If you normally use disposable period products, you’ve probably gotten in the habit of stocking up like a squirrel for winter. You always want to have enough pads and tampons on hand in case of the odd stockout or snow day.
When you switch to reusables, however, there isn’t as much need for excess or overkill. When it comes to prepping your panty supply, you can get a lot more minimalist with your approach.
The right number of period panties to keep on hand will differ for every person, depending on your flow, your laundry sitch, and more. In this article, we’ll go over everything to think about when it comes to buying the right number of period undies for you.
Let’s Talk About Period Planning
The beauty of period underwear is that they’re reusable, and you can wear the same pair all day. That means you don’t need to have dozens of pairs on hand at all times. Even so, it pays to plan ahead and keep some extras around, because life doesn’t always go as expected.
Think carefully about how many pairs you’ll need, especially when packing for a vacation or planning a special outfit. Too few period panties can definitely throw a wrench in your big beach plans, or make that work conference a little more stressful.
Everyone’s cycle is different, so carefully consider your needs, and be open to adjusting as necessary. Start with a few pairs, then add to your collection as needed. Below are some specific things to think about as you decide.
Factors That Influence How Many Pairs You’ll Need
There are a number of factors that might influence how many pairs of period panties you need to own or pack. Here are some of the most common ones:
Your Flow Levels and Backup Methods
If you have a heavier period, it’s likely you’ll want either Ultra or Super absorbency. While it’s safe to wear a pair of period panties for up to twelve hours, you might want to need or change yours more frequently.
On the other hand, folks with super heavy flows may always want to use a tampon or pad with their period panties. Those people might prefer Moderate absorbency, since their cups, discs, or tampons are sharing the load.
Absorbency Guide:
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Ultra: absorbs 7-9 super tampons
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Super: absorbs 3-6 super tampons
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Moderate: absorbs 2-3 super tampons
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Light: absorbs 1-3 regular tampons
If your flow varies a lot, from light to medium to heavy, you might want a variety of different period panties. You might want full coverage shorts with more absorbency on heavy days, and lighter, lower coverage pairs for lghter-flow days.
How Long Your Period Lasts
The number of pairs you need also depends heavily on the number of days your period usually lasts. Naturally, if you only have a three-day cycle, you won’t need as many as someone who bleeds for seven days. Within those windows though, there’s still a lot of variability in terms of how many pairs you might need.
Some people find that, toward the end of their period, their flow is light enough to free bleed. They may only need low- or even no-absorbancy period panties on those last few days. Others use a backup method, like an insertable, on the heaviest days of their periods. They might go through a few pairs at the start of their cycle.
Another thing to consider is whether you’re prone to spotting at other times during your cycle, or randomly throughout the month. For example, pregnant folks or people using IUDs or taking progesterone might experience unpredictable bleeding.
Laundry Access
If you’ve got an in-house or in-unit washer/dryer, you might be able to get away with as few as two or three pairs of period panties. Especially if you’re already doing laundry every day or two, you might as well give your period underwear a rinse and throw them in with each load.
Just remember that, if you wash your period panties very frequently, you may wear them out a lot sooner.
You may feel differently about doing laundry every day if you’re dealing with a shared laundry situation, like a coin-operated basement setup, a laundromat, or multiple roomies. Or even if you’ve got your own machine, maybe you’re already overloaded with chores, or just can’t be bothered to do laundry that often.
If you’d rather not do laundry all week, you can easily buy more pairs and wash them all at the end of your cycle. Handwashing your period undies may be a lower lift if you’re not feeling up to doing a full load of laundry.
Other Uses
Another consideration is whether you plan to use extra pairs of period panties for other fluids besides menstrual blood. For example, many people also find their period panties serve a secondary purpose, absorbing sweat, discharge, or bladder leaks.
While it’s worth noting that most styles of period panties aren’t designed for incontinence, there are some notable exceptions. Period panties can also help if you experience thick cervical mucus during ovulation or watery perimenopausal discharge.
Some people also like to use period panties to keep sweat at bay when they workout. If you love your light-colored leggings or hate leaving sweat marks on the weight bench, you can wear your lighter absorbency period undies during workouts.
Building Your Perfect Period Underwear Collection
Most people start out their period panty journey with 1-3 pairs. Trying out a few different styles or absorbencies can help you get a feel for how many you need and which suit you best.
Remember, when you first start using period panties, they don’t have to be your only period protection method. You can also continue to use insertables and disposables, while you figure out what works best for you.
Once you get a better sense of what you like, work your way up to 6-7 pairs (or more) to get through the full length of your cycle. This may also allow for other use cases or midday changes. With this many, you can start replacing disposables entirely, and save yourself a whole lot of laundry. Start experimenting with different cuts and materials, like French cut or lacy bikini undies.
Round out your collection with 1-2 pairs of special styles, like Leakproof activewear or period boxers for overnight wear. Period leggings and shorts can be worn sans underwear, on their own or underneath your favorite dresses.
The Benefits of Having Enough Period Underwear
When you have enough period underwear on hand, you can save yourself a lot of inconvenience. You no longer have to worry about the drugstore stocking out of your favorite pad brand, or other mid-cycle emergencies.
With a range of different styles and absorbencies in your arsenal, you’re prepared for any flow level and any type of activity. You’ve got just the right shorts for under that short-short dress, and the perfect seamless period panties for those white party slacks.
No matter where you have to be or what day of your cycle you’re on, you’ll have a pair in your collection that’s just right. You can also use Leakproof undies as a backup protection method with pads or tampons to get even more flexibility out of each pair of period panties.
Wrapping It Up: Your Ideal Number is Unique
Remember that the right number of period panties looks different for every person. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, literally or figuratively, when it comes to period underwear.
It might take some experimentation to find the right number of panties — and the right styles and absorbencies — for you. Figure out your Leakproof underwear needs, start small and customize your collection based on your preferences.