Perimenopause and Underwear: What Suddenly Matters More

Perimenopause can change what you want from your underwear, sometimes before you've even realised you're in it. You might feel hotter, notice your skin becoming more sensitive, find your body changing shape or experience the occasional little bladder leak. Periods can become less predictable throughout the process too.

So what should you look for when choosing underwear for perimenopause? Suddenly, breathability, softness, moisture management, a comfortable fit and discreet absorbency can matter much more than they did before.

The good news? Practical underwear doesn't have to look practical.

Feeling Hotter? Your Underwear Fabric Matters

Hot flushes and night sweats are common during perimenopause. A hot flush can cause sudden warmth and sweating as hormonal changes affect the way the body regulates temperature.

This is where breathable, moisture-wicking underwear can earn its place in your drawer. Wicks' All Day Fresh styles contain a discreet moisture-absorbing layer designed to help manage everyday moisture, alongside antimicrobial and anti-odour protection.

And every Wicks pair is lined in GOTS-certified organic cotton, combining the benefits of organic cotton underwear with discreet functionality designed for everyday wear. Against your skin, they feel just like cotton underwear, with the added confidence of discreet protection built in.

Your Skin May Feel Different Too

Dry or itchy skin can occur around perimenopause, while falling oestrogen levels can also contribute to vaginal dryness and irritation.

Your underwear isn't a treatment for these symptoms, of course. But if your skin suddenly feels more sensitive, what you wear against it all day may start to matter more.

When looking for comfortable underwear for women during this stage of life, consider soft fabrics, comfortable seams and waistbands that don't unnecessarily dig into the body.

This was one of the reasons we chose GOTS-certified organic cotton for the lining of every Wicks piece. The fabric sitting against the most sensitive areas of your body should feel beautifully soft.

Your Body Might Change. Your Underwear Can Too.

Weight gain and changes around the waist can occur during the menopausal transition.

Yet we often continue buying the same underwear shapes we've worn for decades.

If your waistband suddenly digs in, your underwear rolls down or your briefs no longer provide the coverage you prefer, it might simply be time to try a different style.

You might find high-waisted underwear more comfortable. You may prefer fuller bottom coverage. You might simply need a different size.

Buy underwear for the body you have today, not the body you think you're supposed to have.

Bladder Changes Can Be Part of the Picture

Changes to the bladder and urinary system can occur around perimenopause and menopause. The Australasian Menopause Society reports that urinary incontinence affects up to 60% of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

For some women, that might mean the occasional little leak when jumping, laughing, coughing or exercising.

As well as our All Day Fresh range with just a small amount of absorbency, we also offer leak-proof styles with moderate or high absorbency for women who need more protection.

They look and feel like beautiful underwear first; the functionality is quietly built in.

Bladder leakage is common, but it isn't something women simply have to accept as part of getting older. If you're experiencing new or worsening urinary symptoms, it's worth discussing them with a healthcare professional.

Your Periods May Become Less Predictable

One of the most common signs of perimenopause is a change to your menstrual cycle. Periods may become more or less frequent, longer or shorter, and lighter or heavier. You may also skip them altogether.

Which can make getting dressed in the morning slightly more complicated.

Absorbent underwear can provide an extra layer of reassurance when you're not quite sure what your body has planned.

At Wicks, our underwear ranges from our lightly absorbent All Day Fresh styles through to leak-proof options offering greater protection. The idea is simple: choose the level of functionality you actually need, without your underwear looking functional.

Perimenopause Doesn't Mean Graduating to Boring Underwear

This may be the point we care about most.

Perimenopause can change your temperature, skin, body shape, bladder and periods. It doesn't change the fact that you like beautiful things.

Comfort can be elegant. Fuller coverage can be beautiful. Absorbent underwear can look like lingerie.

The best underwear for perimenopause should work with your body as it changes, rather than asking your body to fit into underwear that no longer works for you.

Your body is evolving.

Your underwear drawer is allowed to evolve with it.