The Unbearable Dampness during Menstruation

Some things are really uncomfortable to me, at the top of which is the "sensation of feeling or being damp". The feeling of my wet hair clinging to my back, a swimsuit sticking stubbornly to my skin, or clothes drenched from either water or humidity, all leave me restless and uneasy. I’ve found ways to manage most of these, wrapping my hair in a towel or even an old t-shirt until it dries enough, quickly changing out of wet clothes, or simply avoiding the rain whenever I can.

But there is one kind of dampness I have never been able to escape the damp feeling during my menstrual cycle.

Despite the promises plastered across advertisements for menstrual products such as disposable pads and tampons, the reality has never matched the perfectly painted imagery of instant absorption and dryness. Instead, I often found myself sitting with that persistent, uncomfortable reminder that I was bleeding.

If a disposable pad or tampon is not able to absorb anymore (just after 4 hours and in the middle of my work day, usually) it will leave me feeling damp near the crotch area. I will not be able to shake it off until I have changed the product or changed the underwear altogether.

What makes it harder is how unpredictable menstrual flow can be. Sometimes, a simple laugh or an unexpected sneeze would cause a sudden release of blood or even a little bit of pee which will leave me feeling damp all over again. This is a discomfort that is both physical and emotional, because while I know that my body is doing something entirely natural, the sensation itself is so distracting.

The truth is, conversations about menstruation rarely focus on the smaller, quieter discomforts, like dampness that can eat away at a person’s sense of ease. These details matter, because they shape how people experience and navigate something as routine yet disruptive as a monthly period.

For me, the search has been about finding ways to reduce that unwanted dampness: experimenting with different menstrual products, investing in more breathable fabrics, or simply allowing myself to acknowledge that it’s okay to feel bothered by something others might dismiss as “minor.” Comfort during periods should not be a luxury; it should be a basic expectation.

With period underwear, we are trying to find a solution for this discomfort.