Le guide de la
culotte
menstruelle
After decades of disposable hygiene products, it can be hard to change your habits!
Many women have questions about alternatives to tampons and pads: washable, reusable, long-lasting and eco-friendly menstrual products. Whether it’s a period swimsuit, a menstrual cup or period panties, these new accessories are revolutionizing our relationship with our periods!
Thanks to these products, we no longer create waste (#zerowaste), we’re more responsible (no more plastic, yes to organic cotton), we consume less and better (a washable protection lasts for years, unlike a tampon that you only use once), and we save money (no more buying pads every month at the supermarket).
At Louloucup, you’ll find organic cotton period panties, super-reliable menstrual swimsuits and ultra-soft menstrual cups. Louloucup is the French brand for high-quality period products. A varied, inclusive range designed for everyone.
Want to find out more about menstrual panties? Really interested in this practical, eco-friendly period alternative to pads and tampons? Wondering about the price, care or lifespan? Do you have a light, medium, heavy or very heavy flow and are you looking for period protection that’s reliable, discreet, comfortable and healthy? Washable period panties are the answer!
In this super-complete guide, you’ll find answers to all your questions about menstrual panties.
In this guide, you’ll find:
I. Long-lasting menstrual protection: the period panty
1- Washable period products: an intimate feminine revolution
2 - Period panties: how do they work?
3 - Briefs, boxers, thongs: menstrual underwear for everyone!
II. Louloucup menstrual panties: gentle prices and uncompromising quality
1 – The composition of Louloucup menstrual panties
2 – Affordable Louloucup menstrual panties: low prices all year round
3 – How many menstrual panties do you need for one cycle?
III. Choosing your menstrual panties: our top categories and top products
1 – Choose your period panties according to your flow
2 – Our top categories
3 – Our top products
IV. Long-lasting period protection: why choose period panties?
1 - Healthy period panties to protect your health
2 - Ultra-soft period panties for maximum comfort
3 - Affordable period panty bundles to save money
VI. Final thoughts… period panties: your best choice!
VII. To go further…
Durable menstrual protection: the menstrual panty
1 – Washable period products: an intimate revolution for women
In recent years, the period protection market has evolved a lot. Teenagers and more mature women didn’t have much choice: it was tampons and pads! Then, following the scandal over tampon and pad ingredients, new brands and manufacturers started looking for alternatives. Effective intimate solutions we could fully trust and that would be:
1.
made from certified organic cotton
2.
made from safe fabrics,
non-toxic and tested
3.
with absolutely no
silver nanoparticles
4.
with no risk at all
of irritation or allergy.
Washable and therefore reusable products have arrived!
They are now a concrete and very reliable alternative to disposable tampons, pads and panty liners.
2 - Period panties or menstrual panties, how do they work?
It’s a beautiful piece of lingerie that’s both elegant and comfortable. The only difference is that it absorbs period blood very effectively. An ultra-absorbent layer is sewn into the gusset of the panty and, depending on the style, can extend from the front to the back.
This technical fabric layer has a high absorption capacity. It captures and locks in your flow without leaving marks and without a damp feeling. With period panties, you also avoid bad odors (the fabric is breathable, unlike plastic pads).
This technical fabric layer has a high absorption capacity. It captures and locks in your flow without leaving any marks and without a damp feeling. With period panties, you also don’t get bad odors (the fabric is breathable, unlike plastic pads).
Day or night, you can wear period panties anytime, anywhere, for hours without risking leaks or stains.
3 – Panties, boxers, thongs: menstrual underwear for everyone!
At work, at the gym or at home, day or night, under jeans, a dress or sports leggings, menstrual panties, thongs, tangas or boxers can be worn with complete confidence.
Available in all sizes and for all types of flow, this intimate protection is suitable for everyone: teenagers with their first period, students, athletes, working women, new mums (lochia and postpartum) and women in perimenopause.
Worried about leaks? Have a very heavy flow? You can absolutely pair your panty with a menstrual cup to avoid any leaks. However, we do not recommend wearing a cup at night.
Louloucup menstrual panties: gentle prices and uncompromising quality
1 – The composition of Louloucup menstrual panties
At Louloucup, we offer pretty period panties, with impeccable quality and great comfort. Most of our production takes place in Portugal 🇵🇹. We’re proud to manufacture 80% in Europe. Our workshops are audited on workers’ rights protection by trusted third-party organizations such as BSCI or AMFORI, which are committed to protecting human rights at work.
👉Learn more about the AMFORI BSCI standard
All fabrics used for our panties are Oeko-Tex 100 certified and approved by various government authorities. They are harmless to both health and the environment. The Oeko-Tex 100 label guarantees fabrics free from harmful substances, including silver nanoparticles. The composition is regularly tested by independent laboratories.
