Period Underwear - Why I Was Hesitant For Far Too Long

Have you ever heard of "tampon death"? It’s not a myth – it’s a real danger if you leave a tampon in for too long. This can lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) – a rare but potentially life-threatening condition caused by certain types of bacterial infections, often linked to tampons that have been worn too long.

The first time I heard about it, I was 17. Our biology teacher told us that a classmate of hers had died from it when she was our age. What seemed like a myth turned into a deadly reality.

The class was filled with disbelief, shock, and panic. One classmate raised her hand: "Can I go to the bathroom?" she asked. Obviously, she was wearing a tampon and felt the urgent need to get rid of it immediately.

I’m not sure why our teacher told us this, or what she intended to achieve by it. Maybe it was just to educate us, but she didn’t offer any real alternatives. In school, there’s far too little education about sexuality, contraception, and menstruation. After Sex Ed, I was only left with fears about HIV and pregnancy and only knew that something was happening with hormones, which is why you get your period.

Toxins from tampons worn too long are by far not the only issue, with this still so common menstrual product: Tampons also contain harmful ingredients, latex, or fragrances, which can trigger allergies and, in the worst-case scenario, again - lead to death.

As if that wasn’t enough, they’re terrible for the environment. (Most) Tampons are made from environmentally harmful materials that aren’t biodegradable, and their production requires chemical processes and energy-intensive methods. Plus, plastic wrappers and applicators contribute to global plastic pollution, especially when they aren’t disposed of properly.

Still, it took almost 10 years before I switched my go-to period product. Why? I’m not entirely sure. Admittedly, I found Tampons convenient. They were easy enough to change and discrete enough to wear.

For a long time, they also were the only real alternative to pads, until a few years ago when the menstrual cup became trending – but I never really warmed up to it. It seemed too big, and what if I didn’t place it right? Plus, there’s the sterilizing part. You have to boil it, which is especially inconvenient if you're always traveling or living in shared flats and don’t want to explain to Tod from across the hall why you’re boiling some pink plastic thing.

Maybe I also just had other things on my mind – growing up, studying, my first job, first love, and first heartbreak.

But the older I got, the stronger the desire for an alternative became. What else is out there? My phone seemed to read my thoughts, as the next time I doom scrolled through my socials, I was shown ads for a period disc.

The concept is simple: It’s inserted into the vagina and collects the blood. Unlike the cup, it doesn’t create a vacuum but just covers the spot where the blood flows. It sounded promising at first, until I read the FAQs. Why I even did that, I’m not sure – I’m usually an impulse buyer – but what I read immediately turned me off. If used incorrectly, it can empty itself. Imagine sitting comfortably on the white sofa of your latest crush, and suddenly the period disc empties onto the microfiber that will never be clean again. That was a dealbreaker for me.

Pads out, cups out, discs out – and at the same time, that uncomfortable feeling of knowingly inserting toxins into a place that absolutely doesn’t deserve them. The only option left? Period underwear.

Somehow, I didn't find the concept appealing at first. I don’t have an issue with blood and washing it out afterward. So what held me back? Pads always bothered me because they felt like diapers – that was definitely a factor. I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but the idea of free bleeding didn’t convince me, but rather the opposite. Traces of the patriarchy – did I prefer to carry blood in a toxic cotton ball inside of me over letting it flow freely?

Still, the search for the right solution continued. Conclusion: (Often) ridiculously expensive. And what if I didn’t like them? Let’s be honest, that’s a real investment, and 5 $ for a pack of tampons doesn’t feel as heavy as hundreds of $ at once for period undies – true girl math, because when you add it up, the right period panties will just be cheaper in the long run.

Then I stumbled upon Gotyu, not because I wanted to buy underwear but because I had applied for a job there. I thought their products were cool! The panties looked great and weren’t expensive, so I decided to try the Discovery Set – even before I got the job.

Weirdly enough I was looking forward to my next period because I just wanted to try my new undies. And all I can say is: I FREAKING LOVE IT!

Gotyu period underwear can be worn for hours and hours. It’s completely leakproof, comfortable, and looks damn good! And free bleeding... I love it! It just feels good, liberating, just letting it flow and enjoying the day.

Looking back, I don’t even know what held me back! I’m a huge fan now and can only recommend stopping the practice of inserting things and letting things flow naturally, without chemicals.