[AD]. This blog post is sponsored by WUKA*. Links marked with * are affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission from any purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own!
I probably don’t need to tell you that dealing with periods on top of chronic illness is no walk in the park. As well as the usual symptoms you might expect at that time of the month, changes in my hormone levels do all kinds of weird and wonderful things to my body. I get stabby pains in my head, the neurovascular condition that affects my hands is more likely to flare, and (to the amusement of those around me) there are around 10 days each month I manage to drop just about everything I pick up. Such fun.
When you’re thinking about managing periods on top of all those shenanigans, it’s clear that the solution is finding products that are as faff-free as possible. After many years of health struggles and my body going through all manner of crises, it’s only in the last year or so that I’ve started having regular periods again. But as soon as it registered that they were (hopefully) here to stay, I began looking into more sustainable options than disposable pads. Up until now I’d never quite found something that suited me, so I jumped at the chance to try out WUKA’s renowned period underwear*.
WUKA believes that nothing should hold you back on your period. As a brand they share real people’s stories and represent relatable bodies in their marketing, they start conversations around taboo topics, and they create comfortable and reliable period underwear as an alternative to disposable pads and tampons.
Despite all this, I had my reservations at first. Sustainability is something I value and prioritise in every area of life where possible, but I wondered whether the extra steps involved in washing and taking care of the underwear would be manageable alongside my fatigue and condition management. But having now tried the products for myself, I’m pleased to report that I needn’t have worried.
The team at WUKA sent over their Ultimate Bikini Medium Flow Period Pants* for me to try out, and immediately I was impressed by the quality of them. All of the underwear in their Ultimate Collection is made from organic cotton (grown without chemical pesticides, chemical fertiliser and GM seeds) making them incredibly comfortable to wear – arguably more so than pads, especially when you’re spending a lot of time resting horizontally in bed each day.
There are dozens of different styles of product available, and you can choose a fit and flow/absorbency level that suits you. As the products are designed to be reusable, as opposed to single-use period products that are disposed of, there are some extra steps involved in taking care of the underwear – but nothing as strenuous as I initially worried about.
WUKA advises:
- Rinsing your period pants in cold water as soon as possible once removed
- Machine washing them at 30/40 degrees (hand washing is also an option)
- Air drying the underwear, so they’re ready to use next time
Like anything, switching to a more sustainable product like period pants does require some change in your habits. For me, I know that it’s the step of initially rising the underwear in cold water after use that I’ll need to be mindful of, and make sure I’ve budgeted some extra of my daily energy expenditure for. However, I imagine this process will become even more seamless with time and practice, and knowing that taking this step will help keep the product in top condition definitely makes it feel worthwhile.
Having tried this one pair of period pants, I’m already thinking about what I’d like to try next. WUKA also offers a beautiful swimwear range*, underwear specifically designed for teens*, period leggings (!!!)*, and products with additional technology and features for people experiencing menopause* and incontinence issues* too. However, I think the next thing I’ll try is something from their overnight range*. I have a feeling I’ll be as impressed with these as the ones I’ve tried already.
I know that making sustainable swaps can feel overwhelming at first, especially for something as intimate as menstrual products. However, I’ve had such a smooth experience making this change, and it hasn’t been anywhere near as difficult as I feared to alter my habits for the greater good. If you think WUKA’s period underwear could be the next step in your own sustainability journey, I wholeheartedly encourage you to give it a try. I’d love to hear how you get on!
[AD]. Thanks again to WUKA* for sponsoring this blog post. As always, all opinions are my own!
