The female hygiene industry has a huge number of products that look after the needs of every woman. Any body type, any lifestyle habit or any level of movement, personal hygiene products have the solution to every female problem. One of the most extensively used product lines on the planet is of course sanitary pads or tampons. The monthly bloody cycle is a harsh truth for everyone. Getting away from it is possible, though it comes at a great cost that probably none of us wants to pay. As long as there are women with a healthy uterus and an in-built want to become happy mums, sanitary products like period pads and tampons shall always be their saviour.
The vagina is however not a very simple organ, is it? Women don’t just have the monthly discharge of blood but a lot of other fluids that the vaginal walls secrete for protection and to get you ready for action on the bed. The only trouble is, that none of these fluids is really under control. How could you even tell the vagina to not flush out unhealthy bacteria or to not get wet over that adorable dude in the neighbourhood? You can’t always wear pads or tampons, it gets messy and feels unnatural while walking. So where do you get the confidence to walk like the red carpet is out everywhere? The modern cousin might tell you pantyliners are the answer. Are they?
What is the Difference Between Pantyliners and Pads?
If you don’t know what pantyliners are you might find them similar to pads since they have matching shapes where both of them stick to the inner side of your panty. Pads and pantyliners are both made to absorb fluids but have different capacities and hence are worn on different days for different purposes. A pantyliner is the skinnier cousin of the conventional cotton or gel based sanitary pads and tampons. It is much lighter and thinner than a pad and is made purely out of absorbent and breathable cotton.
Pads are used to absorb and dry up a heavy discharge of blood that happens on period days. While pantyliners might fail if you accidentally wear them on the third day of your menstrual cycle. Pantyliners are lighter layers made to keep your panty dry by absorbing post period or pre-period liquids. It is also used on a daily basis to keep the inner linings of the panty dry from white discharge or simply fluids of sudden arousal.
What are Pantyliners used for?
Pantyliners are a modern-day thing and have only been prevalent in recent years. Since women are even more indulged in greater working ethics and going shoulder to shoulder with the world, a need for regular hygiene in intimate areas is important. A lot of women suffer from naturally low immunity and in that case, the risk of infections doubles up, especially if you’re not really a work-from-home person and like to socialise with the office crowd. Public places have fewer spaces for women to accommodate their hygiene habits. So, when you have to be out in the field for at least 8-9 hours a day, a protective layer from dampness and humidity down there is important. Pantyliners help keep the intimate areas free from the infections that are caused by increased moisture and heat which allow fungal and bacterial growth.
When Can You Use a Pantyliner?
To wear or not to wear a pantyliner entirely depends on a woman’s health and lifestyle situation. Some women choose to wear panty liners every day because they have to be out in the heat or do chores. So, the pantyliners help to efficiently fight off the effects of a sweaty vulva. It also lets you freely choose any gym routine you like as it keeps your panties from staining or giving you the camel toe. From a medical point of view, women who have conditions like irregular mini discharges of blood before or after their period can use pantyliners every day, except when you’re on your heavy flow days. There are a number of women troubled by excessive moisture in their privates during their ovulation stages and post-period, who can use pantyliners when in doubt. Pregnancy comes with a lot of fluids because the vulva is uncontrollable and the foetus moving inside can cause prenatal fluid discharges, it can be as early as 2 months into your pregnancy. So, if you haven’t called out for maternal leaves yet, you too can wear panty liners for a few months to prevent your panties from dampness and irritation.
The Three Disadvantages
The pantyliners might be a boon from modern science but they too have disadvantages to womanhood. Here are the three main disadvantages of using pantyliners more than needed-
- Harmful chemicals- The vagina is clearly the most self-sustaining part other than when you’re on your periods. It has its own microbiome that keeps out infections and balances the pH level to stop irritation and rashes. Most of the pantyliner brands that claim to keep you dry and fresh for 12 straight hours are a red flag. They all claim to be thin and ultra-absorbent and all other adjectives, but they hide harmful chemicals behind their gel-based lining. Wearing them for more than 4-5 hours can cause pH imbalance and itchiness.
- Too much changing- To be free from the trouble above, you will have to find brands that are free of chemicals and keep changing till then. Even after you have found the perfect one you can’t keep it on for the whole day when you’re a working woman of the world. Changing liners every 4 hours can be a troublesome task on some days.
- A humid vulva- Going overboard with the pantyliner can be trouble. Using panty liners every day can cause the vulva to adapt and sweat even more. The extra padding of the pantyliners can also heat up the vagina in summer. Sweating can cause excessive humidity and heat in panties and cause bacterial infections that can turn itchy and red.
Always choose your pantyliner days and brand according to your health and needs. Always use thicker sanitary pads when in your menstrual cycle. Pantyliners for prenatal care can also be replaced by a reusable menstrual cup. Visit Namyaa for more female hygiene and healthcare knowledge and a range of natural products.
