PFAS-Free Period Underwear: Worth the Hype? (My Review!)

It’s just come out that tampons have been found to contain heavy metals. I don’t know about you but I’d like to just bleed in peace for once.

If you’re worried about continuing to use period products, don’t you worry! 

It might be that period underwear is the solution you’re looking for! And in order to help you find a safe, high-quality, PFAS-free brand that gets the job done, my period and I got to work. 

I’d tried a pair of period underwear a few years ago and wasn’t a fan. If I didn’t try these brands out for this article, I would have probably hated period underwear forever. 

Periods are unique to every person, so what works for some might not work for others. These are my main reasons why I think period underwear could be the best thing you do for your body: 

• Convenience
• Comfort
• Cost savings over time
• Absolutely no chance of TSS
• Sustainable & eco-friendly
• Leak protection
• Non-toxic, PFAS-free, & made with natural fabrics 
• Tons of style options for however you want to feel on your period

I could go on but I’m sure you’re ready to get on with it. I spent the past few months testing 4 period underwear brands to bring you an honest review so you don’t have to waste your money and blood. 

(Let’s get on with it—take me to the product reviews!)

This guide contains product recommendations and we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine!

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What about PFAS & toxic chemicals 

Let’s talk about the elephants in the room: PFAS and toxic metals. 

You’re probably familiar with the period underwear Thinx and their PFAS lawsuit. That was an unfortunate situation that brought period underwear to the center stage, but it’s actually much worse than that. 

In an investigation done between 2020-2022 by Mamavation and Environmental Health Network, of the menstrual products tested, a significant amount were found to contain indications of PFAS:

• 48% of sanitary pads, incontinence pads, and panty liners
• 22% of tampons
• 65% of period underwear

Yikes!

Note from Abbie: It’s worth noting that although Mamavation and EHN use EPA-certified labs when testing products for PFAS, there are some potential drawbacks to these testing methods. So, while I truly appreciate the work they do, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all of the brands/products definitely contain PFAS. That said, because we’re talking about such a sensitive area of the body, it’s better to play it safe when you can.

And now there are heavy metals in tampons?!

We’ve also known for quite a while that phthalates and PFAS are commonly found in menstruation products, but a study published early this year found heavy metals across 14 different brands.

While this is good to know, unfortunately this doesn’t tell us a few important things: 

• How much of these metals we absorb
• What the health impacts of using tampons might be
• How the metals got into the tampons in the first place. 

If you want to continue using tampons, it’s probably best to look at organic brands that are free from synthetics, dyes, and fragrances. But if you’re ready to burn it all down and give something else a try, I hear ya! 

I went through a similar phase around 5 years ago. 

• I couldn’t justify the waste of pads and tampons

• I never changed my tampon in the recommended time limit and started getting paranoid about TSS. 

• I hated how often chemicals, synthetics, and fragrances were included.

• And I felt like conventional pads weren’t so much absorbing as they were holding.

So I tried something new. 

I first tried the disposable flex menstrual disc, but hated the waste. Then I moved to the menstrual cup, then to reusable pads, and finally to period underwear. 

Of the brands I tested for this blog, 3 of the 4 brands were blind tested for PFAS and pulled from Mamavation’s Best Period Underwear. This includes Lilova, Aisle, & Revol Cares. 

TomboyX hasn’t been tested by Mamavation, yet, but we included them for three reasons:

• Wide size inclusivity
• Gender neutrality
• And transparency. They claim not to intentionally add PFAS but acknowledge possible presence; as such they had a third-party lab test for PFAS and published the results. 🙌

Again, this doesn’t necessarily mean that other brands definitely contain PFAS, but we wanted to play it safe and try out the brands that have shown to test negative for PFAS.

My criteria for testing period underwear 

In order to make a better decision for you, you need to know a little bit about me. So let’s get personal! 

• I have light, regular periods thanks to the pill.

• I frequently get clots.

• My worst cramps come the week before my period (love that for me).

• I could never get a menstrual cup situated correctly and it usually leaked. 

• I feel that wearing tampons and even menstrual cups make my cramps worse.

• I have not yet tried a menstrual disc (I was going to until I found period underwear).

• Reusable pads are fine for my flow but can get annoying after awhile and they don’t always stay in place overnight. 

