Which sanitary protection should I choose?
It is not always easy to find your way around sanitary protections and to choose the protection that best suits your period and your lifestyle. All girls have different needs and tastes, and every day of menstruation is a little different.
With the arrival of your first period, you must first understand how to use sanitary protections. You will also need to understand your menstrual cycle: the intensity and duration of your flows, learn to change your sanitary towels regularly, wash your hands well before AND after each change, and perfect your intimate hygiene during your period.
All this learning is important and will be done in stages. You shouldn’t rush.
Then, it is up to you to choose the sanitary protection that best suits you, based on your age, the abundance of your period, the time of day, and your sensitivity...
Your “Ma Louloute” period calendar will help you by advising you “what to use and when”.
Don’t panic! The Ma Louloute First Period Kit contains everything you need for your first period.
Protection: towel, panty liner, tampon, menstrual cup or washable pads?
Sanitary towels
The simplest and most advisable solution for your first period. The use of towels at day and night will help you learn to become familiar with your body and to gradually manage your more or less heavy flows!
They exist in several thicknesses. So, you can use thicker towels at night, and they will protect you for at least 8 hours. That way you can sleep peacefully, without any risk of leakage.
Sanitary towels are easier to use than tampons on the first day of your period.
Panty liners
Panty liners are used in the same way as the sanitary towels. In fact, these two protections are very similar. But they shouldn’t be confused! Because panty liners are less absorbent, they are used mainly at the start or end of the period, or for white discharges.
Tampons
Do you practise a sport? Swimming, for example? Are you going to the beach with your girlfriends and you’d like to swim? In that case, tampons are very useful. However, you are advised to familiarise yourself with your body and the use of sanitary towels before using your first tampon.
For it to be effective and cause no pain, simply insert the tampon properly (following the instructions to only insert one tampon at a time) and change it regularly at least every 4 to 6 hours.
The menstrual cup
A product to discover when you are comfortable with your vagina and when you better understand your menstrual flow.
The cup must be inserted into the vaginal cavity in a certain way:). You will need to bend it slightly before pushing it into your vagina... Not easy for the first period! You need to remove it when it is full and clean it thoroughly. After 6, 8 or 12 hours, you have to remove it, empty it, and rinse it with tap water... then insert it back in place!! Sure, it is invisible and discrete and does not cause any discomfort if it is well placed... But, be careful not to forget it!
Washable towels or menstrual panties
They are easy to use... for light, medium and heavy flows. They require simple care: after a small pre-wash with soap and water to remove the blood, they can just be washed at up to 60°C with the rest of the laundry. On the practical side, washable towels can be reused for at least 200 wash cycles! It all depends on your flow...
Regarding washable towels and menstrual panties, we do not currently offer any washable and reusable products, because we think they may be more difficult to use for first periods... storing used towels in a school backpack for a whole school-day before washing them would not be very practical :(( You sometimes don’t want to walk around with a used sanitary towel in a small plastic bag.