But in recent years, the period aisle has exploded with options, prompting questions like: What’s a disc, and how is it different from a cup? Should I buy organic products? How does period underwear stack up to pads? Do I really need an ashwagandha-infused product “down there”?
Obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Brittany Bowler from Novant Health East Cooper OB/GYN walks us through the aisle. She’ll also share the product you should always skip and whether organic products are worth the money.
Expert OB-GYN care that you can trust.
How to choose a menstrual product
There’s no “right” or “wrong” product, Bowler said, and you’re not making a lifetime commitment to whatever product you choose. Most women go back and forth between different products over the decades, and may use more than one product at a time depending on factors including:
- Stage of life
- Activity level
- Flow (light, medium, heavy)
- Comfort level with their body
- Skin sensitivity
- Budget
- Preferences and values
Some women also choose not to have a period, whether for medical reasons or simply personal preference — stopping it through medication, devices such as an IUD or even surgery.
There’s no medical need for a cycle every month unless you are actively trying to become pregnant, Bowler said, and it’s perfectly healthy not to have a period as long as your ob-gyn is helping you skip it with one of these options. However, if you aren’t having a cycle and aren’t working with your ob-gyn to stop your period, that’s a reason to see your ob-gyn.
Your guide to period products
External products
Period underwear
What it is: Period underwear looks like normal underwear, except it has a top layer that keeps you dry and additional layers underneath that absorb blood. It’s available in several absorbency levels. It needs to be changed when it gets saturated. Some women wear period underwear as a stand-alone product; other women use it as a backup for another product or when they’re expecting their period to start soon.
Who it’s for: “Period underwear is universal,” Bowler said.
Popularity: In a 2023 study of U.S. women, roughly 1 in 5 women reported using period underwear; it was most popular among women in their 30s and 40s.
Considerations:
- Because it looks like normal underwear, it’s discreet. However, if you have a heavy flow and need to change underwear several times a day, it may be less discreet than other options.
- You rinse period underwear once you take it off. After rinsing, most brands go in the washing machine alongside your normal laundry; drying instructions vary.
- You can’t swim in period underwear, but you can purchase a waterproof version (called “period swimwear”).
- In one study, teens with autism reported preferring period underwear to other period products, likely because it is less overwhelming to the sensory system.
- Some women may experience skin irritation from period underwear.
- Even though period underwear needs to be replaced after a few years, it’s reusable, making it the second-most environmentally friendly option of all period products.
Health guidelines: You can wear period underwear for an entire day, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) states, though you may need to change it more often depending on how heavy your flow is.
Cost: Period underwear costs $10 to $50 a pair; depending on your flow, you may need several pairs a day. Most periods last 3 to 7 days, so you may want a few days’ worth depending on your laundry habits.
Pads and panty liners
What they are: Pads and panty liners are absorbent products that you place inside your underwear to catch blood. Most women are familiar with disposable pads, but reusable cloth pads are becoming more popular.
Panty liners only hold a few drops of liquid and are typically used for spotting or as backup for another product. Disposable and cloth pads come in a variety of lengths and absorbency levels.
Who they’re for: “Pads are for any woman, in any life stage,” Bowler said. Many tweens and teens use pads and panty liners for their first few months or years of menstruation. Pads are also the only option for women recovering from some gynecological surgeries and for postpartum women, who typically bleed for 4 to 6 weeks after giving birth, since internal products are not recommended during this time to allow for proper healing.
Popularity: Worldwide, pads are the most commonly used period product; in the U.S., they’re the second-most commonly used.
Considerations:
- You can’t swim with a pad or liner on. And both can move around during exercise, making them a less appealing option for active women.
- They add bulk, which can bother some women from a sensory perspective and can complicate some clothing decisions.
- Some women report vulvar irritation when using pads; if you experience this, Bowler recommends you try organic brands or exploring other options.
- Disposable pads are the least environmentally friendly option of the menstrual product options; each pad takes an estimated 500 to 800 years to decompose.
Cost: Pads average $7 to $18 per package; panty liners average $1 to $7 per package.
Internal products
Tampons
What it is: Tampons absorb blood inside the vagina; a string attached to the end helps with removal. They’re available in a variety of absorbency levels.
Who it's for: Anyone, as long as the user is comfortable with insertion.
Popularity: Tampons ranked as the most commonly used period product in the U.S., with 48% of women using them.
Considerations:
- You can wear anything you want with tampons — and whether you’re wearing a leotard, running track or swimming, you can exercise easily without being uncomfortable and still get the coverage that you need, Bowler said.
