My first encounter with period pants was four years ago when I was talking to parents with visually impaired children. I was doing research hoping to prepare my daughter, Ms C, for her first period and wanted to know how other visually impaired children cope with the normal way of putting on sanitary pads. It’s not easy for her especially as she only has less than 50% of her vision left. She was not able to tell if she had applied it correctly or when she should change it. So when one of the mothers told me about period pants, I felt enlightened.
Period pants have been on the market for many years now. How much do you know about them? I am still learning and trialling different brands for Ms C. I do like the convenience of using them, without the hassle of sticking the sanitary pads on the pants. Period pants are not only plastic-free and free from harsh chemicals that can lead to skin irritations and rashes, but they are also better for the planet.
Do you know what WUKA stands for? It stands for Wake Up Kick Ass, which was founded in 2017 by Ruby Raut and they were the first in the UK to produce fully leak-proof reusable period underwear that completely replaces the need for single-use pads and tampons. They are an award-winning business and in 2022, they received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development. They offer an extensive range of underwear and sportswear sizes to suit different flows, from XXS up to 6XL. Also, they use an extensive range of materials and have different styles to suit all preferences.
If you are thinking of swapping sanitary pads or tampons for period pants and are not sure where to start, why not check out WUKA Cotton Stretch? One pair will fit up to four sizes with no visible panty line (VPL). They have two sizes: size 1 fits XS – L and size 2 fits XL – 4XL. They created Stretch so that you can get your perfect size the first time to reduce the hassle of returning.
My daughter has received the WUKA Cotton Stretch black Midi Brief size 1. They can be worn for up to 12 hours with no wet feeling and no odours. It is made with BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) – certified cotton. Ms C is size 8/small. She said the pants fit securely and are comfortable to wear and cooling.
During the menstrual period, women can experience bloatedness and these pants allow flexibility for all sizes without feeling constriction. As the pants have no VPL and are seamless with no label, she finds it hard to identify the waist of the pants due to her visual impairment. After a few washes, the pants still look as good as new. It does take a while to dry and like many period pants, they can last for two years. Now they are running a 10% off New product launch till the end of Jan plus every order with cotton stretch will get a free lavender bag. ( subject to availability)
Next, she received the WUKA Ultimate™ Midi brief in small. The size is true to size. It is comfortable to wear all day. It can be worn for up to 24 hours, but it is recommended for 12 hours. She loves that these pants have seams so that she can identify the orientation by feeling the elastic band. There are also cleverly disguised seams in the design where the fabric becomes a mesh. The period pants give her protection, especially in school and during sports and ensure there are no leaks. The pants wash well in the washing machine and take a while to dry. As with the Cotton Stretch, these can last two years too.
As period pants users, we all enjoy the convenience and best of all, saving the planet from plastic and being kind to our skin. They can appear expensive to buy, but in the long run, it will save you plenty of money. We would definitely recommend them.
Disclosure: We received the samples for the purposes of writing this review, however, all thoughts and opinions remain our own.