Those early days of managing your period can be fraught with figuring out when your flow is its heaviest, when to call in backup leak protection, and how to get a full night of rest without staining your sheets.
Period underwear for teens is designed to adapt to different flow levels and busy schedules, filled with soccer practices, gymnastics tryouts, and weekend sleepovers. Whether your teen likes to wear period underwear throughout their cycle, or use period panties in combination with other period products, the key to creating a period routine that involves period underwear is finding the right absorbency level.
Far from one-size-fits-all, period underwear for teens comes in a range of different styles, fabrics (including cotton underwear), and absorbencies designed for light flows and heavy flows, and everything in between.
Designed with a built-in liner, period underwear feel just like regular underwear—but with absorbent powers. And just like regular underwear, they can be machined washed with cold water (but instead of a tumble dry, they can be laid flat to dry).
Ahead, you'll find everything you need to know about how to find the perfect pair.
Light Absorbency Period Undies 🩸🩸
For light period days and back up leak protection, there's Light Leakproof Underwear (and activewear!) that has the power to absorb the same as about 1 tampon or pad. This absorbency level will be your teen's best friend on light flow days and can be worn in combination with tampons or menstrual cups. To that we say: do all the cartwheels.
Absorbency: Absorbs about the same as 1 regular tampon or pad worth of period flow, discharge, or sweat.
Styles:
- Light Leakproof No-Show Underwear (in Bikini, Boyshort, and High Rise styles)
- Leakproof Leotard
- Leakproof Tights
Best for: Wearing solo on light period days, and backup protection on regular flow days or during gym class.
Medium Absorbency Period Undies 🩸🩸🩸
If your teen is after more than just backup protection and plans to use period underwear solo throughout their period, regular Leakproof UltraThin Underwear should do just the trick. These styles have all the absorbency of about 2.5 super tampons without any of the bulk, so your teen breeze through their period without a care (or the use of disposables).
Absorbency: Absorbs about the same as about 2.5 super tampons worth of period flow.
Styles:
- Leakproof UltraThin No-Show Underwear (in Bikini, Boyshort, and High Rise styles)
- Leakproof Front-to-Back Liner Underwear
- Leakproof Luxe Modal Sleep Boxer
- Leakproof Cotton Underwear
- Leakproof Active Short
- Leakproof Active Legging
Best for: Wearing solo on regular flow days, backup protection on heavy flow days, and days when you don’t want to change out your pad or tampon every few hours.
Heavy Absorbency Period Undies 🩸🩸🩸🩸
Heavy flow days can be hard—especially when you're a teenager who's still figuring things out. On days when your teen's period turns up the volume on cramps and bloating, there's Super Leakproof styles that absorb the same as about 3 super tampons worth of period blood. And for leak-free sleepovers, there's the Sleepover Short, which absorbs the same as about 5.5 super tampons for weekend nights filled with TikTok dance routines and mani-pedis.
Absorbency: Absorbs about the same as about 3 to 5.5 super tampons worth of period flow (depending on the style).
Styles:
- Super Leakproof No-Show Underwear (Bikini, Boyshort, and High Rise)
- Super Leakproof Sleepover Short
- Reusable Pads
Best for: Your teen’s heavier period days, overnight protection for sweet dreams, and days when you need extra absorption on your side.
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Every day of your teen's period might feel different, which means there might not be one specific absorbency level that works for them throughout their entire cycle. Light Leakproof styles might work best on days when they're spotting, while Super Leakproof saves the day on early, heavier days of their cycle.
Like anything else, it can take some time to figure out the right blend and balance of period care products that make them feel comfortable and supported during their period, and beyond.
