Looking for more a sustainable alternative to tampons and pads? It’s no secret that most traditional period products create unnecessary single-use plastic waste — in fact, the average person with a menstrual cycle is estimated to throw away up to 300 pounds of period product-related waste in their lifetime. Of course, there’s also the grim reality that these products can take centuries to biodegrade.

That’s where our reusable period underwear comes in. Designed to be worn as a full replacement or as a backup for tampons and menstrual pads, Thinx looks and feels just like regular underwear while also absorbing up to 5 regular tampons’ (or 2.5 regular pads’) worth of flow. Our innovative technology also works to keep you dry, control odor, and prevent leaks, for your comfort and peace of mind. They’re even machine-washable, so you can throw ‘em in with the rest of your laundry and wear them cycle after cycle — when cared for properly, they’ll stay at maximum performance for roughly 40 washes, or about 2 years.

Traditional period products, on the other hand, are predominantly designed to be used once and thrown away. The single-use plastic waste is staggering: most tampons come equipped with plastic applicators, plastic strings, and a plastic wrapper, while pads incorporate plastic from the packaging all the way down to the leak-resistant base layer. 

Considering that over the course of a lifetime, one menstruator will use between 5 and 15 thousand tampons and pads to manage their period, it’s clear that a more planet-friendly solution is needed. With our ethically crafted reusable period underwear, people are effortlessly saving millions of period products from landfills.

Not only do Thinx create less waste than these other period products, but they’re also designed to help you have a more comfortable period — without worrying about leaks. Our products are made up of a number of consciously sourced fibers, such as Supima® Cotton and Tencel™ Modal, and we’re always in the process of researching more sustainable alternatives to the polyester and nylon used in our products. We’re also proud to be STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified, meaning that our underwear has been rigorously tested to ensure each pair is body-safe.

We also know that comfort goes beyond the materials themselves — it’s about how you really *feel* while wearing the product. Not only can pads be bulky, but improper use (i.e. wearing a pad for too long) can potentially lead to infections, such as yeast. Similarly, disposable tampons have long been notorious for causing discomfort for many users — and, in some rare cases, keeping a regular tampon in for too long can result in toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Plus, while there aren’t any studies that clearly evaluate the relationship between period products and menstrual pain, many people have found that their cramps were alleviated when wearing period underwear as compared to insertable products like tampons and menstrual cups. 

Since Thinx are designed with a lining that includes absorbent, odor-controlling, moisture-wicking, and leak-resistant layers, you can rest assured that they keep you clean and feeling fresh while you wear ‘em. Depending on the absorbency level of your Thinx, they can absorb from 1 to 5 regular tampons’ worth of flow — you can tell if they’re getting full by checking to see if the side seam of the absorbent gusset feels wet. When you start to notice menstrual blood at the seams, this is a good indication that it's time to change pairs! If your undies haven’t reached capacity, just change ‘em once daily, as you would regular underwear. Proper wear will ensure that you stay safely protected.

At the end of the day, you want a period product you feel comfortable and confident in, and that’s exactly why we made Thinx. It’s a bonus that they produce less plastic waste than disposables and are kinder on your wallet, too.

Have you made the switch to period underwear? Do you use it as a full replacement for disposable tampons and pads, or do you use it as a backup product? Let us know in the comments!

At Thinx, we strive to provide our readers with the most up-to-date, objective, and research-based information. Our content is crafted by experienced contributors who ground their work in research and data. Articles contain trusted third-party sources that are either directly linked within the text or listed at the bottom to lead readers to the original source.

by Team Thinx