Thickness. The lighter your period, the thinner your pad can be; however, absorbency of pads has improved dramatically, even in recent years. Some thinner pads can be quite absorbent. They’re often more comfortable to sit on and you can even forget they’re there! Absorbency. Look at the rating (light, average, or super) and length, and try a few different brands and styles before settling on one you like. Sometimes absorbency means different things to different companies and/or people. Shape. There are different shapes of undies out there, so naturally there are different shapes of pads. The three main ones will be those for regular undies, those for thongs and night-time pads. Night-time pads are pretty self-explanatory (longer, made for lying down), but the other two? Well, wearing a pad while you’re wearing a thong is sort of asking for trouble. You can try it, but if you’re just starting off, stick with the regular ones. Style. Again, two things here: with wings and without. “Wings” are those sticky little pieces that adhere to your underwear. They keep your pad from lodging to the side and feeling like a diaper. In short, unless they irritate your skin or something, they’re your friend! In general, stay away from scented pads, especially if your skin is sensitive. They can be irritating in areas you definitely don’t want irritated. There are also panty-liners, but those are kind of a different animal. Stick to those bad boys when you think your period is starting or when it’s ending – that is, when it’s really, really light.
It’ll be easiest if you’re sitting down and your undies are around your knees. Standing is fine, too; you just want everything in an arm’s reach.
In some brands of pads nowadays, the wrapper doubles as the backing. It’s more eco-friendly and simpler – if this is the case, one less step for you!
Got wings? Make sure to fold those around the outside of your panties so that they stick. They’ll keep the pad from moving around as you move, which will be way more comfortable and feel a lot more natural. It also helps prevent leaks during heavy flow.
Let’s say this one more time: change your pad every few hours. Obviously, part of this depends on how heavy your flow is. But not only will changing often give you peace of mind, but odors won’t start worsening either. Win win!
A good rule of thumb is to bust out the granny panties when you’re on your period. Save your cute thongs for the other 25 days of the month.
No need to run to the bathroom every half hour, by the way. But checking in on your new buddy every 1-2 hours will be just fine. If anyone asks, say you drank a lot of water today!
Never dispose anything that isn’t toilet paper into the toilet. The sewer systems of the world aren’t some magic pipeline where everything you put down it gets vaporized into oblivion; it all goes somewhere. So be kind to the world and don’t flush your pads or tampons (or anything else for that matter).
While we’re sort of on the topic, don’t be grossed out. This is a marker of your body’s ability to do it’s thing – a perfectly normal, monthly, annoying habit. You’re staying hygienic because you want to be clean, not because it (or you) is gross.
If you find yourself in the bathroom up the red river without a pad(dle), never hesitate to ask a girl. Seriously. You do not need to be cute and sparkly about it. We all know what you’re going through. It sucks. We all love helping a sister out! While we’re at it, you may want to carry some Midol, too!