- Every woman’s anatomy is different, and tampons aren’t comfortable for everyone.
- As a disposable product, tampons have an environmental impact. To reduce it, choose regular rather than organic tampons (which use fewer resources to create), purchase compact tampons instead of those with applicators, and throw used tampons in the trash instead of flushing them down the toilet.
Health guidelines: ACOG recommends changing your tampon at least every 4 to 8 hours to reduce the risk of a rare illness called toxic shock syndrome. You shouldn’t wear a tampon to bed if there’s a possibility you'll sleep longer than that.
Cost: A box of tampons costs $8 to $16.
Menstrual cups
What it is: A flexible, reusable device that’s inserted into the vagina. It creates a seal against the vaginal walls and collects blood. Some cups have stems, handles or rings to help with removal.
Who it’s for: Anyone comfortable with a more hands-on process of inserting, removing and washing them. One caveat: Menstrual cups may not be the best choice for women with IUDs, since there is a possible association between using menstrual cups and an increased risk of an IUD coming out.
Popularity: In the U.S., 18% of women use menstrual cups.
Considerations:
- Menstrual cups allow a similar freedom to tampons, but can hold more blood than tampons and can be kept in for a longer period of time. Many women can go a full workday or school day without having to empty their cup.
- When the cup gets full, you pinch the bottom of the cup to break the seal, remove the cup, pour the collected blood into the toilet, wash the cup with warm water and soap, and then put it back in.
- Menstrual cups are made in several sizes and shapes; Bowler recommends you start with the smallest size for the sake of comfort. “It may be a learning curve on what works best for your body,” Bowler said.
- The cup’s seal keeps the blood from leaking, but can also make it difficult to remove. If your cup gets stuck, don’t panic: It can’t get lost inside you.
- Reusable menstrual cups have the lowest environmental impact of all period products.
Health guidelines: ACOG recommends removing and emptying the cup every 8 to 12 hours, and Bowler recommends following package directions for changing, cleaning and sanitizing your cup. Most manufacturers recommend boiling it in water once a month.
Cost: Cups cost $15 to $40 depending on brand, and can be reused for years.
Menstrual discs
What it is: A flexible product that is internally inserted. A disc can collect several tampons’ worth of blood, and can be left in for up to 12 hours, though you may need to empty it sooner if you have a heavy flow. Both reusable and disposable versions are available.
Who it’s for: Anyone who is comfortable with the hands-on process of inserting, removing and washing them.
Popularity: Disc popularity wasn’t assessed on the 2023 study.
Considerations:
- Menstrual cups and discs are similar, with one difference: A menstrual cup sits lower in your vagina and is held in place by suction, while a menstrual disc sits at the base of your cervix and is held in place by your pubic bone.
- A menstrual disc may be difficult to insert and remove at first.
- Similar to a menstrual cup, you need to empty a menstrual disc, clean it and reinsert it.
- Unlike tampons and cups, you can have sexual intercourse while you are wearing a disc. They are your best bet for mess-free sex during your period.
- Although discs weren’t assessed in the environmental impact study, reusable discs are made from similar materials to reusable menstrual cups.
Health guidelines: ACOG does not provide guidance on discs. Bowler recommends following the package directions for how often to change it and how to clean and sanitize it.
Cost:
Disposable discs cost $10 to 18 per box, with each box containing 10 to 14 discs. A reusable disc costs $25 to $45.
Period FAQs
“I want women who are on their periods to go out and enjoy their lives,” Bowler said. When you can do that, you know you’ve found the right product — or set of products — for you.
“In general, these organic products can be very expensive and we don't actually know for sure if they are any better than the regular types,” Bowler said. “Menstrual products need to be within your budget — and I wouldn’t encourage someone to overspend on something just because it's organic.”
However, some people have very sensitive skin that reacts to any type of irritant; if conventional period products irritate your skin, organic products may be worth trying.
“Scented pads and tampons can cause more harm than good and are not recommended,” Bowler said. The chemicals used to create the fragrance can alter your vagina’s pH balance, which raises your risk of infection and irritation.
Scented pads and herbal infusion pads can also irritate the skin around your vulva. (So no, an ashwagandha-infused pad is not recommended).
And avoid vaginal cleaning products: “The vagina is a self-cleaning organ,” Bowler said. “Only the outside needs to be cleaned, which can be done with water and a very gentle, unscented soap.”
“If your periods are impacting your quality of life, your ob-gyn wants to see you,” Bowler said. “Nothing is weird to talk about at the ob-gyn office, and we have a fix.”