Also, I am no stranger to looking at and touching my period blood. That’s the first step for wearing period underwear. 

I have a lot to say on how period blood is seen as something shameful to be hidden, but the blood from literally anywhere else in your body is somehow different… but we’re not here for that. My point is: get ready to get friendly with your blood! 

This isn’t my first pair of period underwear — I bought a pair a couple of years ago (before I knew anything). Unfortunately there was a lot I didn’t like about them: 

• They were 100% synthetic (and so, so sweaty)

• I think because of the synthetics, there was more odor by the end of the day than with any I tested

• They were too bulky 

• They were too tight and didn’t fit well

With this previous experience, I tested for a lot things: 

• Majority natural materials like organic cotton and TENCEL

• Size of the pad part

• Flexibility/likeness to regular undies

• Fit

• Comfort

• Breathability

• Absorbency

I’ve been testing these undies for about 4 months now so I’ve had plenty of time to wear each of them for all stages of my period. I even discovered that I love wearing them during my crampy pre-period and to keep the sweat away on hot swampy days. 

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What I love overall about period underwear

The variety! There are so many brands serving different audiences that I am so confident you can find a pair for every day of your period and everything you want to do on your period. 

• There are style options for however you want to feel on your period — sexy, comfy, lazy? You got it! 

• Most brands have a wide variety of sizes to choose from. 

• You can pick and choose all different kinds of absorbency from light to extra heavy.

• Almost every pair I tried felt close to a regular pair of underwear. Not bulky or diaper-y.

• I’m a sweaty gal and each of these brands was very breathable and airy. 

• I kid you not: on really hot days I’ll wear these even if I’m not on my period just for sweat protection.

• Use, wash, reuse, repeat, save the planet! And your bank account! I do not spend money on period products anymore. 

• You literally just pop them in the wash (we’ll talk about that later). 

• I haven’t worn or bought a tampon in over 5 years! 

In my opinion, period underwear really outperforms all other menstrual products. 

Period underwear VS tampons

• It may not be scientifically proven but I think tampons make my cramps worse.

• Period underwear helps relieve so much pressure and tension when bloated and crampy. 

• I love not having to worry about harming my body if I wear them too long. You’ll know when it’s time to change your underwear. 

• Because my flow is slow light, I’ve never had to change them in a public place so I can’t advise there.

Period underwear VS pads

• Wearing period underwear is not like wearing a pad where blood just seems to sit there stuck up against you. 

• Period undies also do not feel like sitting in a wet pair of underwear (like when you sneeze a little too hard) because these are designed to absorb. 

• Clots will not absorb into the undies but I just pick it out with a piece of TP whenever I pee and go about my business.

• Period undies also do not bunch up on the sides or roll down the back and stick to you because the part that absorbs is part of the underwear. 

Period underwear VS menstrual cups 

• I could never get menstrual cups in the right position. So there was a lot of digging, adjusting, standing up to see if it was poking me, and more digging.

• I often needed to supplement the menstrual cup with something else (see above). 

• With period underwear, you simply choose which style you feel like that day, which absorbency you want, and that’s it.

• I could also never change a menstrual cup in public because it was a hassle. While I’ve never needed to change period undies in public, you would probably need to carry a wet bag to store the old pair in. 

Period underwear VS reusable pads

• Reusable pads are probably my second favorite period product, but they’re #2 for a reason. 

• Reusable pads are not great for the gym because they have a tendency to slip and flip over the crotch of the undies, basically rendering them useless.

• They can also slide up and down, especially at night or if working out, or moving a lot. 

As you can see, I’m a big fan of period undies. That said, they’re not all confidently wearing white outfits and horseback riding! There are of course downsides to period underwear, too. 

What I dislike overall about period underwear

Difficult to find the right size

• My biggest beef if you will is that it’s just like online shopping so it can be difficult to find and guess your size. All of these brands have size guides though, and I feel like all the undies I received fit well. (So I encourage you to use the size guides provided by each brand!)

Need to adjust how you wash

• It’s not necessary but I think my period underwear lasts longer when it’s washed in a laundry bag (or Guppyfriend bag) and then air dried. 

• I also prefer to rinse them out right in the shower or the sink after I use them, which means I have undies laying around the house drying during my period. 

