# Reusable Menstrual Pads: What the Research Shows >

What a 2021 review of 44 studies found on reusable menstrual pads: leaks, skin irritation, washing and cost, and which claims on our own listing we could not verify.

- **URL:** https://sampsonecoshop.com/blogs/sampson-learning-center/reusable-menstrual-pads-what-the-research-shows Reusable menstrual pads are washable fabric pads that you launder and wear again instead of throwing away. This guide covers what a 44-study review found on leaks, skin irritation, washing and cost, and what it could not tell us. We sell [OKO reusable menstrual pads](/products/oko-reusable-menstrual-pads-regular), so read this with that in mind. Where the research is thin, or where our own listing says more than the sources do, this page says so. For other swaps, see our [reusable straws guide](/blogs/sampson-learning-center/reusable-straws-are-they-worth-it-what-the-evidence-shows) and our [wool dryer balls guide](/blogs/sampson-learning-center/wool-dryer-balls-do-they-work). In this guide [What Are Reusable Menstrual Pads?](#what-are-reusable-menstrual-pads) [Do Reusable Menstrual Pads Leak?](#do-reusable-menstrual-pads-leak) [Are Reusable Menstrual Pads Safe?](#are-reusable-menstrual-pads-safe) [How Do You Wash and Dry Reusable Menstrual Pads?](#how-do-you-wash-and-dry-reusable-menstrual-pads) [Are Reusable Menstrual Pads Cheaper Than Disposables?](#are-reusable-menstrual-pads-cheaper-than-disposables) [What Is in the OKO Pads We Sell?](#what-is-in-the-oko-pads-we-sell) [When Should You See a Doctor About Your Period or Irritation?](#when-should-you-see-a-doctor-about-your-period-or-irritation) [Frequently Asked Questions](#faq) **Key takeaways** A 2021 systematic review of 44 studies concluded that reusable menstrual pads are used internationally and appear effective and safe, but it rated the overall quality of the studies as low. In the one trial that measured leaks, reusable pads leaked less than plain cloths (44% versus 78%). It did not compare them with disposable pads, so it cannot tell you which leaks less. Skin irritation in the reviewed studies was linked to wearing one pad too long or washing and drying it poorly. The review found no objective reports of infection and no severe adverse events. Our own listing describes the hemp core as antibacterial. We found no source for that claim, so we do not repeat it as fact. Follow the care label and change pads often. ## What Are Reusable Menstrual Pads? They are fabric pads, usually layers of cotton or other absorbent cloth with a waterproof backing, that you wash and reuse. [The 2021 review](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8462722/) defines them as fabric layers sewn together by an enterprise to make a menstrual product. - **How they differ from old-style cloths:** They are made as a product, with a shaped pad, a waterproof layer and usually snaps. The review counts them separately from folded cloths. - **How they differ from disposables:** You wash and dry them after each use, so the care routine matters as much as the pad. - **What they do not replace:** They are one option among several. Government of Canada guidance for workplaces says [providing reusable products would not replace the need to provide tampons and pads](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/health-safety/reports/employer-requirements-workplace-menstrual-products.html). ## Do Reusable Menstrual Pads Leak? They can, like any pad, and the evidence is limited. In [the review](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8462722/), one Ugandan trial among schoolgirls found leakage was lower with reusable pads (44.4%, 72 girls) than with plain cloths (78%, 111 girls). - **What that shows:** Shaped, purpose-made reusable pads leaked less than folded cloths in that trial. - **What it does not show:** How they compare with disposable pads. The review's comparison was against cloths, in a school in a lower-income country, so it may not match your life. - **Study quality:** The authors rated the overall quality of the studies as low. Treat the numbers as a signal, not a guarantee. ## Are Reusable Menstrual Pads Safe? The review concluded they are a safe option, with caveats. It found no objective reports of infection and identified no reports of severe or life-threatening adverse events, but it also noted the studies were mostly low quality. - **Skin irritation:** In a refugee-camp cohort, 23.8% of 267 reusable-pad users reported itching or burning after 3 months, against 72.8% at baseline with disposable pads. [There was no control group](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8462722/), so this is not a head-to-head result. - **What drove complaints:** Where studies explained them, irritation was tied to wearing the same pad for a long time or to inadequate cleaning or drying. - **What we could not find:** A trial of any specific brand, including the one we sell. The review pooled many products. If you have irritation that does not clear, unusual discharge or heavy bleeding, speak to a doctor or pharmacist. This guide is information, not medical advice. ## How Do You Wash and Dry Reusable Menstrual Pads? Follow the maker's care label, wash with soap and water, and dry the pad fully before it is worn again. The review found problems when washing and drying were hard, and [Government of Canada guidance](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/health-safety/reports/employer-requirements-workplace-menstrual-products.html) says maintenance, cleaning and disinfecting of reusable products should be carefully assessed. - **Change the pad regularly.