Which Period Pants or Pads are Best for Endometriosis?

This is the third in our series of posts about endometriosis and reusable period products.

Our lovely Cheeky customers with heavy painful periods or endometriosis completed a questionnaire. We asked them about their experiences of switching to reusable period products from tampons and pads.

We've already shared some background on their heavy periods / endometriosis diagnosis. Plus what benefits they've seen from switching to reusable menstrual products.

Our final post covers:

• which period pants or pads are best for endometriosis symptoms
• how often they need to change period panties / sanitary pads for endometriosis
• advice for anyone who is unsure of making the switch

Which period pants or pads are best for endometriosis symptoms?

There was a lot of consistency with our answers for this with three standout products for which are best for endometriosis symptoms:

• Fearless high waisted period underwear (heavy flow)
• Boybrief (available in regular and heavy flow)
• Bamboo Night Pads

Fearless High Waisted Pants

"The high waisted pants are great as they offer that extra support for all your achy bits....I wear the shorts over the lacy pants if it’s going to be a super heavy night. I also totally love how great it feels to have a quick freshen up with the wipes too, so much better than paper roll and great postpartum as well for a nice bit of coldness."

"The super big period pants for heavy flow - can be used all day, which is good as I have an outdoor job with no easy changing. If i am concerned then I put a disposable night-time pad on the pants first, then discard that or add another (depending on flow) when full and then just use the pants - lasts me all workday from 7am to 5pm that way."

"Period pants are my first choice as they are super comfortable. High rise ones feel so comfortable across the already bloated belly. The cool fresh soft fabric feels like it keeps up snugged and cosy!!"

"Fearless pants. They have so much coverage and have never leaked. I honestly feel I bleed less overall with these but still have a couple of heavy days, and Fearless has not let me down."

"Organic non slip night pads, fearless bamboo pants, side opening pants"

"Feeling Fearless plus Bamboo Night Pads for best ever protection"

Bamboo Night Pads

"The night pads - they absorb a lot of fluid and their size means there is no spill over. I'd also recommend the heavy period pants for sleeping. I've honestly not had any issues and don't wake up in a panic that the bed sheets need an urgent wash. Putting the heavy pants and night pad together is just bulletproof!"

"The nighttime pads with the bamboo, they’re so soft, comfortable, and ABSORBENT! Great coverage too. I rarely leak now since using these pads in combination with period pants for my heaviest days. I used to leak EVERY night."

"Underwear or reusable pads I feel comfortable in both, I know my fear of leaking through underwear and clothing has gone, also not having to put 3 pads in my underwear anymore due to heavy bleeding and having to change every hour. I use underwear ones for bed time and the reusable ones for day time normally."

Boybrief Pants

"Definitely the pants! I first bought the boy briefs and they are my go-to pair on the heaviest days, but especially the nights. I am an "active sleeper" and "travel" around the bed (much to my husband's dismay), but these pants can certainly handle that and stay in place all night."

"Reusable toilet paper kit for cleaning up the mess. I love the boy pants and the full brief with the highest absorbency combined with the night/ maternity pads. Whilst I only use the pad for dealing with flow as it is so very heavy the pants are my insurance that nothing escapes."

How often do period pants and reusable pads need to be changed for endometriosis?

Most people said that they would change every twice a day and at night (roughly every 6 to 8 hours) and would get overnight easily from a pants and pad combo.

What's even more impressive is how well this compares to disposable towels. Down from 8 to 10 changes A DAY for disposable products! This makes us super happy!

"When I’m on my heavy days I do change fairly often but not as often as disposable pads. I find the first couple of days I’m changing pads on top of pants, then as it eases I don’t need the pads and just wear pants. It’s great to double up when going out and at night."

"Depends on the day. On the heaviest days I use a menstrual cup as well as a pad or pants, in case it overflows. I work in an environment where it's not pactical to pop off and do what needs done - I need at least 10 hours' peace of mind that I won't leak for all the world to see and ruin a favourite pair of trousers. When I do this, I generally only need to swap once in the morning at the start of the day, and once in the evening before going to bed."

