Frequently Asked Questions (or "what we think you should know about Flow Intimates")
As a starting point, you must choose your normal size. We strive to continuously streamline the collection, although the materials may work slightly differently.
Make sure the panties fit relatively close to the hip, as they need to be able to hold the blood.
Remember; you can always exchange or return your flows, as long as you have only tried them on top of your own panties.
Our panties have different absorbency, but this is described under each style, indicated by drops. We continue to work on expanding the range.
If you bleed heavily, you can use a menstrual cup or disc together with our menstrual panties.
The top layer at the bottom of the panty is woven so that the blood is directed down into the panty, and this keeps your skin dry.
The middle layer is woven like a towel so that it holds the blood (or other fluids, e.g. urine).
And at the bottom is a polyamide membrane that ensures that you don't bleed through.
When the top layer starts to feel wet or you can see blood at the edge of the panties, they are ready to be changed.
- First, rinse your panties in cold water until the water runs reasonably clear.
(If you don't want to wash them right away, hang them to air dry inside out)
- When you are ready to wash, wash them at 40 degrees with similar colors.
(We have specially developed a detergent that can also remove odors. It will be in stock in week 2, 2024)
- Hang them to air dry inside out - and then they are ready for the next bleeding.
(Avoid dryers. It is not good for the environment and the absorbent layer will lose its absorbency faster)
You describe them as *game changing*.
All menstrual products have their advantages and disadvantages. But the big advantages of menstrual panties are that you can bleed freely. And it's surprisingly nice! You must not get anything into your body that can disturb the natural balance of the vagina or risk TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome).
And they also stay seated around the seagull, and this provides a great sense of security, especially at night - unlike bandages, which can curl up, pinch and cause rashes.
Our first priority in our choice of manufacturer has been to have them 'close to home'. This means that the transport of the finished panty is as short as possible.
It was also important that our manufacturer could match our ethical requirements. And they can! Our manufacturer is GOTS certified, which means that they meet a wide range of requirements both in terms of production and employees.
This means, for example, that all employees have access to medical treatment and regulated working hours. Mukkader and Mahir also pick up their employees at home and drive them safely to and from work. Mukkader has told us that shouting and swearing is not allowed when you are at work, as the working environment must be stress-free.
They have chickens, two small pet birds and a turtle. They serve an amazing lunch (that we have tasted!). It becomes a very familial relationship over time, it's nice.
In 2024, we will also start production in Portugal.
Menstrual panties are relatively new in Denmark. But in other countries they have up to 10 years behind them.
In principle, it is going 'back' to the solutions we used before the disposable products really made inroads in the 1960s. Before then, the reusable pad was the most widely used.
The problem with the "modern" solutions such as disposable pads and tampons is that they are often full of chemicals and perfumes. And it does not belong in the abdomen.
In this way, the menstrual panty is somewhat of a piece of the past "reinvented". A reusable product that reduces the amount of waste - and increases your comfort at the same time.
It depends both on how often you wash clothes - and how much you bleed.
The more you bleed, the more often you need to change your panties. Most people switch morning and evening - and with heavier bleeding, e.g. day 2-3, an extra time in the afternoon. Think of it as changing roughly as often as a pad.
On that level, a start could be 3 pairs (you always get 10% on 3-4 pairs). Then you can test how the day goes.
But the more pairs, the easier and more comfortable the experience. We have customers who have 10-12 pairs in their drawer. And you always get 15% on 5 pairs or more.
... Pssst... Your panties are suitable for "all bodily fluids; after sex, after a good laugh, during menstruation.
It's such a lame word, "leak". It sounds like an engine dripping.
We have a body that bleeds - sometimes the blood runs in unfathomable ways. Also next door.
But of course we understand the word. And yes, they are leak-proof, provided they are used for what they can handle.
If you experience 'leakage', you will experience bleeding to the sides rather than through, as the membrane will prevent permeation.
You will find the absorbency of each style on each product page.
The key to getting them properly clean is the cold water they are rinsed in before washing. You may also know this from blood stains on the clothes.
Cold water breaks the surface tension of the blood, and this means that the washing machine can easily wash them clean afterwards.
A combination of the cold water, 40 degree washing and the super effective detergents we have today means that the panties get clean.
The Consumer Council Tænk recommends the same washing order and says it is good for hygiene.
We menstruate 112,320 minutes a year, on average. For 40 years! And until now we have compromised on everything from sleep to pain to comfort because of our period. We need a whole new language to talk about periods in - and a panty revolution!
Flow was created the day my period returned after the birth of my daughter. She was only 3 months old!
I had given birth to 2 children in 2.5 years and it had required fertility treatment to do both. Honestly, my abdomen deserved peace and quiet to recover.
I put my menstrual cup on the shelf and began my research on alternatives. I found the period panties - and Flow Intimates was born.
Let the revolution begin!
- Catherine, founder
- Because it's the ultimate weirdest, non-invasive menstrual product on the market.
- You want to support your body in the natural process it does when you menstruate, by letting the blood leave the body rather than putting "a plug in", such as tampons.
- You choose a reusable solution over a disposable product - and that is a small part of the solution the future needs.
- You miss a solution in the days leading up to your period, when you are not bleeding yet but would like to be protected, "if now"...
- You often experience bleeding on the side at night - the panty stays where it should.
- You do not have the opportunity to use the usual menstrual articles, whether it is for physiological, allergic or psychological reasons.
- You would like to support a Danish, female-founded startup that makes an effort in all respects.
If you look at menstrual panties from other brands and see descriptions such as "antibacterial treatment" or "odor-free" or the like, biocides, such as silver fibers for example, may have been used in the panties.
The Danish Environmental Protection Agency generally advises against ordinary everyday products with antibacterial treatment. The risk is that you both pollute the environment and expose yourself to a chemical substance that is redundant. Another problem with those treatments is that resistance can arise in the microorganisms against which the effect is to work. Resistant bacteria cannot be killed with antibiotics.
We do not use silver fibers in our panties - or any other treatment. The panties work fine without it, as it is the weaves in the fabric + the correct washing procedure that are important.
Every two years, we have our panties tested for PFAS substances by an independent third party in Germany. There are no traceable levels of PFAS in our panties - and you must always request the reports.
All! But especially:
People who suffer from vaginismus (vaginal pain that makes it difficult to insert menstrual products into the body).
People with a sensitive abdomen that easily gets out of balance.
People who suffer from mild incontinence (up to one in two women over 50 suffer from incontinence).
People who, for psychological or physical reasons, cannot handle a product that needs to be inserted into the vagina.
Do you have any other questions?
It may be that you need help getting started with your period panties, or you may still need an answer to your question.
You are always welcome to reach out at loveletter@flowintimates.com. You can also write to us on the chat, which you will find in the right corner.