How does a menstrual swimsuit work?
The menstrual swimsuit uses water pressure to minimize menstrual flow when swimming. Once out of the water, its elasticated thighs and absorbent organic cotton core effectively retain fluids, while the breathable polyamide quickly wicks away water.
This swimsuit is designed for light flows, and offers extra protection when combined with other sanitary protection for heavier flows.
It is recommended not to wear a wet swimsuit for more than 4 hours to avoid imbalances in vaginal flora.
The swimsuit is easily washed in clean water and in the washing machine at low temperature to prolong its life.
How is the price of our 1-piece menstrual swimsuit Kanoa Anis calculated?
ELIA
What if your sanitary protection was your most beautiful lingerie?
Menstrual panties made in France from organic cotton
Menstrual lingerie that replaces tampons, sanitary pads and panty liners for every day and night of the cycle.
Protects against light periods and heavy bleeding. For first periods, white discharge, pregnancy, post-partum and bladder weakness.
Comfortable period pants designed with researchers, textile engineers and healthcare professionals.
FAQ : Your most frequently asked questions
Our products
How do I choose my size?
We offer two product ranges: adult and teen. We have provided a size guide on each product page. We therefore invite you to go to each product page, and click on "Choose my size", just below the phrase "Add to basket".
Please note that each product is sized differently, so we advise you to check each item sheet before validating your basket.
What's more, with each wash, our lingerie may relax slightly, so if your panties are slightly tight when you receive them, don't panic, they'll be fine with each wash.
How can I take my measurements correctly so that I don't get the wrong size?
To make sure you don't make a mistake, it's important to take your measurements in the right place.
The exact place to take your measurements is at pelvic level, at the widest point of the pelvis, but without the "saddlebags" which are normally found a little lower down.
The product I'm interested in is out of stock
It can happen, we're sorry. Rest assured, it never lasts too long.
If the stock shortage concerns one of our permanent models (Choupette, Philomène, Félicie, Armande, Simone or Louison), we invite you to sign up for alerts directly on our eshop. Usually, a few days later, you'll receive notification that the product is back in stock.
If the shortage concerns a limited edition, unfortunately it will no longer be available. Indeed, to limit waste, we do
what we call upcycling: we use pretty cotton scraps to create small limited editions, which usually go out very quickly at
, so don't delay if you've fallen for the color.
Where can I find Elia menstrual pants?
Our menstrual pants are sold exclusively on our website. Please do not hesitate to contact our customer service department for advice on the choice of model or size.
Our prices
Why are there no sales?
At Elia, we've chosen to opt for 100% French manufacturing, valuing every link in the
production chain: from the cotton manufacturer, to the seamstress who will make your knickers, to the order picker.
Sales and fast-fashion are often the result of overproduction of textile products, at the cost of a disastrous ecological footprint and a waste of polluting raw materials during manufacture. So at Elia, we prefer to produce exactly what we need, with natural, high-quality raw materials. Our pricing policy is to offer you the best quality at the fairest price. We have chosen to produce everything in France to ensure traceability and maximum comfort of our panties, without compromise.
As part of our sponsorship and loyalty program, however, you can quickly benefit from advantages that enable you to acquire our beautiful lingerie at lower prices.
Are period panties a money-saver?
Absolutely! If you're using disposable sanitary protection, that's just as much money and waste ending up in the garbage can every cycle. In the long term, period pants are more economical. But beyond the cost savings you make with
menstrual lingerie, using period panties is above all a commitment to the planet (zero waste, fewer pollutants...) and to the body
(100% organic cotton, no risk of toxic shock syndrome...).
Take the test and find out how much you could save with our savings calculator.
Duration and maintenance
How long can I wear menstrual panties?
All our models can be worn for up to 12 hours, depending on your flow (we advise against wearing your lingerie for more than 12 hours for reasons of hygiene, as is the case for classic lingerie).
The Choupette tanga is for light flows, the Félicie and Philomène knickers for medium flows, the Armande shorty and Simone knickers are
more suitable for heavy flows and/or at night, while our Louison cyclist is specially designed for hemorrhagic flows such as post partum or flows linked to the wearing of a copper IUD, for example.
You can also wear our lingerie in addition to conventional sanitary pads if you're worried about leaks.
When should I wear period panties?
