Where do I go on vacation? Do I vote by mail just in case? I buy the period bikini from Primark? These are the three big questions that we Spaniards ask ourselves in the face of Summer Vacation. Well, maybe the last one is a bit of an exaggeration. But it is true that the recent launch of the Irish chain is giving a lot of talk, as a tool for the menstruation don’t spoil our summer.
It is not the first menstrual bikini to hit the market. In fact, in the summer of 2022, many brands dared to include an option of this type in their swimwear lines. But it’s definitely an option. low cost that attracts a lot of attention to enjoy the beach or the pool during menstruation, without having to be aware of tampons or menstrual cup. Now, is it as good as it seems?
To answer this question, I have put it to the test. With calm and science, I have been checking in a controlled environment the effectiveness of this menstrual bikini. And to begin with, I can say that Primark does not lie on the label, but it may not be as good as we expected.
How does a menstrual bikini work?
Before talking about the experiment, it is worth asking what a menstrual bikini consists of. Basically, this swimwear came on the market after period pantieswhich aim to offer a more environmentally friendly option for people who do not find the menstrual cup pleasant for any reason.
These are underwear that contain filters normally made up of four layers. The first is the one that is in contact with the skin and is usually cotton, to avoid allergies. Once the blood comes into contact with it, it seeps down to the second layer, made up of a super absorbent fabric, which absorbs most of the liquid fraction of the screed. Then another layer of polyurethane prevents leaks to the outside and, to finish, a last layer of antibacterial fabric avoids the typical odors of menstruation.
Menstrual bikinis, like the one from Primark, follow more or less the same mechanism. They promise to absorb the period safely, but without absorbing too much water, as would happen if, for example, we put on a normal bikini bottom with a pad. In short, the menstrual bikini is offered as a comfortable option for bathing on the beach or in the pool during menstruation, without fear of possible leaks.
This is the Primark proposal
Primark’s period bikini is actually just a black pantiesso it can be combined with almost any top.
Two options are sold, one basic pantywhich costs 7 euros, and one of high waist, which is sold with a price of 10 euros. In my case, to test it I used the latter.
As for its maintenance, it is very simple, since you simply have to wash it, by hand or by machine, without exceeding 40ºC.
I put it to the test
The Primark menstrual bikini label explains that it has precisely four layers that help absorb a light menstrual flow. This is something that we must take into account, since to put it to the test I have done it in two moments of my menstruation: the first day, when my flow is still lightand the second, when it is much more abundant.
The test, both on the first day and on the second, consisted of four phases. In the first, I stayed for 10 minutes in a bathtub full of water. It could have been the beach or the pool, but it’s much easier to monitor the results in a bathtub. Afterwards, I sat on a white towel for another ten minutes. Next, I used the towel to dry myself directly. And finally, I weighed myself. I also did this before getting into the water, with the aim of checking if the bikini had gotten so soaked that it had increased a few grams.
It should be noted that each test was carried out both with the Primark menstrual bikini and with another normal bikini bottom, also black. And it’s also important to note that this is not a scientific study. it’s just a reviews made by one person. Still, let’s see what they were. my results.
Results with a light flow of menstruation
On my first day of menstruation, with a light period flow, something interesting happened. The results with the Primark menstrual bikini bottom were very good. I did not detect leaks in the water and did not stain the towel either. Therefore, since this is the recommendation of the selling company, we cannot say that it does not work. But the funny thing is that I didn’t detect leaks or stain the towel with the regular bikini.
We will analyze later what this could be. But not before checking what happens with some more menstrual flow.
The second day, things change
The different tests were exactly the same on the second day, but here there were differences.
Both with the Primark menstrual bikini and with the normal bikini I could detect leaks in the water. We are not talking about all the water being dyed red, like in a scene from Shark. It’s just about a small intermittent flow of bloodwhich quickly dissolves with the water and disappears. He was older with the normal bikinibut it is true that there was also a little with the menstrual period.
As for the white towel, in both cases it was stained with blood, although the difference was quite big. With the menstrual bikini it was a small stain, while with the normal bikini the stain was much bigger and appeared much faster. When drying the panty area with the towel, with the menstrual bikini she came out cleanwhile with the normal one it came out stained.
Finally, since in this case there were results that were not there in the first day, I also tried to look inside the panty. In the case of the normal bikini, it was totally clean. Mainly because most of them had gone out with the water. Instead, with the menstrual bikini yes, you could see retained blood. Both in one and in the other, being black, it is difficult to detect, but it did show a bit.
As for the weight, it was exactly the same before and after the bath, with the menstrual bikini and with the normal one.
Conclusions on Primark’s menstrual bikini
The conclusion of this test of the Primark menstrual bikini is that, in fact, it does what it promises. With a light flow, it works. Although it seems that without differences with the normal bikini.
If we have a more intense menstrual flow, we must bear in mind that there is no perfect option. That, at least with this brand’s menstrual bikini, leaks cannot be completely avoided. If we want to avoid tampons or the menstrual cup, we can use it, but always keeping in mind that there will be leaks. And, above all, if we do not want bloodstains to be seen, using dark towelsjust in case.
Myths and taboos of menstruation in the water
One of the biggest myths related to menstruation and water is that, when we bathe, blood flow is cut off. It is often said that it is because the blood coagulates and stops coming out, but this is not entirely true.
Yes, it is true that if the water is cold, you can bleed less for a short period of time. This is because, due to the low temperature, blood vessels constrict. In fact, this could be the reason why the first day there were no leaks with either of the two bikinis. With a light flow and in just 10 minutes in the water, the bleeding may have temporarily stopped. But this does not last long and, moreover, it is not due to coagulation issues. It is not dangerous or worrying either.
On the other hand, there is the issue of whether it is hygienic to bathe with your period, especially if it is in a public pool, where there are more people. Here several factors must be taken into account. The first is that, inside the water, very little blood comes out. This occurs for two reasons. On the one hand, although the acceleration of gravity inside the water is exactly the same as outside, it does see a decrease in the weight (not the mass) of the bodies that enter it. This is due to a push of the water in the opposite direction. And also to the water density.
That is why we can float in the water and that is why the blood would also come out more slowly. In addition, the pressure exerted by the water around us prevents a large amount from coming out. And that little amount that comes out, as I saw during the tests, is quickly diluted. In short, there are no large amounts of blood that the rest of the people in the pool will come into contact with. Especially if we wear a menstrual bikini.
On the other hand, menstrual blood is mainly composed of blood, vaginal secretions, and endometrial cells from the lining of the uterus. Our vagina, especially at certain times of the cycle, releases secretions continuously, so anyone with a vagina showering could release unseen clear secretions, possibly seeping through the bikini. As for the blood, it is still the same as that which can come out of any other injury.
It is much worse to urinate in the pool, since urine does have nitrogenous components, which can react with chlorine, giving rise to toxic substances capable of irritating the eyes and respiratory tract. These substances are also found in sweat and, yes, partly in the blood, but in smaller quantity. Therefore, releasing a large amount of menstrual blood would not be highly recommended, but there would be no need to worry about some leakage.
Of course, let’s not forget that the small leaksBy losing the pressure exerted by the water, they can become a much larger leak. Because of that, the towel was quickly stained with the normal bikini. All this is what we must take into account when deciding how we enter the water with menstruation. Does the menstrual bikini work? Yes, but with a light rule flow. If not, some stain may escape us. That yes, if normally we do not apologize for taking the blood stained clothes from an injury or if our nose bleeds, we should not ask for forgiveness if we have a leak with the period. That should also be taken into account. It’s blood, not acid.