How To Not Leak On A Heavy Period

Choose The Right Pair Of Pants

Your time of the month is the best time to channel your inner Bridget Jones. Firstly, youll want to wear your comfiest underwear think Granny style large enough to cover any area that could see leaking added bonus if theyre frilly!

Secondly, make sure they fit you properly. If theyre too big, you allow for too much movement in your underwear and leaks are likely!

Thirdly, and trust us on this, wear another pair over the first. Not only will the outer pair hold the first pair in place, but this will provide an extra layer thatll absorb any blood before it gets to your sheets.

And lastly, your pyjama bottoms make all the difference. We recommend wearing PJ bottoms on the snug side for minimal underwear movement and maximum security.

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“I’m a sexologist with 25 years of professional experience in sexual dysfunction, STIs, women’s health, and sex education. Now, I have a slightly different take on my latest public period stain. Mainly because I saw it as an opportunity to teach my tween girl about a fact of life.

“I had bundled the kids into the car and we were off to the 9 a.m. swimming class. I walked in with the kids and as we walked over to the seats, I became aware of a wet sensation on the back of my dress. I sat down with the kids, helped my son get ready and he jumped into the pool. I then sat quietly and in between waves of panic and shame, tried to think of how to get out of this one! So, I stood up in front of my 11-year-old daughter, and said ‘Hey, I think I have blood all over the back of my dress, what can you see?’ She of course says ‘Yes, it is blood.’

“I quickly sat back down and tried to think of possible ways to get out of this situation. It was then that I realized that my daughter was actually watching me to see what I was going to do, and that how I managed this situation would shape her future beliefs and attitudes about periods. So what did I do? I said to her, ‘Okay, I will go to the bathroom and see if I can wash the blood off.’ She nodded, I stood up walked past all the other mums and headed into the women’s bathrooms, pulled up my skirt, washed the stain out, wrung my skirt dry and headed back to my seat in my wet skirt.

Theres A Crease In The Cup Or It Didnt Open Properly

The number one reason why your cup might be leaking is because it hasnât completely unfolded.

When your cup is inserted, it should âpop openâ so that it suctions to the walls of your inner genitals. If the cup doesnât fully expand, there will be a crease that causes it to leak.

To check this, you can feel around the base of the cup with your finger to see if there are any creases.

How to fold a menstrual cup when inserting it

A lot of people find that the punch-down fold works better than the C-fold .

Try using the punch-down folding method the next time you insert your cup to see whether it works better for you!

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When Should I See A Doctor For Heavy Periods

Heavy periods arent something that you have to put up with. If your period affects your daily life by causing you to miss work or school, cancel social activities or plan your day around bathroom breaks, its time to seek treatment.

We recommend making an appointment with one of our womens health experts if you experience any of the the symptoms described above. An expert will be able to diagnose whats causing your heavy periods and recommend effective treatments. If youre not sure whether your period is normal, just ask.

Dont Worry About Leaks

If you leak on your sheets itâs fine. Use a warm water bottle for cramps and you can drink an herbal tea before sleep for your headache or tummy cramps. âAnonymous, female, 22, Montevideo, Uruguay

I wear pads and lie on a towel if I am in someone elseâs house. My advice is to be overly cautious until you know how heavy your period is, but if you do accidentally bleed onto something itâs no big deal, just tell someone. I wouldnât wear a tampon overnight as you might wear it for longer than the recommended 8 hours which can be dangerous. âAnonymous, female, 18, North East England

Getting your period is an important milestone, and a happy one at that. I think we all talk about periods in such negative ways sometimes, that it makes it seem like the worst thing in the world, but itâs actually a completely natural thing, and so a beautiful one. I could give you plenty of advice, but the most important thing, I think, is to remember to not panic. Youâll get the hang of things. Donât be afraid of trying out new things, finding the right menstrual products for you. Donât be scared, youâll figure it out. Even if sometimes there is a leak, itâs not the worst thing in the world, I promise. If the blood is fresh, wash it with cold water first and then put it in the washer. I have woken up with blood stains many times before and Iâm still a perfectly normal human being. So no worries. 🙂 âMh, female, 24, Slovenia

to track your period.

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“I was standing and waiting for the subway in NYC when I felt a leak slowly dripping down my leg. I was wearing a sun dress and knew everyone would soon see my visitor who was coming out for a surprise visit.

