Pads, period pants, tampons and other period products can all work with football kit.
The best option is the one that feels comfortable, gives you the protection you need and suits what you are doing that day.
There is no special period product that every football player has to use.
Pads
Pads sit inside your underwear and absorb period blood.
Many people use them when they first start their periods because they are simple to put on and change.
For football, it can help to make sure the pad fits your underwear properly and feels secure before training or a match. Pads with wings wrap around the sides of your underwear and may help keep the pad in place.
Different shapes and absorbencies are available, so it can take a little experimenting to find one you like.
Period pants
Period pants look and feel similar to normal underwear but have absorbent layers built into them.
Some players like them for football because there is no separate pad to position. Depending on the product and your flow, they may be worn on their own or as extra reassurance alongside another product.
Always follow the instructions for the particular pair you are using, including how often to change them and how to wash them.
If you are going to be out for a long time, think about how you would change them privately and where you would keep the used pair until you get home.
Tampons
Tampons are worn inside the vagina and absorb blood before it leaves the body.
Some people like them for sport, while others do not. Both are completely fine.
You do not have to use a tampon because you play football, and nobody should pressure you to use an internal period product.
If you choose to use tampons, follow the instructions on the packet and change them within the recommended time. If you are unsure how to use one, speak to a parent, carer, pharmacist or another trusted adult.
What about menstrual cups?
Some people use menstrual cups, which sit inside the vagina and collect period blood.
They can work during sport, but they take practice to insert, remove and clean. If you are interested in using one, read the product instructions carefully and give yourself time to get used to it somewhere comfortable rather than trying it for the first time just before an important match.
Will people be able to see my period product through my shorts?
Usually, people are paying far less attention to your kit than it might feel like they are.
If you use pads or period pants, you might notice the outline more than anyone else does. Football shorts and base layers can also move when you run, tackle or stretch, so comfort is more important than trying to make everything completely invisible.
If something feels uncomfortable or insecure, adjust it somewhere private or change to another product if you have one.
Should I wear two products so I definitely don''t leak?
You do not automatically need to double up.
Some people choose to use period pants as extra reassurance on heavier days, but using more products is not always more comfortable and should not be necessary just because you are playing football.
If you are regularly bleeding through your period products very quickly, that is worth telling a parent, carer or healthcare professional rather than simply adding more and more protection.
Try things before match day
A training session is often a better time than a cup final to discover whether a new product feels right.
You could try moving around at home first , walking, jogging, squatting or stretching , and then see how it feels at training.
You may find that one product works best for school and another feels better for football. That is normal.
Kit colour can make leaks feel worrying
Some football kits, especially light-coloured shorts, can make players more anxious about leaking.
If this worries you, carrying spare shorts and a spare period product can help you feel more prepared.
You should also be able to tell your coach privately if you need to leave the pitch or change your kit.
Remember
The aim is not to find the “perfect football period product”.
The aim is to find something that lets you concentrate on playing rather than spending the whole session worrying about your period.
Your choice can change as you get older, as your periods change, or simply because you decide you prefer something different.
Want to know more?
These Health Hub pages can help: