Puberty is a pretty overwhelming experience, but there's nothing quite like getting your period for the first time. Period pants for teens can help minimise the stress of it all, though, and make the whole experience a lot easier to deal with. Because, let's face it, it can be really awkward and sometimes totally unexpected.
What's even more traumatic is the idea of then having to insert a tampon or wear a pad when you never have before, on top of juggling things like cramps, mood swings and cravings. Period pants for teens remove all that stress, so instead of faffing about in the bathroom for hours trying to adhere a sanitary pad/towel or install a tampax in the correct position, you can simply pull them on as you would your normal underwear.
Skip to: What are period pants for teens? | How much blood do they hold? | Can you wear them all day? | How to wash them? | How we tested them | Shop the best period pants for teens.
Meet the expert: Ruby Raut, CEO and co-founder of WUKA.
What are period pants for teens?
Unlike menstrual cups or anything similar, period pants are exactly what they say on the tin: pants teens can wear during their TOTM (time of the month). They soak everything up and keep it all contained so they needn’t worry about leaking, and, if you're conscious of sustainability, they’re totally reusable. Essentially, they have a built-in sanitary liner that they won’t have to change and throw away every three-four hours – they can literally slip them on and forget about them until the end of the day. Super eco-friendly and convenient for teenagers who are always running on a last-minute time schedule.
“In recent years, people have become much more conscious of their environmental footprint with more emphasis placed on reducing our single-use plastic consumption and carbon emission contribution,” says Ruby Raut, CEO and co-founder of WUKA. “It's encouraging to see that this demand is being driven by the younger generations as well as adults - we've seen this first hand with our First Period Pack - which is a popular first choice for adults buying for their tweens and teens resulting in a +327% growth in sales,” she adds.
First Period Midi Brief Heavy Flow Pack
How much blood do teenage period pants hold?
In terms of just how much blood they hold and how long they can wear them for, well that’s really down to the pair you choose. “You know your flow best,” says Ruby, so have a quick read of the descriptions as this will determine which style is best. If you/they tend to have a heavy flow, something like Modibodi’s maxi hipster bikini briefs might be preferable as they've been tested to hold up to 10 tampons' worth of blood. Elsewhere, Wuka's ultimate midi briefs hold four tampons' worth of blood, equalling a whole days' worth of protection for moderate flows.
Moderate-Heavy Hipster Bikini Period Pants
Tween Ultimate Midi Brief Period Pants
Period pants for teens are really discreet, they don’t give the nappy-like look that people assume they do, but according to Ruby, fear of leaking is what puts people off trying them. “A lot of people are concerned they will feel like they're wearing granny pants – but they won't. There are so many different styles of period pants for teens: briefs, seamless, high waisted, boxers and even thongs for the ultimate summer period underwear without the VPL,” she says. So if they're really fussy about any potential lines showing through their clothing (aren't we all?) then opt for a seamless pair like Flux Undies’ bikini style or WUKA's stretch seamless knickers.
Can you wear period undies all day at school?
Of course! Period pants for teens can be worn exactly how you'd wear your normal underwear, they just need to be washed at the end of the day, so it's a good idea to have a few pairs on hand to rotate between each day.
How to wash period pants for teens
When it comes to washing them? Simply give them a rinse with cold water before putting them on a dark wash between 30℃ and 40℃ and air drying them. Try not to use fabric softener or bleach, though, as this will make them less absorbent over time.
How we tested the best period pants for teens
As we're not teenagers ourselves, us GLAMOUR editors – each of different ages and flows – trialled the adult versions of the period pants for teens in this round-up. We tested them in numerous scenarios over a number of months and at various points in our cycles. We worked out in them, lounged in them, went on holiday in them, worked from home in them, and then we evaluated each pair based on five things: comfort, absorbency, how well they washed, whether they kept a fresh feeling, and how they felt under normal clothes, all while rating them out of five stars. The results? See below.
Be sure to check out our guide to period swimwear too. Yep, it exists! And for more from GLAMOUR UK’s Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd.
Ready to find the best period pants for teens? Scroll to find our top picks.
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