🔗Discover the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 label
Our panties are made up of three technical layers stacked together, providing effective absorption without any damp feeling, tailored to each flow. The result: no nasty surprises, just comfort and security all day long.
2 – Affordable Louloucup period panties: low prices all year round
At Louloucup, we don’t compromise on price or quality! We offer menstrual underwear and high-quality period products, carefully finished and well-made, at competitive prices. Louloucup’s real bonus?
Without a doubt, our custom bundle offer. The more products you add to your cart (any product), the more the price of each item goes down. It’s automatic and your wallet will love it! A panty at €28.90 comes down to €22.90 each if you choose 5! Perfect to be fully equipped for your next periods!
And you can almost always find a promo code… Who knows? We also run regular special offers, so stay tuned!
Save money with our multi-buy discounts
2- How many panties do you need for one menstrual cycle?
Because you need to rinse and wash your used period panties, you’ll need several period panties for your cycle. That’s why Louloucup offers sets at discounted prices.
To get started, we recommend at least 3 period panties. If you have a heavy flow, we suggest starting with 5 period panties. This is necessary to ensure optimal comfort.
Period panties can protect you for up to 12 consecutive hours. You should change your period panties at least twice a day. However, depending on your flow, you may need to change your menstrual underwear more often (up to three times a day, especially for heavy and/or very heavy flows).
Choosing your menstrual panties: our top categories and our top products
1 - Choosing your period underwear according to your flow
Every woman is different, and your flow can change over the years and with contraception. Ideally, you’ll have several different styles so you’re always well protected depending on where you are in your cycle.
- At the beginning and end of your period, when your flow is still light, a menstrual thong is often enough.
- On day 2 or 3, when your flow is heavy and you’re about to have a long day out or a workout, confidently slip on a heavy-flow or very heavy-flow period panty.
- If your flow is light to medium, a normal-flow period panty should be enough.
2 – Period panties: our top category
- Heavy-flow period panties: or very heavy flow: highly appreciated for their exceptional absorption capacity, these styles replace several tampons (up to 5!). These heavy-flow period panties are perfect for intense periods or hemorrhagic bleeding caused by a copper IUD. We love the Jade and Mathilde styles!
- Medium-flow period panties: absorption equivalent to 2 to 3 tampons. Varied and pretty, our medium-flow or normal-flow range leaves no one indifferent! We love the Naomie, Ella and Margot styles!
- Light-flow period panties: this light lingerie range absorbs the equivalent of 1 to 1.5 tampons. Thongs and little lace panties are ideal for the beginning and end of your period, spotting and vaginal discharge (white discharge, brown discharge, etc.). We love the Mia style!
- Seamless period panties: with no seams and completely invisible, seamless panties are perfect for anyone looking for total discretion! We love the Gaby style!
- Teen period panties: adapted for smaller sizes, some of our Louloucup styles are available in XXS/Teen. A great way to try reusable protection. We love the Lucie style!
- Postpartum period panties: during pregnancy or after birth, mums-to-be and new mums need protection they can rely on. Louloucup offers a range that’s perfect for absorbing discharge, light bleeding and lochia. We love the Leo panty!
- Plus-size period panties: Louloucup is for everyone, with no exceptions! From 2XL to 5XL, discover or rediscover our favorite styles in plus sizes. We love the Fanny style!
3 – Our top products
At Louloucup, we offer a wide range of styles that look just like regular lingerie. We do everything we can to offer beautiful panties with impeccable quality, as well as a variety of cuts, fabrics and sizes so there’s something for everyone.
Our panties deliver on their promises and adapt to your cycle and your menstrual flow.
Here’s our top 3 of the best Louloucup period panties:
1 - The Clara menstrual panty: the high-waisted menstrual panty for very heavy flow. A must-have, unbeatable and absolutely stunning, Clara is fabulous. High-waisted, she’s very elegant. Super absorbent, she holds the equivalent of 5 tampons. Available from XS to 5XL, she’s designed for every body shape. And it’s not just us saying this —20 Minutes named it the best menstrual panty of 2025.
2- The Liv period panty: the completely invisible black period panty. A favorite for many of our customers, the Liv style is ultra-absorbent (holds the equivalent of 5 tampons), absolutely invisible (zero seams) and super comfortable (great fit, doesn’t dig in, doesn’t leave marks).
3 – The Chloé menstrual thong: for light flow, spotting and vaginal discharge, this is the perfect alternative to polluting disposable panty liners: the Chloé period thong from Louloucup. Black, lacy, light and discreet, it’s perfect (and sexy)!