"Heavy days (days 1-5) I change morning and evening (occasionally an extra change in the afternoon): down from 8-10 changes a day. Lighter days I change every morning and evening because I want to feel clean, but I really don’t need to change them."

"About 6-8 hours, but the fearless pants will last 12 hours overnight. If I'm going to be out of the house for more than 4 hours I use a pad with the pants and take that out when I need to."

"Two times a day if I'm on very heavy, and again at night, if I want to feel fresher. I do want to try pads as well to see if I can put these on top of the pants?"

"If extremely heavy it has be 2 hours due to suffering badly with big blood clots, but normally it can be up to 6 hours, depending on the flow."

"On a heavy day around every 4 hours through day the rest of time when moderate morning lunch and bed when slow morning and bedtime to be fresh."

"Every 5-6 hours, compared to every 1-2 hours for disposables"

"Only every 4 hours whereas it used to be every 1 1/2 hours."

Final advice to help switch to reusables

Most people said just give it a try! Others recommended trying it at home over the weekend if you were unsure, just to build your confidence which is great advice!

"I would say that the Cheeky Wipes heavy period pants are great and really give peace of mind. For the pads, I would say try them and see how you get on - maybe on weekends if at home to start with and see how you get on.

Otherwise I would recommend having reusable pads anyways for the earlier and later lighter parts of your period which are more manageable as it would save money and waste in the longer run.

Reusable pads or pants can be used in combination with disposable pads as well, it doesn't have to be one or the other - you just have to find your personal balance through experience of what works for you."

"Start with one or two pairs and just give them a try. Once you put them on you'll feel so much more comfortable and secure, and you really quickly feel confident wearing them. It's really liberating!

Also, reusables are actually a lot less messy than using disposable pads. Reusables contain everything better so you don't end up with leaks in your underwear/clothing/bed etc, and they're easy to change.

You just rinse them out when you can and then wash in the machine. It's really quick and simple once you get the hang of it, and makes your periods so much more manageable that you'll wish you'd tried them sooner."

"Definitely try them! As going through numerous pads within 24 hours, all you have to do is put a reusable pad on each time while others are getting washed so no more having to run to the shop to get more pads/tampons. Saves you money each month, comfortable, easy to use and wash, definite game changer!"

"Get a set of night pads and try one when you're at home for the day. Combine them with your reliable comfy big pants and you'll be absolutely fine. "

"It’s different to what you might be used to, but honestly, it’s so worth trying. Once you get over the concept of washing and re-using, you’ll realise how free reusables make you feel. No more spending loads on pads every month. No more itchy sweatiness!"

"Honestly, it works and it feels great! I reckon most of us started with reusables rather concerned that it will not be able to handle what our uterus has to offer - but it does! Comfortable, reliable and better for the environment - what's not to love?"

We really hope that this series of posts have been useful for you.  We understand how totally debilitating endometriosis can be and we LOVE that our Cheeky products can help make life easier for anyone with this condition.

As always, if you have ANY questions, please do contact us or complete our period questionnaire.  Kirstin who answers them has horribly heavy periods (and is on tranexamic acid for them) so is very well placed to help.

If you would like to do a bit more research, please have a look at these blogs:

Pad Rash: Causes & How to Prevent It

ALL Cheeky Period Blogs

How to choose period underwear

About the Author: Helen Rankin founded Cheeky Wipes, the original reusable wipes kit back in 2008 after disposable wipes caused her eczema to flare up. 4 kids later, internal period protection such as tampons or menstrual cups were no longer an option for her and she went on to develop their range of 'Simple Reusables' to include period pants, reusable panty liners and reusable sanitary pads.

The Cheeky customer services team pride themselves on providing honest, friendly advice and just LOVE to chat pee, poo and periods all day long, helping people make the switch to reusables! The Company was recognised for their hard work in developing environmentally friendly products with the Queens Award in Enterprise for Sustainable Development in 2021.