We dare say there is no single answer for all women, as it depends on the frequency and duration of your period, the washing method chosen, and whether you use them in combination with an internal collection method or not. For those who have never used menstrual underwear, we suggest starting with one or two pairs to test the absorption and understand, on days of lighter and heavier flow, how often you need to change.

Although urine is much more liquid than blood, if the leaks are not too abundant, menstrual underwear can be an excellent ally to keep us dry. It is common, for example, for women postpartum, even after a few months, to experience small leaks and use menstrual underwear to help prevent urine from transferring to their clothes (however, we emphasize the importance of pelvic physiotherapy in cases of recurring urinary leaks).

This is another highly variable question, as it greatly depends on the day/flow/activities of that day/using menstrual underwear as a standalone method or as a complement to an internal menstrual collection method (in the latter case, just treat it like regular underwear and wash it once a day, provided there is no excessive leakage from the cup/disc/tampon).
Generally, the absorption of our menstrual underwear allows for the following usage times:

• Very heavy flow (typically associated with hormonal disorders): 2-4 hours
• Heavy flow: 4-6 hours
• Moderate flow: 6-8 hours
• Light flow: 8-12 hours

There are several washing methods, depending on the number of underwear you have, whether you have a washing machine, or simply according to personal preference. However, there are some rules to keep in mind:

• Always rinse in cold water to remove most of the blood before washing with detergent or mixing with other laundry.
• Always wash at low temperatures. Maximum, at 30°C.
• Never use fabric softener.
• Never use bleach or any other type of whitener.
• Always air dry, never tumble dry.
• They can be washed by hand or in the washing machine.

Our menstrual underwear is tested for monthly use over two years, so they are not supposed to stop absorbing within this period. However, if there has been a lapse in washing (such as using bleach or fabric softener), this can happen. If the washing instructions were followed and they still stopped absorbing, it might be due to detergent buildup (we always recommend using a small amount of detergent and rinsing thoroughly). In this case, one or two cycles of intensive cold rinsing should solve the problem. If the issue persists, send us a message or e-mail!

Our menstrual underwear has been tested for two years without any loss of absorbency or waterproofing. With proper care, they can last even longer (3-4 years). The more careful you are with washing and drying, the longer they will last. However, the advantage of this menstrual collection method is that, even when they have completely lost their absorbency, they can still be used as regular everyday underwear, since throughout our cycle we also release other fluids (such as discharge or small urine leaks) that are less abundant but can become uncomfortable due to the moisture they cause. Therefore, even after they are no longer suitable for absorbing menstruation, they can (and should) continue to be used.

We know the questions above are too variable and the answers are not very helpful (nothing like trying them out!), but Norm. is from women to women, and we're here to help with everything we can. Below, we indicate the hours our team wears Norm. menstrual underwear and how many times we change them, as well as how many we think is ideal to have.

• On the first day of my period, Norm menstrual underwear lasts me the whole day. The same goes for the last day.
• On the second and third days of my period, they last about 8 hours (sometimes slightly longer). What I do is wear one in the morning, change after lunch when I feel less comfortable (I notice the underwear feels less dry), and then change again before going to bed.
• Since I only wash them at the end of the cycle, I need to have 12 pairs available to feel comfortable (plus, one is always in my bag for emergencies - my cycle likes surprises!). Additionally, I don't only use them during menstruation because since postpartum, I sometimes have small urine leaks. So, I feel more comfortable wearing menstrual underwear in my daily life, especially if I know I'll be out for a long time or doing sports.
• My washing method is the laziest ever: I gather them all in a large waterproof bag. At the end of the cycle, I put them inside the bag, with the zipper open, in the washing machine on a cold rinse cycle. Then I add more clothes (usually dark ones, as they are washed at lower temperatures in my house) and wash them with detergent, no fabric softener, at 30°C. After that, I simply hang them out to dry.

• On the first day of menstruation, Norm. menstrual underwear lasts me all day. The same goes for the last day.

• On the second/third and fourth day of menstruation, they last about 2 hours (sometimes slightly longer). On these heavier flow days, to avoid changing more than 4 times, I use a menstrual cup. Before going to bed, I remove it and change my underwear again, and they last through the night.

• I always wash the underwear by hand and let them air dry if it's still early in the menstrual period. Since I have 8 pairs, I only have 1 for each day, so I can only wash them all in the machine at the end of the cycle or if I happen to do laundry during the week. If I use the machine, I add more clothes and wash with detergent, no fabric softener, at 30°C. Then I simply hang them to dry on the clothesline.

On the first day of menstruation and on the last two days, Norm menstrual underwear lasts me all day, from morning until the end of the day. On the second and third days of menstruation, they last about 7 hours. I change the Norm underwear when I wake up, after lunch, or when I feel the underwear is less dry, and usually at night when I get home. My flow is very light during the night, so I only feel the need to change it the next morning. I have 7 available underwear, so I wash them during the menstrual cycle. I usually use 6 and keep 1 as a backup, in case of any unexpected event. I do a pre-wash of the underwear I used during the day, on days of heavier flow, just with water, and I scrub the excess flow from the underwear. Then I put them all in a mesh bag and put them in the washing machine, along with other clothes that are washed at 30°. They always dry on the clothesline, in the most airy place in the house.

On the first and last day of my period, Norm menstrual underwear lasts me all day. On these days, I use two pairs, one during the day and one at night. On the second day of my period, they last about 8 hours (sometimes more). I wear one in the morning, change after lunch when I feel less comfortable (feeling of less dry underwear), and then change again at night before going to sleep.

Washing management: I have 8 pairs available to use during the entire menstrual period. After use, I usually soak them in cold water with neutral detergent for a few minutes, or rinse them during my shower, then let them dry. At the end of the cycle, I put them all in a mesh bag and wash them together in the washing machine at 30 degrees Celsius, without fabric softener, along with my other clothes. Then, I just hang them on the clothesline to dry in a well-ventilated area.

- We send our menstrual panties inside a thin recycled paper, in order to protect them in the best possible way, accompanied by a card, also recycled, with washing care and our WhatsApp contact (it's normal to have questions and we are here to help to help!). We also send a dried flower with each order, a symbol of the eternal beauty and strength of something as fragile as a flower - a metaphor that represents the Norm woman very well. The transport box is also recycled and is sealed with our Norm label. - All of our boxes can be returned to us in Lisbon and Guimarães (just send a message to the same WhatsApp number that is on the instruction card with the order and we agree on a day and time for delivery). These boxes will later be cleaned and reused for new orders.

• Our shipments are delivered within 24 working hours in mainland Portugal and Spain because we know that sometimes our menstruation likes to surprise us and show up out of hours. For islands and the rest of Europe, it may take a little longer - up to 5 working days.

- Of course yes, you have 30 days for any return and we bear this cost on the first order with us! We want our customers to feel confident about their purchase and, if it's not the right time to try our menstrual panties or you've made a mistake with the size, we're here to respect and help! - To return all or part of the order, it is essential not to have removed the kraft paper hygienic protection, which is located in the central area of the underwear. For maximum comfort, we recommend trying Norm menstrual panties. with thin underwear underneath, before removing this seal.

All of our orders are shipped from Guimarães, Portugal. This area is also home to our printing shop and the seamstresses we work with to produce our accessories.