I still remember the start of my first cycle, pre-my discovery of period pants for teens, and can confirm there’s no terror like it. The stomach cramps, pulsing headache and endless stream of questions. Worst of all: having to wear thick, crunchy and not-at-all-leak-proof sanitary pads for a week straight.
Essentially, I wish period pants for teens had been an option when I started menstruating at 13, cutting any worries about leaks or running out of supplies. And, since learning that 45 billion (!) disposable period products are used, with 500 million of those sanitary products going to landfill, it makes me question why we’re not talking more about the environmental impact of periods.
But let’s not laden teens with eco-guilt just yet — particularly if they’ve just been blessed with the burden of a monthly visit from Aunt Flo. What we are offering, instead, is an answer to all their FAQs on the best period pants for teens, as well as a rundown of the very best period protection on the market.
And if you’re wondering how we say that with confidence… because a team of GLAMOUR editors have personally tried and tested a range themselves. So, whether she’s after a pair with a mid-rise waistband, a bikini or a boyshort, here are the best period pants to get her started.
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Meet the expert:
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 up everything — blood, urine, discharge or sweat — and keep it all contained, so they needn’t worry about leaking. And, if you/her are conscious of their ecological footprint, they’re also totally reusable.
“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 — a popular first choice for adults buying for their tweens and teens, resulting in a +327% growth in sales.”
How do period pants for teens work? Essentially, they have a built-in sanitary pad that she won’t have to discard every three hours. She literally can slip the pants on and forget about her period until the end of the day. They’re also really discreet — they don’t give the nappy-like look that people assume they do.
But, according to Raut, a fear of leaking is what puts people off: “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.”
How we test the best period pants for teens:
As we’re not teenagers, we 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 many 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 six things: comfort, absorbency, how well they washed, whether they kept a fresh feeling, how they felt under normal clothes, and value for money. The results? See below.
Our testers:
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