Durable menstrual protection: why choose period panties?
1 – Healthy period underwear to protect your health
Many people decide to switch to period panties after becoming aware of the risks linked to the composition of traditional disposable products.
Several studies have revealed the presence of concerning substances in tampons and pads: carcinogenic agents, endocrine disruptors, pesticide residues and even hydrocarbons. These products are in direct contact with the mucous membranes, a particularly sensitive area of the body. It is therefore essential to choose intimate protection that is safe and non-toxic.
Tampons are also regularly implicated in cases of toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a serious though rare infection (the bacterial strain responsible is present in only about 1% of women). Wearing internal protection for too long can encourage the development of these bacteria.
By contrast, period panties provide external protection that is soft, breathable and with no known health risks. A study carried out in 2022 by ANSES (the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety) confirmed the safety of period panties, provided they are well designed.
🔗 Read ANSES’s analysis on period panties
At Louloucup, we pay particular attention to the safety of our fabrics. All our panties are free from silver nanoparticles, and their components are Oeko-Tex 100 certified. They are also subject to regular testing by an independent laboratory to guarantee the absence of endocrine disruptors or undesirable substances.
2 – Ultra-soft period panties to prioritize comfort
At Louloucup, your comfort is our priority. The cuts of our period panties are particularly well thought out. Before a style is approved and produced, all our washable panties are tried on different body types and in several sizes. The cut of the panty is not the same in XS as in XL. Above XL, the patterns are adjusted and the waistline raised to offer optimal comfort.
What’s more, the inside of all our menstrual panties is fully lined with certified organic cotton. Some period panty styles are made entirely of cotton. Cotton is a natural, soft fabric to wear. It offers a level of comfort that doesn’t give you that “plastic diaper” feeling you often get with disposable products.
3 - Affordable menstrual panty sets to save money
Period underwear is a hygienic, feminine and sustainable alternative that helps you save money in the long run. On average, a woman has 35 years of periods, with around 13 cycles per year, which adds up to up to 10,000 disposable products used over a lifetime! By switching to period underwear, you significantly reduce both your spending and your waste.
It’s true that the initial investment can seem high, but a pair of period panties lasts between 3 and 5 years and can be paid off in just 5 to 10 cycles. It’s a much more economical choice than buying disposable products all year round.
As well as being kind to your wallet, you’re also doing something concrete for the planet: no more single-use waste, hello washable, reusable underwear!
A comparative study carried out by Zero Waste Europe confirms it: reusable products are far more environmentally friendly.
🔗Read the comparative study by Zero Waste Europe
Looking for cheap period panties? Find our panties and menstrual thongs at reduced prices and in bundles on our shop.
Caring for period panties: how to look after your period panties?
Caring for washable period panties is a very important step that will determine how long they last. Good habits matter. Here are the key steps to taking care of your period panties.
Step 1: rinse with water
After wearing your period panty, rinse it in cold water to remove the blood trapped in the different fabric layers. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear.
Step 2: washing
When it comes to washing your period panty, you have two options:
- Machine wash
In the washing machine, period panties should be washed at 30°C. You can wash them with the rest of your laundry. We recommend washing them in a laundry bag to avoid damaging them and to keep them in good condition for as long as possible!
- Hand wash
You can also hand wash your period panties by rubbing them with (non-greasy) detergent before leaving them to soak in cold water for about thirty minutes.
To take good care of your period panties, avoid: fabric softener and stain remover. These products can damage your period underwear and reduce its effectiveness. Also, soaps and detergents containing fats are not recommended. Marseille soap or Aleppo soap can clog the fibers and prevent blood from flowing through to the lower layers of fabric.
Step 3: Drying
To keep your period underwear working effectively, avoid any direct source of heat such as the tumble dryer, radiator, or hair dryer. Air drying, laid flat or hung up, is strongly recommended to preserve the absorbent properties of the fibers.
🔗WECF France’s menstrual health guide also offers practical care tips to extend the lifespan of your reusable products.
To wrap things up… period underwear: your best choice!
Switching to period panties can sometimes feel like a big step. But choosing washable period underwear means…
- 🌼 opting for a healthier solution for your body,
- 🌍 choosing a washable, durable and reusable option that’s kinder to the environment,
- 🥰 choosing comfort so you can experience your period with peace of mind.
Got questions about your period, your cycle and your options for effective protection? Check out our other super-complete guides: the no-taboo guide to the menstrual cycle and the menstrual cup guide.
To go further…
A bit of reading if you’d like to learn more about heavy-flow menstrual panties, how to care for them, period panties for teens, or even reimbursement for your intimate protection:
They tried them, they love them
