If you’re looking for a more sustainable option to reduce your use of plastics and single use period products, I’m sure you’ve heard of period underwear! I’ve personally been using a Diva Cup menstrual cup for about 12 years, but still kept pads and liners on hand for days I didn’t need it or for light days. Although I have since found organic cotton liners and pads that I’ll share in a later post, my friends introduced me to Modibodi period underwear and they are seriously the best thing ever. Once you try them you will wish you had them growing up too – they are such a game changer and so comfortable! Not only are they great for your period but they will definitely be amazing postpartum when you don’t want to wear a bulky crazy large pad and disposable underwear or an actual diaper (which I totally rocked for a couple weeks and totally still will purchase again for postpartum round two!).
So what are period underwear?
Period underwear are reusable absorbent underwear to use for bleeding during your period, or urine leaks instead of traditional pads.
- They can be rinsed and washed and used over and over again!
- This creates a more sustainable long lasting period product instead of all the disposable pads and tampons and all of that plastic and cardboard packaging that goes along with them.
- Along with menstrual cups, period underwear make a great addition to your period care and postpartum care and less impact on the environment from a single use perspective!
- I wish I had period underwear available when I was younger! It’s been such a game changer when used with and without my menstrual cup!
Why are period underwear great?
I have found that they are:
- Way more comfortable than wearing pads or tampons or even a period cup!
- Look like regular undies to me – the styles are so modern now and don’t make you feel like you’re in granny-panties!
- The different absorbency levels allow you to customize to your flow on different days
- The heavy flow and high waisted options would be perfect for postpartum instead of diapers or jumbo pads, and some companies have maternity and postpartum lines too!
- You always have something on hand in case you run out of pads or tampons!
Favorite brand: Modibodi Period Underwear
This Australian based company is fantastic!
- Fabulous modern styles including lace trim, thong, and seamless as well as maternity and postpartum
- Size inclusive, gender inclusive
- Materials are OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified, meaning that even though they do use polyester and polyamide in their absorbent layers along with cottons and wools, everything is tested to the highest standards to be free of harmful chemicals (such as formaldehyde, lead, PFAS, pesticides, among many others).
Size and fit:
I usually wear a US Medium in most underwear brands, sometimes large during pregnancy or postpartum. In Modibodi period underwear, I’m a US medium which translates to an AUS size 12. I find they fit really well and don’t cut into me and are true to size. I LOVE the high waisted 24 hr overnight pairs the best. They are so comfy and you feel so well protected! And honestly I feel cute!
I feel like the Modibodi brief versions and the lacey top or banded top styles will cut into you moreso than the seamless styles – so if you don’t like that I would go up one size. My friends who also have this brand agree that the banded top definitely run tighter.
What are Modibodi Period Underwear made from?
Here are some of the styles I have tried or want to try for reference to see what materials are used:
Sensual Boyleg light-moderate:
Outer – 95% Bamboo Viscose 5% Spandex
Gusset – Merino Wool, Polyester, Polyamide
Seamfree Full Brief heavy-overnight:
Outer – 91% Nylon 9% Spandex
Gusset – Merino Wool, Polyester, Polyamide
Postpartum Control Brief Moderate – Heavy:
Outer – 78% Pre-Consumer Recycled Nylon, 22% Spandex
Gusset – 100% Merino Wool, 80% Polyester, 20% Polyamide, 100% Polyester
Biodegradable line (2 styles so far):
Outer – 70% TENCEL™, 30% Merino wool
Liner – 100% Merino wool / 100% bamboo viscose / 100% biodegradable PU laminate
- This ia an awesome addition to their lineup!
- Made from 97% biodegradable materials, including biodegradable & compostable packaging = zero waste
- To biodegrade, cut off the waistband and discard into landfill, then bury the main pant in active soil.
PFAS and Period Underwear:
Recently there was a brand of period underwear under fire for PFAS in their period underwear products.
- Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings. The goal of these coatings is to create products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. PFAS can be used in clothing, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, heat-resistant non-stick cooking surfaces, and the insulation of electrical wire.
- Many PFAS do not break down in the environment
- Can contaminate drinking water
- Can bioaccumulate in fish and wildlife
- Animal studies show negative effects on growth and development, reproduction, thyroid function, immune system, liver.
- More research is needed but since 1999, CDC scientists found four PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS or perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, and PFNA or perfluorononanoic acid) in the serum of nearly all of the people tested in the NHANES survey. This indicates widespread exposure to these PFAS in the U.S. population.
Does Modibodi period underwear contain PFAS?
What’s great about Modibodi? They created a section in their FAQ on this and responded to my inquiry nearly immediately. Their OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 tests for PFAS and their underwear does NOT have PFAS in them.
What styles I have:
Sensual Boyleg light-moderate
Seamfree Full Brief heavy-overnight
What my friends have:
Classic Bikini light-moderate – great but cuts in a little bit on fit
Recycled Seamfree Boyleg moderate-heavy – friend’s fav!
Thong style – great when you don’t have the right style pantyliner!
Consensus on favorite style: Seamless is our favorite for fit (not cutting into you and of course that it is barely noticeable through pants!)
What styles I want to try next!
Postpartum brief, their biodegradable line, and boyshorts!
Best styles for Postpartum:
Definitely the high waisted seamless 24hr overnight or any of their moderate-heavy flow styles, along with their postpartum specific line. They now have boyshort styles which I feel like would be the most secure feeling postpartum! And of course the high waisted and postpartum styles would be great for c-section mamas to be above your scar.
Pricing of Modibodi Period Underwear
Price ranges from $28 to $40ish per piece – they do have sales occasionally though which is when we usually snag some pairs!
How to care for your Modibodi Period Underwear
Here are the exact steps from their website:
Step 1. Wash your Modibodi before wearing them for the first time. This will activate the technology in the gusset for maximum absorbency.
Step 2. Rinse in cold water after use <30° Do not soak, just rinse until the water runs clear!
Step 3. Cold wash (now or later) In a delicates bag is even better!
Step 4. Hang dry. Reuse. Repeat! Go you eco warrior!
Step 5. Hold the fabric softener. This reduces the product’s function!
Overall thoughts:
I find that I’m able to even use my period cup less when I have these undies on hand. I don’t mind rinsing them and washing them per the instructions above – I typically rinse and let hang in the shower and then I wash them all in a garment bag at the end of my cycle. These are a great addition to your period cup too instead of using disposable liners/pads to alternate with or as extra protection. I have cut down significantly on liner pads and pads in general (and I’ve been tampon free since 2011 or so when I started using the Diva Cup!)
Although I have been trying to transition my regular underwear to more cotton and natural fibers instead of synthetics, knowing that Modibodi meets the OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 makes me confident in using them. That even though synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyamide and nylon are used, they aren’t contaminated with nasty carcinogens or byproducts. So you can feel safe and confident wearing them for a few days a month or postpartum!
I definitely plan to purchase a couple pairs of the postpartum specific style or high waisted briefs to have on hand to rotate with my postpartum diaper care this summer! I want to try the Rael brand disposables this time and transition to my period undies when I can! I feel better not wasting so much in the garbage too – think about how many tampon/pad wrappers and how much unnecessary plastic and packaging goes into all those single use products? I’ll definitely be doing a post on menstrual cups and organic cotton pads/tampons in the future too!
Have you tried any other period underwear brands? Which have you loved? Which ones did you NOT love? Let me know!
Xo- Sarah