You will need to touch/look at blood

• This is not a negative for me but it’s brought up often enough that it’s worth mentioning again. It’s not a lot but you’ll probably need to take clots out with toilet paper or rinse out the blood before you wash. 

Might take some testing if you have a heavy flow

• I have some friends that have very heavy periods that are worried about trying period underwear. In asking around, it seems that if you have a heavy flow you would have to make a midday change. 

My review of Revol Cares, TomboyX, Lilova, & Aisle PFAS-free period underwear

Revol Cares (my favorite overall) 

What I tried: Frankie in XS, $45; CeCe in XS, $33

Overall: 5/5
Fit & comfort: 5/5
Breathability: 4/5
Absorbency: 5/5
Materials: Majority bamboo (92%) with small amounts of GOTS certified organic cotton, PUL, and spandex. OEKO-TEX certified.

Overall thoughts: 

• I literally cannot even tell this is period underwear. Even the gusset is built a little differently from the others in that it’s a seamless part of the underwear. 

• These are the comfiest underwear I’ve ever put on my body coming only second to my brand new Subset shortie briefs.

• I love wearing The Frankie right before my period, and they’re the first one I reach for once I start bleeding.

• I was apprehensive about a thong, and I don’t wear them often, but I like it and think it’s good to have in my arsenal. 

• There are some undies that are more breathable on this list but it’s not enough to knock them from their #1 spot. 

Fit & Comfort

Frankie is my favorite pair to wear right before I start my period. Then I wash them so I can wear them again on my period. 

• The material is soft and the fit is comfy.

• I don’t usually wear such high cut/cheeky styles anymore but they fit wonderfully and in all the right places.

• The high rise compliments my body instead of finding a crevice to sink into.

• They’re a little sexy so I don’t feel so bad lying on the couch with cramps.

• They do not give me major wedgies (except at night so maybe not for sleeping).

I’m not a huge thong person anymore but for you folks who are, I wore the CeCe to the gym. And I was pleasantly surprised! 

• They weren’t too tight around the waist and didn’t dig in

• But they were tight enough they weren’t falling off

• Even in an area as small as a thong, there was a good amount of space to bleed into. 

• I wore them on the last couple of days of my period but I didn’t leak through.

• TMI — but you know when you can feel it coming out and then you can’t stop thinking about whether you’re leaking through? Yeah it was that kind of a day (at the gym) and CeCe held her own!

Use the code THEFILTERY to get 15% off your purchase. (Valid on undies only; 2-item minimum.)

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TomboyX (Runner up)

What I tried: First Line Period 9″ Boxer Briefs, XS, $26
Overall: 4/5
Fit & comfort: 4/5
Breathability: 5/5
Absorbency: 5/5
Materials: Primarily OEKO-TEX certified cotton with small amounts of spandex and polyester.

What I think overall: 

• I LOVE the material, these are 95% cotton, 5% spandex on the undie itself (not the pad lining) and you can tell.

• These are my favorite to wear when I’m having a rough period and don’t want any underwear touching my body.

• They are NOT sheer or see-through, so if you so desired you could wear these outside as regular shorts — and there’s a chance I did with a baggy sweatshirt. 

• While I love these boxer brief period underwear and plan to buy more, I’m not in love with the fit and pad placement: the thighs are tight, the waist is fine, but everything between is just slightly baggy, causing the center pad part to shift and not always stay in place. It definitely has that touching, not touching, touching, not touching effect which gets less pleasant the more you bleed.

Fit & Comfort

• All that said, I am absolutely obsessed with these and they will be on my roster for a long time, even outside of my period. I will definitely be wearing these for sweating purposes in addition to bleeding purposes.

• I also love that these are NOT sheer. They are a thick fabric and feel supportive so I can wear these as shorts around the house. 

• They are extremely breathable and light.

• I love them for sleeping in—, so comfy! 

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Lilova (Lots of style options)

What I tried: Jade Cotton Brief in Small, $32; Cloud High Waist in Small, $19; Mia Cotton Cheeky in Small, $27
Overall: 4/5
Fit & comfort: 3/5
Breathability: 4/5
Absorbency: 5/5
Materials: Majority organic cotton with small amounts of TPU and elastane. GOTS and OEKO-TEX certified.

Overall thoughts:  

• Of all the brands I tested, these are least stretchiest. Fortunately they fit me fine but I could see them not being great for bloated days. 

