Putting on a pad is straightforward once you know the basics: peel off the backing, stick it to your underwear, and position it so the center sits directly under your vulva. The whole process takes about 30 seconds. Here’s exactly how to do it, plus tips for keeping comfortable throughout the day.
Step-by-Step: Placing Your Pad
Start by pulling your underwear down to around your knees so you can clearly see the gusset, which is the wider, reinforced fabric panel in the center. This is where the pad goes.
Unwrap the pad from its packaging and save the wrapper. You’ll use it later to dispose of the used pad. Most pads have a strip of paper or plastic covering the sticky side. Peel that off to expose the adhesive. If your pad has wings (side flaps), peel those backing strips off too.
Press the sticky side of the pad onto the gusset of your underwear, centering it so it runs lengthwise along the middle. The soft, absorbent side should face up toward you. If your pad has wings, fold them around the edges of the gusset and press them against the underside of the fabric. Wings help keep the pad from shifting around during the day.
Pull your underwear up and adjust as needed. The middle of the pad should sit right underneath your vulva. If it feels like it’s too far forward or too far back, reach in and reposition it. You want the widest coverage where your flow actually lands, which for most people is slightly toward the back when standing.
Choosing the Right Pad Size
Pads come in a range of sizes and absorbency levels. Light or thin pads work well for the beginning and end of your period when flow is minimal. Regular pads handle moderate flow. Heavy or overnight pads are longer and more absorbent, designed for your heaviest days or for sleeping, when you’re lying down and flow can travel further back.
If you’re not sure what you need, start with regular absorbency. You’ll quickly get a sense of whether you need more or less coverage based on how full the pad looks when you change it. A pad that’s barely used after several hours means you could go thinner. A pad that’s saturated in under two hours means you need a step up.
How Often to Change Your Pad
Change your pad every 3 to 4 hours, even if it doesn’t look very full. Moisture against the skin creates a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, which can cause odor, irritation, or infection over time. On heavy flow days, you may need to change it more frequently.
Going a full school or work day on a single pad isn’t a good idea, even on your lightest days. Keeping a few pads in your bag means you’re always prepared for a bathroom break. If you’re worried about leaks overnight, use a longer overnight pad and position it a bit further back in your underwear than you would during the day.
Preventing Irritation and Rashes
Pad rash is a common complaint, especially during longer periods or in warmer weather. The combination of moisture, friction, and synthetic materials can irritate the skin along your inner thighs and vulva.
A few things help. Wear cotton underwear or at least underwear with a cotton gusset, since breathable fabric reduces trapped heat and moisture. Avoid scented pads, as fragrances can disrupt your skin’s natural pH and cause contact irritation. Changing your pad on schedule is the single most effective way to prevent rashes, because it limits how long damp material sits against your skin. If you notice persistent redness or itching, switching to an unscented, hypoallergenic pad often solves the problem.
How to Dispose of a Used Pad
Never flush a pad down the toilet. Pads are designed to absorb liquid and expand, so they will clog pipes.
The easiest disposal method: fold the used pad in half (sticky sides together) so the soiled surface is enclosed, then wrap it in the wrapper from your fresh pad. That wrapper’s adhesive strip is designed to reseal for exactly this purpose. If you don’t have the wrapper handy, a few layers of toilet paper work fine. Drop it in the trash bin. In public restrooms, most stalls have a small disposal bin specifically for menstrual products.
If you’re at someone else’s house and the bathroom trash doesn’t have a liner, wrapping the pad well in toilet paper keeps everything discreet and contained.
Pads and Toxic Shock Syndrome
One common worry for people new to periods is toxic shock syndrome, or TSS. The reassuring news is that TSS is primarily associated with tampons and other internal menstrual products, not external pads. The risk with tampons comes from introducing oxygen into the vaginal canal, which allows certain bacteria to produce the toxin responsible for TSS. Because pads sit outside the body, they don’t create this environment. Isolated cases of TSS have occurred in pad users, but researchers note these are likely coincidental rather than caused by the pad itself.
Tips for Your First Few Times
If this is your first period or your first time using pads, a few practical things can make the experience easier. Keep a small pouch or zip-close bag in your backpack with two or three pads and a spare pair of underwear. Practice placing a pad in your underwear at home before you need one at school or work, so the process feels familiar. Dark-colored underwear is forgiving if a small leak happens. And if a pad feels bulky or uncomfortable, try a thinner variety. Modern thin pads can hold a surprising amount of fluid without the diaper-like feel of thicker options.