‘I tried period pants for first time and was surprised by feel and smell’

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When you hear the term "period pants" it doesn't really fill your mind with the nicest of images.

I know what you're thinking "Do they work?" "Do they stay clean?" "Do they smell?"

There are many questions you would ponder over before taking the plunge to try them out.

READ MORE: Six signs that your period is about to start – from migraines to weird poos

But there are a few things you should know about period pants to calm your nerves, because they're actually pretty amazing.

The pants are designed with a special gusset that comprises of three layers – the top layer lets the blood soak through, the middle layer absorbs it and the bottom layer prevents the blood from leaking anywhere.

That – in a nutshell – is how the pants work. And no – you don't need to use any other sanitary products in addition to the briefs.

Over the past few months I've seen them pop up on social media quite a bit – influencers have reviewed or recommended them, and they're even mentioned on TikTok as women have shared their video reviews on the nifty knickers.

I've always been a bit dubious of trying them having been worried that they wouldn't offer enough protection, and would (sorry if this gives you the ick) leave you feeling a bit soggy.

But, after finally deciding to take the plunge and give them a whirl, I can confirm I was proved wrong.

When I started looking around for some to test out I discovered they vary in price.

You can bag some for around a tenner (or maybe a bit less if you're willing to hunt for the deals), and I saw some for as much as £25 a pop on some sites.

There are quite a big range of prices – and you can get products that offer protection for "lighter" or "heavier" flows – but you have to keep in mind that they're also reusable.

So while you may splurge a little initially, you may save in the long-run, and the products are also much more environmentally-friendly too.

Anyway, after a look around online, I managed to find a pair for £10.

I opted for the 'period midi brief' by Love Luna, but you can also opt for the knickers in other styles too, and the sizes range from 4-6 to 20-22.

The product description reads: "Absorbs 10-15ml (2-3 regular tampons), and can be worn on its own or as a backup.

"Only you know your flow."

And this is true – only you know how much you'd trust a pair of knickers to support your flow – but the good news is you can get pants that offer support for heavy periods.

But, if you're as nervous as I was trying them out, you could always wear them around the house for your first try, and then see how you feel from that point onwards.

This seems to be the most sensible place to start.

What I learnt pretty quickly was they are SUPER comfortable, and they made me feel much nicer.

They didn't add to that already "bleurgh" feeling you get at the time of the month.

As well as this, I actually didn't feel nervous about any leakage.

When I was wearing them I felt relaxed, comfortable and all my worries faded away.

They made me feel good and I wasn't left feeling unhygienic at all (and anyway, if you did start to worry, all you need to do is change. It's not a big deal – it's just a part of being a woman.)

I also wore them to go for a run and was far from exercising in fear. They were so comfortable to exercise in, and I felt in safe hands for the duration of the run.

When they passed the fitness test I officially became a convert, and will definitely stock up on some more.

You do need to budget for them at a tenner a pair, as you're looking at coughing up quite a bit to have a few pairs in the drawer.

But – if you do have some cash to spare – or are keen to opt for a more environmentally-friendly sanitary product – I'd recommend anyone to try them.

You could always start off with one pair, and buy more when you have enough money in your budget.

It'll only mean that further down the line you won't need to keep buying sanitary products, as you can reuse the pants again and again once they've been washed.

They're worth investing in if you get the chance as they're reliable, comfortable and – if I'm honest – they just made me feel a lot more relaxed during the time of the month.

They look like normal knickers, they're snug and they made me feel a lot nicer during what usually tends to be a "down in the dumps" few days.

The thought of having your period in your pants may give you the ick, but it turns out it's pretty genius.

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