** [Complaints in the review](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8462722/) were linked to wearing the same pad for an extended time. The review did not set a time limit, so follow the maker's guidance. - **Wash with soap and water.** Use the temperature and detergent advice on the product's care label. The exact settings are the maker's, and we do not invent them here. - **Dry it completely.** Inadequate drying was linked to complaints, and one review of menstrual hygiene says [cloth pads must be hygienically washed and dried in sunlight](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5838436/). Indoors, make sure it is fully dry. - **Never wear a damp pad.** The Ugandan trial the review described tracked wearing damp pads as a washing and drying problem. ## Are Reusable Menstrual Pads Cheaper Than Disposables? Over several years, the review estimated that they are. In high-income countries it estimated that 4 to 25 reusable pads per period cost less over five years than 20 single-use tampons per period, and it put the average brand-stated lifetime at about 4.9 years. - **Where the numbers come from:** [The review’s own estimates](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8462722/) built from brand data and assumed use, not from a study that followed real households. - **What changes the answer:** How many pads you buy, how heavy your flow is, how often you wash, and how long each pad truly lasts. A pad that wears out early erases the saving. - **Why we show no prices:** Prices change, and the review's price averages came from many countries. Check the product pages for current prices. Featured in this guide OKO Reusable Menstrual Pads - Regular A washable pad made in Quebec from organic cotton and hemp. Full details are on the product page. [Shop now →](/products/oko-reusable-menstrual-pads-regular) ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee · Free shipping over $75 ## What Is in the OKO Pads We Sell? OKO pads are made in Boisbriand, Quebec, from 68% organic cotton, 27% hemp and 5% food-grade polyurethane, according to the [Regular pad page](/products/oko-reusable-menstrual-pads-regular). The waterproof layer is described by the maker as free of PFAS and nano-silver. - **Shapes:** The Regular is listed for medium to heavy flow and bladder leaks. A [Long pad](/products/oko-pads-long-pack-of-1) and [mini panty liners](/products/oko-reusable-mini-panty-liners-pads) are also available. - **Fit:** The listing describes discreet metal snaps on the wings that hold the pad to your underwear. - **Claims we could not source:** The listing describes the hemp core as antibacterial and fast-absorbing. We found no source for either, so treat them as the maker's claims. ## When Should You See a Doctor About Your Period or Irritation? See one if irritation does not clear after you fix the washing and drying, or if your bleeding, pain or discharge changes in a way that worries you. A pad is not a diagnostic tool, and switching products will not treat an underlying problem. This guide is information, not medical advice. ## Frequently Asked Questions Are reusable menstrual pads worth it? A 2021 review of 44 studies found them effective, safe and cheaper over several years, but the studies were low quality. Whether they suit you depends on how you wash and dry them. Do reusable pads leak more than disposable pads? We found no trial comparing them. One trial found reusable pads leaked less than plain cloths, 44% versus 78%, but did not test disposable pads. Can reusable menstrual pads cause infection? The review found no objective reports of infection. Irritation was linked to long wear or poor washing and drying, so change pads often and dry them fully. How long do reusable menstrual pads last? The review put the average brand-stated lifetime at about 4.9 years in high-income countries. That is an estimate from makers, not a measured result. How do you clean reusable menstrual pads? Follow the maker's care label, wash with soap and water, and dry the pad completely before reuse. The exact temperature and detergent come from the label. [See the OKO Reusable Menstrual Pads — 30-Day Guarantee](/products/oko-reusable-menstrual-pads-regular) ## Related Articles [Reusable Straws: Are They Worth It? What the Evidence Shows →](/blogs/sampson-learning-center/reusable-straws-are-they-worth-it-what-the-evidence-shows) [Wool Dryer Balls: Do They Work? →](/blogs/sampson-learning-center/wool-dryer-balls-do-they-work) [Soap Saver Bags: Do They Make Bar Soap Last Longer? →](/blogs/sampson-learning-center/soap-saver-bags-do-they-make-bar-soap-last-longer)