What’s Best for Heavy Periods and Endometriosis? Pads, Tampons, Cups, or Period Underwear.

(Your guide to heavy periods, serious cramps, and endo-level flow... and what research says about period care that’s a little kinder to your body.)

If you’ve ever had to plan your week around your period — mapping bathrooms, stashing backup clothes, or cancelling plans last minute — you’re not alone (for the love of just-in-case pants, PREPARATION IS KING).

What Most Women Don’t Realise About ‘Heavy Periods’

Now here’s the thing: for many, that’s not just “a heavy period.”

Studies show diagnosis can take 7–12 years ^[1], and up to 60% of cases remain undiagnosed ^[2] - often of a condition called endometriosis, where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows elsewhere in the body and can cause severe pain and irregular bleeding.

The shocking part is, millions live like this, assuming their pain is normal.

But normal compared to what... a frightening tan line?

Pads and tampons designed decades ago for a slower pace of life? ^[3]

More, so much more, on this later.

And that leads to a bigger question:

If so many people don’t even realise they’re living with something more than “just periods”… what does that mean for the products we rely on every cycle?

Are the Products You’re Using Making It Worse?

Pads. Tampons. Cups. They’re handed to us as the default — the so-called “normal” way to cope.

But hang on... for many with heavy or painful periods, these “solutions” often add new problems.

• Pads can rub against already inflamed skin (Walking with pad-chafe... that's no fun), trap heat and moisture under plastic layers, and even expose you to perfumes or chemicals linked to irritation. ^{[4] [5]}
• Tampons and cups may aggravate pelvic floor tension, worsen cramps, and increase discomfort for those with endometriosis or chronic pelvic pain. ^[6]

And here’s the twist:

That so-called “normal” can actually make things worse.

Especially when those products were first built for a time when women’s lives looked very different.

(Back when women were told to smile sweetly and pretend periods didn’t exist… unless you were in the Secret Menstruation Society.)

Which brings us to the obvious question:

If the “normal” options rub, cramp, and irritate… what else is out there that actually makes sense for endo-level flow and pain?

Why Period Underwear Can Be a Better Option for Heavy Flow.

So... is there a Softer, more Supportive Option?

Right, this is where the heavy-flow Googling leaves us...

From first-person feels, the endo blogs, and the OBGYN advice, one theme keeps repeating:

comfort and protection.

And that’s usually when period underwear quietly enters the chat — not as a fad, but as a genuine easy option.

(Full disclosure: we built Pee Chee Cheex around heavy flows, without the trade-offs, and found it’s Definitely Excellent for endo-level leakproof comfort too.)

It offers:

• No internal pressure → removing tampon/cup-related pain.
• Less friction → no pad chafing or heat traps.
• Breathable fabrics → your bits deserve to exhale too, darls.
• Leak protection → peace of mind during floods or overnight sleep.

Women with heavy bleeding - or with endometriosis - say period underwear feels more comfy. It gives them leakproof peace of mind and helps them feel drier, fresher and quite chilled. ^{[7] [8]}

The best way to sum it up, you get to live like a normal human.

You’re not just coping with irritation, leaks, and pain. Rather, you’re supported in your daily life in a way pads and tampons never were.

And it makes sense: those products were built for another time, not for the busy, always-on lives we lead today.

That’s why period underwear isn’t just another product

It’s the smarter option — designed for modern, on-the-go life.

But... they're not all the same → be warned.

In fact, many leak with super heavy flows is probably the best way of putting it. We noticed a lot of heavy-bleeders use pads and period underwear as backup.

It kind of defeats the purpose of period underwear.

Which leaves one question: which one truly works for heavy, unpredictable flow? (and built for those who need more than leakproof claims)

The Smarter Period Care Choice

Every woman has her swear-by-it method,
but we really swear by Pee Chee Cheex period undies.

We do! We stand next to it and yell obscenities each morning.
Jokes aside, as long as your products tick at least some of the boxes below, it will help you a lot.

That’s not to say all products are created equal…

Some look cute but crash out by 10:30 am coffee break. Others feel oddly rigid in the gusset — the absorbent bit just doesn’t flex with you. It's like fancy undies for robots.

But imagine...

If your undies had even two - or ALL FIVE - of these features built-in, how amazing would that feel...

1. Absorbency built for Floodzilla days: 12 tampons’ worth of fluids, without bulk
2. Quad leak-barrier design: side-to-back coverage to protect against gushes and overnight accidents.
3. Breathable natural fabrics: no plastic backing, no sweat-trap discomfort, less irritation.
4. Absolutely no added chemicals: safer for sensitive skin and irritation-prone users.
5. Supportive high-waist fit: gentle hugging without digging in, especially on Bloaty McBloat days. 

Each of these matches with what experts and endometriosis communities identify as essential. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

So yeah, here's our summation. If you are fed up with having your week hijacked by heavy bleeding and discomfort, Pee Chee Cheex isn’t just another product → it’s the only smart choice. Obviously.

Go on — make the smart switch.

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