“My excessive bleeding due to my endometriosis was showing its ugly head all the time, but this was the worst. Soon, I feared everyone would be greeted by Aunt Flo as well, to my embarrassing demise . So, while standing, I crossed one leg over the other and proceeded to squeeze my legs together so that the drip would stop and instead smeared it between my legs, which allowed me to walk onto the train without leaving a trail. I then found a newspaper someone had left and sat on it, while keeping my legs pressed together. Needless to say, I was glad it was dark outside and made it home in one miserable, messy piece. I can’t wait to be done with the lady party!” Jo

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“In my younger years, my periods were extremely heavy and painful. During my first week at my new job at Urban Outfitters, it was spring or summer, and for some reason I was still wearing tights . Anyway, things were as bad as I thought they would be for my first full day of my period, but I packed lots of extra, super-long pads to bring with me, just in case.

How Do You Hide A Pad At School

Before going to school, place your pads or tampons in a compact bag. If you are unable to bring the bag or case to class with you, store it in your locker or in your backpack until you can. You can get it while youre on your way to the restroom. Small tampons or pads may also fit into big wallets, change purses, or the case of your cell phone.

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Period Leaks: Key Takeaways

So, maybe you have a contingency plan. Maybe you brought vaginal wipes and an extra pair of panties with you to work or class. But, other than that, there really isnt a perfect solution for period leakage because tampons and pads are made for zero gravity .

If youve changed up your period product and switched to a menstrual cup or disc, we applaud you. Hopefully, youre well on your way to a worry- and hassle-free period. If for some reason, youre still experiencing leaking with either of those products, its a good idea to double-check your insertion technique.

With cup leaks, its usually because the cup isnt the right size for your body or hasnt fully opened up after insertion . With disc leaks, its usually because the disc isnt positioned far enough down and back, or isnt properly tucked into place behind the pubic bone.

For troubleshooting, check out the following guides:

How Is Menorrhagia Diagnosed

Diagnosing menorrhagia has two parts: confirming that your bleeding is unusually heavy, and identifying the underlying cause.

For the first part, your doctor will ask you questions about your medical and menstrual histories. For the second part, one or more tests may be used. Examples include:

• A blood test to check hormone levels and look for signs of anemia or clotting issues.
• A Pap test, where cells from your cervix are examined for signs of infection, inflammation or other unusual changes.
• An endometrial biopsy, which involves taking samples from your uterine lining. The samples are looked at to see if any unusual or cancerous cells are present.
• An ultrasound, which uses sound waves to check for dysfunction in the pelvic organs, as well as blood flow issues.
• A sonohysterogram, another kind of ultrasound thats done while your uterus is filled with liquid to get a better look at the uterine lining.
• A hysteroscopy, where a very small, flexible camera is used to examine the uterus for fibroids, polyps and other possible causes of bleeding issues.

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How To Handle Period Leaks

No matter how hard you try, sometimes leaking is going to happen. If after all this time your period still seeps through, its always good to know how to remove blood stains! Here are a few methods weve tried and tested to naturally get stains out:

• White vinegar: if youve got some hiding in the kitchen cupboards, use white vinegar on the patch before it dries up. Leave it to soak for 5 10 mins while blotting until its lifted and wash in cold water
• Salt and water: Using more kitchen staples, creating a paste with salt and water can be effective when applied onto the blood
• Baking soda and water: If the stain has dried up, baking soda and water can be used to remove blood stains too. Apply the paste for at least half an hour until it has disappeared

If youve tried all possible solutions and the stain is still being stubborn, not all hope is lost! Why not save stained underwear for when youre next on your period? Leaking might happen again and is underwear ruined if it already has been before?

How Can I Prevent The Period Leak In School

Your period may be a little heavy at times, and it may cause the leak. Though it will not happen always, it is important to know how to prevent it.

• Typically, the leak will occur when your pad or tampon gets too full and hence, cannot hold on to the blood anymore. This will happen when you are having a heavy period or if you have not changed your pad or tampon for a long time.
• Avoid this situation by changing your pad or tampon regularly. How often you will need to change will depend on your flow and the day of your period.
• Get the right kind of pads or tampons. If you usually have a heavy period, you should try using the extra thick and long pads. Using a double pad on the first and second days of your period will help. This will take care of the heavy flow better than a single pad.

