wear on danger days. We’re talking about a reusable pair of period-proof underwear created to help drastically reduce the number of disposable products used until one’s final period. Ruby Raut, creator of period pant brand WUKA, even found that within eight months of shipping their first order, they had stopped 1.3 million tampons and pads from going to landfill. You absolutely love to see it.
I’m sure some of you who haven’t come into contact with period pants before might be slightly aghast at the thought of handling and re-using a pair of underwear that has been saturated with your menstrual blood time and time again, and to that I say: I was absolutely one of you.
But a year and a half on from making the transition, after discovering period pants at a vegan fair, I can safely say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not just for the environment, but for my time, my money, my hygiene and my comfort too. Since then, I’ve also successfully converted several friends and honestly? 10/10 would recommend. I’m literally wearing a pair right now.
Here’s how they work.
Whilst appearing to be nothing more than a pair of ordinary briefs to the naked eye (and the naked bum and pelvic area), period pants have an in-built absorbent gusset that catches the blood, soaks it up and locks it away until washing. The beauty of the design means that not only do you not have to worry about leaking but you almost forget you’re on your period altogether. They also provide a fuss-free solution for the disabled and physically impaired who might struggle to use pads, tampons or reusable cups.
Many brands add an inner-layer of antimicrobial fabric to the gusset to ward off odorous smells for hours as well as reduce the risk of bacterial growth – helping to keep that bush free from thrush. Some pieces, built for heavier flows, can be worn for up to 8 hours and can catch up to 4 tampons worth of blood! So no need to worry about destroying the upholstery if you’re sofa-bound with cramps all day. Thank god for that light relief on heavy days.
Once you’re done with a pair, simply rinse the pants thoroughly and throw them in the wash with your next load. Or give them a hand wash with detergent. Or even chuck them on the floor whilst you shower if you’re being really environmentally conscious (never a bad thing). And then just hang them out to dry.
Wear. Menstruate. Wash. Repeat. Easy.
Period pants really do tick all the boxes. But the boxes don’t end there!
Much like reusable cups and other sustainable forms of menstrual gear, these will be a godsend to your bank account in the long run. Those who menstruate can spend more than £18,000 during their lifetime on or as a result of their menstrual cycle, whether that’s on pads, tampons, pain relief, new underwear, period tax (VAT added onto sanitary products despite their necessity) or sweet treats to make ourselves feel better. With period pants, there is one upfront investment and you’re set for years with no need to rely on extra kit (with the exception of the sweet treats, keep those coming).
This is why they’re also a great solution for hundreds of millions people worldwide struggling to get access to adequate menstrual products, and experiencing adverse effects on schooling, careers and personal health and hygiene as a result. Whilst we may be a long way off from tackling the social and economic roots of these issues, brands like Joyja match every purchase on their website with a donation of a pair of their pants to someone in need.
Wow.
If all of this hasn’t convinced you to at least contemplate making the switch then I really don’t know what will. But if it has, then congratulations!! You’ve made a wonderful choice and are a good person with a noble spirit and a tender heart. If you’re a bit overwhelmed as to where to start, I’d recommend the following brands to browse first to find the style, functionality and prices that suit you best:
- WUKA
- ModiBodi
- Flux
- Thinx
- Joyja
Get your hands on (and yourself in) a pair of period pants now. Period.
Photos from Polina Zimmerman via Canva
Ambika is an actor, comedian and writer, who has written comedy for BBC Radio 4 and appeared on BBC’s The Mash Report. She was a Funny Women 2020 Semi-Finalist and stand-up ‘One To Watch’, and is currently one half of 5* comedy duo, Megan from HR. (critically acclaimed at the Edinburgh Fringe and, soon, Soho Theatre). She’s vegan and cried a lot at David Attenborough’s most recent documentary on climate change, so is fully quailified to be here.