The underwear designed for menstruation was filmed in Houston's "Houston Chronicle" on Friday, September 17, 2021.

In the late 90s, small backpacks were as cool as they are now. I have a yellow smiling face and slimy eyes in the front pocket.

It was fifth grade, and I needed a small backpack to store the cushions because I started my menstruation two years earlier than the rest of the class. Just standing on the lunch line feels like an invisible mission. What if someone finds out that I have a pad in it? For a 10-year-old child, this is really a terrible idea.

Of course, a girl behind me asked me why I had to go to the cafeteria with a backpack, and then she wanted to know what was inside. When I ignored her, she picked up her backpack and a cushion fell on the floor. The children laughed.

Regardless of trauma, this is a lengthy statement that suggests that menstruation and the products that people must use for this can be stressful.

It started when I was young, and my only reference material was a box of bulky cushions or scary-looking tampons under the bathroom sink, and an embarrassing puberty video played by a fourth-grade school nurse.

For decades, most people had no choice: either wear a sanitary napkin or a tampon, which would cost between US$1,500 and US$2,000 in a lifetime.

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Since the 1930s, alternatives have emerged—perhaps not capable of commercial mass production—but until the 2010s, with the wider use of Thinx underwear and the Diva Cup, no alternatives disrupted the mass menstrual market.

Interim CEO Shama Amalean Skinner said that Thinx is a reusable product that looks and feels like ordinary underwear. Absorbent underwear is made of everyday fabrics without the use of tampons or pads, which are usually made of plastic or other disposable materials.

"Most of the products that people use are passed down from generation to generation. This space needs to be destroyed-a better alternative to the earth and the body is needed," said Amalean Skinner. "Generation Z is a driving force, but other generations have already made changes. Curiosity about the type of solutions for the elderly has turned to adoption."

Amalean Skinner said the challenge in bringing new products to the mainstream market is to convince people that menstrual blood is "not disgusting."

The initial marketing efforts focused on breaking the stigma surrounding "bloody underwear" by explaining how the product is made: the top wicking layer aims to eliminate any damp feeling, while the lower absorbent layer absorbs blood like a leak-proof pad.

The average lifespan of pants during menstruation—prices range from $25 to $50 per pair—is roughly the same as a pair of ordinary underwear, depending on whether you clean it in accordance with the care label.

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Diva Cups was developed and put on the market in 2003. In the following years, there have been many competitors of the cup, such as the Kind Cup in 2011.

The menstrual cup is reusable and is usually made of silicone or latex. The design of the cup is small and flexible, so the user can twist it before inserting it.

Christine Brown, the designer and founder of Kind Cup, developed a new cup because they liked the concept but couldn't find a cup that was flexible enough to fit their body. Before founding the company, Brown used Diva Cup and said that the product is a direct improvement on sanitary napkins and tampons.

Brown said the Kind Cup has been tested on several people to ensure that their design fits any type of body-from the correct curvature of the cup to the length of the silicone cord at the bottom.

"If it is placed in the correct position, you won't feel extra pressure on the bladder or colon; it is placed directly down instead of tilted," Brown said. "Regardless of the customer's lifestyle-whether they are active, walking around, sitting or working in front of the computer, there is something to support their lives, which makes them feel very comfortable."

I tried three different brands of period underwear: Thinx, Victoria's Secret and TomboyX, and Kind Cup.

All four brands wear a similar pattern on normal to moderate traffic days: commute to the office, sit at my desk, walk around before get off work, gossip before get off work, and do some after-get off work activities before work.

On the day I wore Thinx, I attended a concert where I danced for more than three hours.

There is no leakage, and I can't even feel my bleeding. The wearing experience feels like a non-menstrual day, which is difficult to achieve. I buy and wear this brand every month.

TomboyX is a clothing company that sells to women and non-binary groups. Of the three pairs of shoes I have tried, it easily has the cutest pair. But it lacks moisture wicking mechanism. Although there is no leakage, there is a damp feeling for most of the day. Although this is not the point of underwear, there is a panty line problem.

This series has the largest variety of products, including bikinis, swimming trunks, fashionable and flat panties. I will wear them again.

In my opinion, due to the materials used, the ideas and designs of underwear during the Victoria's Secret period were the least. The lining area feels like a thick carpet and does not absorb well.

There is no leakage, but due to lack of absorption, I am afraid of leakage into my pants. I may not wear this brand again.

One advantage is the range of colors and designs available on the website. Of the three I have tried, it is the only one that offers a thong option.

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Like Christine Brown, I also like menstrual cups. But honestly, it's just uncomfortable.

When I say that you need to read all the instructions before using it for the first time, I am not lying. First, boil the water and put the cup in for five minutes. Wait until it cools down before starting the next step.

After a frustrating few minutes, I was finally able to plug in the device. Although I believe in the seal, the suction it generates causes pain similar to menstrual cramps, and I can only wear it for a few hours.

I may not try this brand again.

When I accept this task, I want to see if there are alternatives that can benefit my mind, body, and wallet. Please note that because there is no 34-year-old person who needs to worry about leakage; the body, because I want the product to have less chemicals and plastic; and the wallet, because, I want a thicker one.

I find that menstrual pants are a good alternative to sanitary napkins and tampons—especially considering my busy lifestyle. They are suitable for office or home work. No need to change during exercise or long-distance flight. Depending on the brand, they are no different from ordinary underwear.

When I told my mother that I was working on this work, she slapped her tongue in disbelief, because menstruation is not a topic she wants to talk to another person. As she grew up, there were few choices, and she accepted what suits her.

But there are many options on the market, so take some time to find the one that suits you best.

Julie Garcia is a special correspondent for the Houston Chronicle, focusing on health, fitness and outdoor activities.

Julie is originally from Port Neches, Texas, and has been working as a community reporter in the southern Texas city since 2010. In Beaumont and Port Arthur, she wrote feature reports and breaking news, and then turned to Victorian advocate as an assistant sports editor, writing articles about high school sports and outdoor. Recently, she worked at Corpus Christi Caller-Times, covering areas including city and county government, new business, affordable housing, breaking news, and healthcare. In 2015, she reported on the Memorial Day floods in Wembley, Texas, and in 2017, she was the main reporter covering the coastal bends affected by Hurricane Harvey. These experiences prompted her to explore environmental news and climate change.

As a textbook-like water sign, Julie advocates people to feel their own feelings and hopes to help people tell their own stories. When not working, she might drive a jeep to look around all the tall buildings.

Do you have a story to tell? Email her Julie.Garcia@chron.com. For everything else, check her on Twitter @reporterjulie.

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