When periods are new it can be confusing to know what is the best product to start using. Pads, period underwear, cups, discs, tampons - the options can feel overwhelming before you’ve even figured out how your own period works.
Friends might tell you to use what they are using, or you might have seen someone on social media talking about what they think is the ‘best period product’. All of this can make it feel like choosing a period product is a decision you’re meant to get right straight away.
The truth is there’s no ‘one’ best period product. It might be a case of trying a few before you decide which is the one you like and feel most comfortable using. And it’s also possible that you might change your preferences over time.
Starting With What Feels Familiar
For many teens, the easiest way to begin managing periods is with products that sit outside the body. External period products tend to feel less intimidating because they don’t require learning about insertion or anatomy straight away. They also make it easier to see and understand what your flow is like, which can be helpful in the early years.
This is one of the reasons reusable period underwear has become such a popular option for teens. Period underwear looks and feels like normal underwear, but it has absorbent layers built in to catch period blood. There’s nothing extra to attach, remove or insert, which can be handy - especially at school or overnight.
Hello Period has reusable period underwear styles designed with teens in mind. Designed to be more absorbent than regular disposable sanitary pads, teens love that they can put them on in the morning and get through the school day without worrying about changing products or leaks. Period underwear is often used for first periods, lighter flow days, sleep, sport or simply for peace of mind when cycles are still unpredictable.
Learning Your Flow With Reusable Pads
Another common starting point for teens is reusable period pads. These work in a similar way to disposable pads but they’re washable and reusable - making them kinder on the environment and very cost effective. But that’s not the best bit - Hello Period’s reusable pads are more absorbent than regular disposable sanitary pads and will give hours of leakfree protection. Designed with secure dome fastenings that clip underneath the underwear, they will stay in place throughout the day - even when moving between classes or being active.
Understanding That Internal Products Are Optional
As teens become more familiar with their bodies and periods some begin to wonder about internal period products like tampons, menstrual cups or menstrual discs. Some people prefer internal products because it makes their period a bit more ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and you can’t feel them - but it’s an entirely personal choice or something you need to rush into.
Menstrual cups and menstrual discs are worn inside the body and collect period blood rather than absorbing it. Some older teens choose to explore these options once they feel confident with their anatomy and curious about different forms of period care.
Hello Period menstrual cups and menstrual discs are designed to be reusable and long-lasting. Some people like them because they can be worn for longer periods of time and work well for activities like sport or swimming. Others try them and decide they prefer external products instead. Both choices are completely valid.
Swimming During Your Period
Swimming is one of the most common worries teens have when their period arrives. School swimming lessons, beach days, and holidays don’t always line up neatly with cycle timing, especially when periods are still irregular.
For teens who don’t want to use internal products, period swimwear offers another option. Hello Period period swimwear is designed to be worn in the water during a period. It looks like regular swimwear but has discreet absorbent protection built in to manage menstrual flow while swimming.
Period swimwear can be especially helpful for younger teens, first periods, or anyone who prefers external products but doesn’t want to miss out on swimming altogether. Some teens later choose cups or discs for swimming, but again, this is a choice and it’s great there are options to suit everyone.
Using Different Products for Different Situations
One of the biggest myths about periods is that you’re supposed to pick one product and use it all the time. In reality, many people, including teens, use different products depending on the day, their flow and what they’re doing.
It’s very normal for someone to wear period underwear to school, switch to reusable pads at home, use period swimwear for swimming or try a cup or disc later on when they feel ready. Period care doesn’t have to be one-size-fits-all, even for the same person. Bodies change, cycles change, and the period products you use can change over time too!
Why Safety and Materials Matter
Period products are worn close to the body for many hours at a time, which makes material choice especially important particularly for teens whose bodies are still developing.
Some disposable period products have been found to contain PFAS, sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals.” These chemicals are slow to break down and can accumulate in the body and environment over time.
Hello Period does not add harmful PFAS to their period underwear, reusable pads, menstrual cups, menstrual discs or period swimwear. This is one reason many families choose reusable options, alongside environmental and cost considerations.
Hello Period is also an award-winning, trusted brand, known for combining education, safety, and comfort in period care.
Choosing What’s Right for You
Choosing a period product isn’t about what’s trendy, what your friends use, or what seems most grown-up. It’s about how your body feels and what makes periods easier to manage in your everyday life.
Some teens prioritise simplicity and choose products they don’t have to think about during the day. Others like the flexibility of changing pads. Some are curious about internal options later on. All of these paths are normal.
What works now might not be what works in a year and that’s okay.
Talking to Parents or Caregivers About Product Choices
For many teens, getting period products involves talking to a parent or caregiver. These conversations can feel awkward, but they’re often easier when framed around comfort and confidence rather than “what you should use.”
Explaining how school days work, what worries you most, or what situations you need support for like sport or swimming can help adults understand what will actually be helpful.
Also, new products may have come onto the market that some parents or teachers have never heard of such as menstrual cups and menstrual discs. You might want to show them websites of brands such as Hello Period who are leading the way with period care innovation and creating high quality products.
Reassurance for Parents and Caregivers
If you’re supporting a teen through these choices, it helps to remember that period care is personal. Encouraging teens to start with what feels simplest, listening to their preferences, and keeping options open builds confidence and trust.
Don’t forget, the type and quality of period care available might be quite different to what you used growing up. Products such as period underwear and becoming increasingly popular so it’s worth doing some research to ensure any advice you offer is as up-to-date as possible.
There is no ‘beginner’ or ‘advanced’ product - only what feels right for that individual at that moment. While some teens start with pads or period underwear, others prefer to go straight to using a menstrual cup or tampons.
There Is No Perfect Choice - Only Your Choice
Periods are not a test you need to pass. Managing them is a skill that develops over time, with experience and support. We know they’re not always easy but finding a product that works for you and makes you feel comfortable is definitely a win!
Whether you opt for period underwear, reusable pads, cups, discs, swimwear or a combination of these, the goal is the same: feeling comfortable, prepared, and confident.
The right product is the one that helps you get on with your day and that choice is always yours. You’ve got this!