• I’ve worn all of the Lilova options on most days of my period and even on an airplane! 

• I especially love wearing the Jade for sweat absorption on an extra hot day if I’m going to be out and about a lot. 

• Unfortunately the Mia doesn’t fit my body (I think it’s a shape thing vs a wrong size thing). 

• The Mia also came with a loose thread that ended up unraveling after a few washes. 

Fit & Comfort

I was worried when these came in because the Cloud High Waist looked like the waist was going to be too small and the Jade looked humongous. It’s a trust-the-process kind of moment!

• The Jade is a level 4 out of 5 absorbency so she’s a thiiiick girl. To my pleasant surprise they’re really comfy when they’re on! No diaper feelings at all. It doesn’t look like you’re wearing anything through your clothes either.

• The Cloud High Waist is also a 4 out of 5 absorbency. It doesn’t have a super stretchy waist but once on it fits well and feels nice! It is a little snug, so it’s definitely a going-outside, not a lounging-inside pair. They’re also super cute. If you didn’t know they were period underwear you couldn’t tell!

• The Mia cotton briefs are my least favorite. They fit well and they feel nice but my booty doesn’t really fit in them. When I wear these, I constantly feel like my underwear are falling down my crack and I’m always trying to tug them up but they don’t go higher. There was also a thread hanging loose when I got them and after a few washes, my Cora Ball found it and ripped it up a bit. 

Use code THEFILTERY15 for 15% off.

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Aisle (The most breathable)

What I tried: Boost Hipster in XS, $48
Overall: 4/5
Fit & comfort: 4/5
Breathability: 5/5
Absorbency: 5/5
Materials: Primarily organic cotton and TENCEL with small amounts of spandex, polyester, TPU, and hemp. OEKO-TEX certified.

Overall thoughts: 

• These are some maximum coverage baddies! 

• The material is really soft, nice, and breathable, and they sit right at my belly button (which I like). They are a tad tight so not great for bloated, lounging days but they’re still stretchy. I like them for being outside, walking around, etc. 

• These have a removable gusset (aka pad), which is a cool concept for sustainability but it’s a little difficult to get it back in because it doesn’t snap or ‘click’ in. 

• While I love the concept of a removable liner, it simply slides into the folds at the front and back of the gusset so I never really feel like it’s in there very sturdily.

• Also, Aisle doesn’t have too many style options.

Fit & Comfort

At first these look kind of bulky but once they’re on they’re amazing!

• I received the hipster in beet and the site says it holds up to Holds 8+ tampons worth (with the booster). 

• I love the breathability of these. The material is airy and I definitely stay fresh all day. 

• I have trouble getting the insert back in after washing them. It doesn’t clip or snap in, it’s placed into pockets of the fabric from the inside so it feels a little unsturdy. This is definitely a trust-the-process kind of moment though because every time I’ve worn them it stays in place and I can’t even tell the pad is removable while I’m wearing them.

• On the sustainability stand front, I think these have a little more going for them with the removal pad insert. Not only can you switch it out as needed, but after a few years, instead of having to replace the entire pair of undies, you can throw the liner away and just replace the pad. 

Use code THEFILTERY15 for 15% off your order.

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Are period underwear difficult to wash and clean? 

This is always the biggest pushback I get about wearing period underwear. 

They are not difficult to wash and clean at all! Washing period underwear is just like washing any other clothes.

There are a plethora of ways to wash them but here’s how I like to do it:

• After use, I rinse out the undies in the sink (or shower)

• Then I wash them with the rest of my clothes

• The times I don’t feel like rinsing them out after each use, I wash a load of only period underwear when my period is over.

• I wash them with the Meliora detergent I use for everything else in cold water.

• I always try to air dry my period underwear. I think the gusset and elastic hold up better over time if they don’t go through the dryer.

Sometimes if I’m not in the mood, I’ll toss them in the shower and rinse them out with my next shower. 

I think if you have a heavier flow, giving them a quick rinse after you wear them is your best option — but it might be best to find a website review from someone with a heavy flow or take a look on TikTok. I don’t want to speak about an experience I haven’t had. 

To sum things up, I have definitely been converted to PFAS-free period underwear! Although Revol and Tomboyx were my favorites overall, I think all of the above options are worth a try.

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