How period pants save the day
Don’t let your menstrual cycle stop you from living your best life.
Key takeaways:
- Singapore's fast-paced lifestyle often leads to burnout
- Micro-reset focuses on small pauses that aid physical and mental wellness
- Exercising regularly is also essential to keeping your body recharged
- Consider the risk of an active lifestyle, and what you can do to manage it
This International Women’s Day, we’re tackling one of the common challenges many women are facing: how to stay active and be your best self during your period.
Getting your period is a normal and healthy process, but dealing with heavy flows can make going through the day feel just a little bit tougher. The discomfort can be subtle. You might feel the pad shifting while doing your squats or notice chafing between your thighs while trekking up amountain. The fear of wardrobe malfunction caused by leaky pads can zap your focus just when you’re trying to nail an important project.
It could be tempting to give in and curl up in your sofa when ‘Aunt Flo’ shows up, but you don’t have to let your menses steal the show. In fact,sticking to an active lifestyle during menstruation can boost your mood1 and keep period discomfort at bay2. That’s all thanks to endorphins, the ‘happy hormones’ triggered when you perform high-intensity exercises like cycling, running, or jumping jacks3.
What’s the key to exercising comfortably during your period? What you wear can set you up for a more comfortable day. Instead of regular sanitary pads, consider period underwear designed for sporty activities. Find out how period pants can help you stay active, and read up for moretips to keep you moving during your period.
How period pants keeps you feeling your best as you work up a sweat
1. Gentle on your skin
Your regular sanitary pad often shifts and bunches while you’re doing high-intensity moves like jogging or cycling. This constant friction results in skin irritation and chafing sensations that itch and hurt. In contrast, period underwear is designed to fit comfortably and move with your muscles6.
2. Leak-proof security
While you’re doing yoga squats or rocking the Zumba class, you might find yourself worrying about overflows from your sanitary pad. Period pants give you complete padding with 360-degree coverage, so you won’t have to worry about visible period stains.
3. Keep bacteria away
When bacteria interact with sweat and blood for too long, infection can happen7. The moisture wicking layer of period pants minimises the risk of infection by absorbing the fluid and wicking moisture from the top layer, keeping your vaginal area dry.
4. Stay active longer
Juggling a busy day? Your period pants can stay for 6 hours or more without needing any change, so you won’t need to make frequent trips to the bathroom to maintain your personal hygiene.
5. Extra layer of safety
During heavy days when you’re most anxious about period stains, you could layer up your “safety net” by wearing a menstrual cup or a tampon along with your period pants.
1. Breathable fabrics
Synthetic materials trap heat and sweat, leading to discomfort and potential infection. For better airflow and sweat-wicking, look out for organic materials like cotton for the top layer that touches the skin8.
2. Wide coverage
If your exercise routine involves jumping, stretching, and multi-directional movements, look out for extended gussets that stretch into the front and back waistbands to prevent accidental leaks.
3. Elastic fit
When you’re focused on your workout or juggling a busy day, you want your period pants to stay in place without shifting orleaking. Period pants meant for sports activities often comes with a higher percentage of elastane, a stretchy material that conforms to your body for a leak-proof fit9.
4. Chemical coatings
Known as “forever chemicals”, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are often used as coatings for water-repellent gear like swimwear, yoga pants, andperiod pants8. These toxic chemicals can build up in the body over time, including the blood, liver, and other organs. To besafe, look out for the “PFAS-Free” label or OEKO-TEX Standard 100, a globally recognised certification that the fabric hasbeen tested for over 1,000 harmful chemicals10.
How to outsmart your period
You might feel slightly under the weather during your period, but don’t let it get you down. Adjusting your workout routine to your menstrual cycle will make exercising easier, safer, and more rewarding. The key is working with your body, not against it.
During the first day of your period when your hormones are at their lowest, your body is primed to access stored energybetter11. This is an ideal time to go big with high-intensity interval training exercises like power lifting, long runs, or hot yoga.
Staying active during your period is good for your health, but it’s important to listen to your body to avoid overtraining and injuries. On top of exercising with the right technique and putting safety first, getting a personal accident coverage lets you keep pace with your active lifestyle withpeace of mind.
Whether you’re an avid runner, a fitness enthusiast, or a fan of extreme outdoor sports, Great Protector Active is ready to protect you with up to S$4.5 million in personal accident coverage. Add the Lifestyle Rider to enjoy a comprehensive recovery support that includes Traditional Chinese Medicine, scar removal, and dental work.
Sources:
1. Channel NewsAsia - Not sure if you can exercise during your period? Here's what the experts say
2. Healthline - Can you exercise on your period?
3. Healthxchange - Health benefits of exercise
4, 5. HoneyKids Asia - Period pants 101: Guide to menstrual underwear and where to buy them in Singapore
6. Cleveland Clinic - What Is period underwear and does it work?
7. Healthline - How often should you change your pad?
8. Healthline - What to do about a sweaty vaginal area (and why it happens)
9. Channel NewsAsia: I tried period underwear for the first time – this is how it went
10. OEKO-TEX: What OEKO-TEX® labels mean and why they matter
11, 12. Healthline - How (and why) to cycle your exercise with your menstrual cycle
13. Hinge Health: Breathing Exercises for Pelvic Floor
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