Forget Wings and Strings, You Need These Period Panties

Every month, those dull, stained, oversized monsters you hide in the very back of your dresser drawer come out to haunt you — the dreaded period panties. Sure, they're comfortable, but the only real reason you wear them is because you won't miss throwing them away if an accident happens. They provide no absorption or protection from leaks, but you keep them stashed away and hope that your tampon or pad holds up while you're out.

But if there was a panty that could replace your monster undies with purpose (and potentially all of your feminine products), would you toss them out for good? Well, to the garbage they go! Thanks to twin sisters Radha and Miki Agrawal and their friend Antonia Dunbar, a new line of underwear called THINX has hit the market to transform the way we view periods.

>> Period panties don't fix the cramps and bloating that our time of the month brings, but we know something that may!

THINX underwear are self-absorbing, washable, anti-microbial and leak-proof. They are made with patented THINX QuadTECH® technology that has four thin layers to keep you dry and clean. These panties undoubtedly replace panty liners and may work in conjunction with or in place of tampons or cups, depending on your flow.

>> Interested in treating light bladder leaks, too? Read about how you can keep them under control and find products that support you.

Based on the style you shop, one panty's single wear holds up to two tampons' worth of liquid, but they aren't finished after a single use. After a hand rinse, you can clean THINX panties in the washer with the rest of your delicates using no fabric softener, then hang them to dry. While the price tag on these panties may seem a bit steep (ranging from $24-$34), a woman uses approximately 17,000 tampons and pads during her lifetime, so what's the real bargain here?

THINX sells three styles of these fashionable, functional panties to match every flow and preference. There's hiphugger for heavy days, cheeky for medium support and thong for light leak protection. And to answer the questions likely brewing in your head: "No, you don't have to change them during the day, no, they don't feel like diapers, and no, it's not like sitting in your own blood," THINX reassures.

The idea for this underwear was born after Miki visited South Africa and met a 12-year-old girl who wasn't in school because it was her "week of shame." Miki, her sister and friend then found that 100 million girls around the world miss school since they lack the feminine products they need to manage their periods. THINX was their way of solving this problem, which now helps women everywhere keep their time of the month under control. But the creators never lost sight of their original vision, so for every pair of THINX sold, the company sends funds to AFRIpads, a partner that helps girls and women obtain feminine products in Uganda.

So, what do you think? Ready to ditch your liners, pads, tampons or cup for this wearable, reusable alternative?