Initially designed to be worn during your period, Elia lingerie is also perfectly suited to the following times:
- During your period, day or night
- With or without additional sanitary protection
- Before your period, if you're not sure when it's coming and want to be prepared for any unpleasant surprises
- When playing sports
- For light bladder weakness
- For white discharge
- After giving birth, once you've returned home, for post-partum bleeding, and to avoid the risk of irritation caused by conventional protection
- During pregnancy, for the minor inconveniences it can cause, particularly in the last trimester.
And, of course, like conventional lingerie at any time of the month.
How long do menstrual pants last?
If you take good care of it, our Elia menstrual lingerie has the same lifespan as classic lingerie: 5 to 7 years!
To find out more about care, click here.
How do I wash period panties?
To preserve your lingerie for as long as possible, we recommend that you follow our care instructions:
- Rinse your panties in cold water, until the water runs clear, as soon as you've finished wearing them
- Squeeze them gently, without wringing, before putting them in the machine as soon as possible
- Machine wash at low temperature (40°C maximum), with a glycerine-free detergent (avoid fabric softeners and other softeners, which are often very "greasy", and opt instead for white vinegar to soften your laundry)
- Air dry
For more information and advice on caring for your Elia menstrual underwear, visit this page.
Can I hand-wash my period panties?
Hand-washing is of course possible, but we prefer to recommend it as an exception. Indeed, hand-washing is
ultimately more aggressive on fabrics than machine-washing (more rubbing, wringing out and twisting the panties in all directions, etc.)
which ultimately damages and relaxes your lingerie, Elia or otherwise.
We prefer to recommend hand-washing during the cycle if you wish, and machine-washing at the end of each
cycle.
You'll find our care instructions right here.
I have a discoloration stain on my panties that doesn't go away despite washing.
It can happen: it's a discoloration phenomenon that can occur when some of us have vaginal secretions
that are a little more acidic. This only discolors the cotton, but in no way affects the functionality of the panties.
To minimize them, rinse them in cold, soap-free water as soon as possible after wearing them! And then put them in the washing machine, but otherwise it's just a question of appearance!
It's a problem that's specific to all dark-bottomed panties (menstrual or otherwise), because it depends on our personal acidity (white discharge like blood), which can vary and be more or less important during the same cycle.
A lighter-colored absorbent pad would leave traces of blood after washing, which is why we chose the black color.
This does not spare organic cottons and Oeko-tex-certified fabrics, and is by no means a sign of poor material quality. Once again, there's nothing to worry about, and it in no way hinders the effectiveness of our products!
In general, we advise you to change your underwear more regularly, and to rinse it quickly after wearing, if you don't want to alter the aesthetics of the inside of your panties too much.
Which detergent should I use? And why avoid glycerine?
We strongly advise you to use a hypoallergenic, glycerine-free detergent for Elia lingerie, and in general for all garments worn close to the body. We also offer a menstrual detergent dedicated to the care of
period panties.
To soften your clothes, don't use fabric softener: if your water is hard and chalky, opt for white vinegar, which has anti-chalk properties and helps combat the dry appearance of clothes after washing. It also neutralizes unpleasant odours. You'll avoid having to use commercial chemical and perfumed products, which aren't recommended for underwear worn close to the body anyway!
Glycerine clogs up absorbent fibers and makes them waterproof in the long run: liquids are likely to bead up on the surface, and that's less effective!
Be careful, for example, with the composition of Savon de Marseille: only a tiny amount of glycerine from the natural saponification process should remain in the original recipe.
For the same reasons, we advise against the use of fabric softeners, as these are greasy compositions formulated to limit static electricity and soften laundry, but which reduce absorption efficiency and clog up machines in the long run! In fact, you shouldn't use them on all absorbent household linen: towels, tea towels... as well as sportswear and menstrual pants!
To find out more about our care tips, please visit this page.
I washed my panties at over 40°, do they still work?
If your lingerie has been washed at over 40° or accidentally tumble-dried, don't worry!
However, we recommend washing at low temperature for the following reasons:
The absorbent zone made of eucalyptus fibers tends to shrink slightly under the effect of heat. It's still as absorbent as ever, but you may notice that the cotton on top, which hasn't moved, wrinkles under the effect of the slightly shrunken absorbent layer. It's just less attractive!
Blood "cooks" at high temperatures, so stains are harder to remove once they've been heated: that's why it's best to rinse by hand in cold water first. However, the inside of our panties is all black, to avoid unsightly stain residues.
The lifespan of your panties (and that of classic lingerie) is reduced by high-temperature washing, so it's best to avoid it!