If you get your first period at school, stay calm and talk to your teacher. You should not feel embarrassed because it is a natural process, and every girl goes through it. After your first period, you may start following a proper routine and carry extra pads or tampons to school. To stay comfortable, change your pads when required. If you get cramps at school, talk to your teacher, stretch your muscles, or lie down for a while. Eat nutritious food and exercise regularly to stay healthy and pain-free during menstruation.

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These Hacks Will Make Your Life More Comfortable During Periods

Written by Tania Tarafdar | Updated : February 22, 2017 2:47 PM IST

Having to deal with cramps, mood swings and period stains is never easy. But if your flow is heavy and you always have a tendency to leak, you can make life easier with a few sanitary pad hacks. Here s what you should be doing to prevent leakage.

• Be sure to place your pad right in the middle of your underwear so that they do not go too far down or too far up. Also, make sure that the wings of the pad wrap tightly around the bottom of the middle of the underwear.
• You may just want to use panty liners above and below your pad in places where you tend to leak. You can also place lighter pads perpendicular to your pad if you want some extra coverage.
• An excellent way to minimise leakage is to wear thicker underwear. Thick underwear can absorb the blood when you have a leakage. Just make sure that your underwear isn t too loose because it will make your pad move around. Here’s your guide to decode menstrual problems.
• If you tend to leak in front or behind your pad, you can only move your pad up or down depending on the place you usually leak.
• If you have a heavy flow and have trouble with leakage, buy extra large pads which are long and have super absorbency. You can also wear the pads during the day if you tend to leak too much.

A few more hacks

Image source: Shutterstock Images

How To Stop Period Leaks At Night

These will give an extra layer of protection between you and the sheets, meaning youre less likely to leak onto them.

An extra pair of panties over the top of your usual pair will absorb any leakage. Choose thicker cotton ones in a dark colour that wont show up stains

Lay an old hand towel underneath your bottom before you lie down. This will absorb any leakage and protect your sheets.

A mattress protector will prevent your mattress ending up with a permanent dark stain. If youre sleeping away from home take one with you.

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How To Prevent Pads From Leaking While On Period At School

You can use one or a combination of the following tips to prevent your pads from leaking while you are at school.

• Wear pads of correct thickness and length:

Remember you get pads of varying thickness and length. So coordinate your pads based on the flow. If you have a heavy flow, use a super pad, which is more absorbent and longer than a regular-sized one. On days, when the flow is lighter, wear regular pads. This will go a long way in preventing leaks.

• Place Your Pads Correctly:

Putting your pad correctly in your underwear will prevent leaks. Do not stick the pad too far up or down. Place it snugly at the bottom but the middle of your underwear. Press it slightly so that it sticks properly to your panty.

• Use panty liners in conjunction:

You can put a panty liner under the pad for extra protection. Place it perpendicular to your pad to get more coverage. Wear a tight underwear that fits the groin region, so that the panty liner does not become loose.

• Wear a thicker underwear:

You can reduce the chances of leaks while on your period at school by wearing a thicker panty. Of course, this is not a foolproof method, but it will be more absorbent than a normal one.

We’re All About #periodpride Here At & sisters Hq But We Know They Don’t Always Make Life Easy Bloating Cramps And Fatigue Aside It Can Also Be A Messy Time Of The Month Weve All Experienced Leaks On Our Period Before

• Use the right absorbency for your flow

Your flow can vary throughout the duration of your period. Some of us experience heavier flow during the first few days that becomes lighter on the remaining days whereas others can experience light bleeding or spotting for the first few days which is followed by three to four days of heavier flow. Whilst you might not want to take a closer look at your menstrual fluid, its worth getting to know your flow and adapting your period care to cater to it. Opting for mixed absorbency pads or tampons can be a great way to personalise your period.

• Switch to a menstrual cup

• Bedtime calls for extra protection

Just like skincare, its worth incorporating a night-time routine for your period care too. Some people bleed more heavily at night, and this can be due to the body being less mobile whilst asleep. To prevent leaks, we recommend wearing ultra-absorbent heavy pads and underwear that is more secure. If you are prone to leaks, embrace your inner Bridget Jones and choose underwear that is larger to protect from any night spillages. Fortunately, period protection can still feel sexy with so many gorgeous sustainable lingerie brands to choose from like Alexander Clementine and Lara Intimates.

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