What if I bleed through my pants?

Okay, so loads of people who get their period have had a leak at some point, it's just part of the deal. Like, even me! It's normal and totally nothing to be embarrassed about.

What to do right away

If you notice you've bled through your pants, the first thing is not to panic. Trust me, it feels like a bigger deal than it is! The fastest way to deal with it is to grab a sweater or jacket and tie it around your waist. This covers the spot until you can get to a bathroom or somewhere private to clean up. If you don't have one, just try to get to a bathroom discreetly.

Once you're in the bathroom, you can try to rinse the spot with cold water. Cold water is way better for blood stains than hot water, so remember that one! Then, you can try to dry it a bit with paper towels. You might need to change your pad or tampon too, depending on how long it's been. If you have extra clothes, awesome! If not, don't sweat it too much, the sweater trick works wonders.

How to try and prevent it

Leaks usually happen because your period product is full, or it shifts. So, one big thing is to change your pad or tampon often enough. A pad usually needs changing every 4 to 6 hours, and sooner on heavy days. If you keep bleeding through even when you change on time, need a new pad every 1 to 2 hours, pass clots bigger than about 2.5 cm, or your period lasts more than 7 days, tell a trusted adult so a doctor can check. Also, make sure you're using the right absorbency for your flow. Like, if your period is heavy, a super pad or tampon can help more than a light one. You can figure out what's typical for your flow by tracking it, and the Soso app can help you totally do that, because it has daily logging for flow and symptoms. Another thing is period underwear, which is literal magic for leaks because it's like wearing regular underwear but with built-in protection. They are comfy and can give you extra confidence, especially on those heavy days or overnight.