UK's first 'period pants' remove need for any other sanitary products

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The UK's first 'period pants' have been created - which can be worn without the need for any other sanitary products.

The £30 reusable underwear lasts up to eleven hours and offers three layers of protection including "super comfortable" hi-tech fabrics.

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They will also save women hundreds of pounds each year as they'll no longer need to fork out for costly tampons and towels.

The eco-friendly undies have been created by St Albans-based firm WUKA who are on a mission to "solve all female problems".

Founder Ruby Raut, 28, said: "Females need this product. This will solve the problems of anything and it is ideal for anybody, of any age.

"I wear them myself, I have got three pairs.

"The knickers are very absorbent and dry instantly with no liquid sensation happening in your knickers.

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"The menstrual liquid passes through the wicking material, which is used as suction, it holds the liquid and interlocks so nothing comes up.

"It is only when you are washing them in a lot of water then the blood comes up."

Anti-bacterial

The underwear contains a built-in Polyutherine laminate fabric leak-proof pad which is reusable and has re-washable anti bacterial properties.

The absorbent layer can hold up to two hundred times its own weight in water and at least four tampons worth of menstrual blood.

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They will not only catch any spillover but will stop women from wasting the "thousands of pounds" they spend on sanitary products.

Ruby said: "Women spend thousands of pounds just on their periods. Not to mention the bed sheets and knickers we have ruined.

"We have created one comfortable design and style and overtime we will reiterate it to make it the most comfortable and ideal underwear for your period.

"The underwear does the magic and holds in all the liquid."

The figure hugging WUKA knickers can be used for your period, postpartum bleeding or even a leaking bladder.

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They can be washed up to 40 degrees with your other washing or can be hand washed by themselves.

Taking on towels

Ruby said: "It is basically three in one underwear and is 100 per cent better than towels because there is no shifting or wedging of the pad.

"Plus after you wear it for a few hours you won't get the irritation that the many women usually get from pads."

Wuka's are set to go on sale in March 2018 in sizes 6-20.

When buying a set of five, the cost effective sanitary product will last more than two years and save women around £500.

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Ruby said: "It is an investment and they are very, very cost effective.

"After two years the absorbency will decrease with the time.

"But you won't have to buy extra underwear or new bed sheets in the meantime you can just wear the WUKA underwear and it will stop all leaking and drys It dries very quickly.

Huge market

Ruby, who studied Environmental Science said: "I saw this huge market that had never been touched in the UK.

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"Research shows 70 per cent of women would prefer to use a re-usable menstrual product.

"And I thought If there are so many people wanting to use it why hasn't it been revolutionised, it is because the perfect one is not available.

"Women have not been too happy with what has been produced in other countries and have complained about the leak and the rustling sound of the pad.

"Around the world there are 62 per cent which are non-users and this means they are still using pads and tampons.

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"So I thought I will do invent an eco-friendly menstrual product and make the most comfortable period underwear ever.

Mum Susan Kiely, invested in a pair of WUKA knickers for her 17-year-old daughter who has Down's Syndrome.

She says they are especially great for people with disabilities as it gives them privacy and is easy for them to change.

New idea

Susan, 50, said: "Can't believe this idea hasn't been done before.

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"My daughter has worn them for almost 11 hours in the heaviest days of her period and there is no leaking whatsoever.

"They are comfortable and so easy for her and she needs no prompting to change pads like she did before.

"They are perfect for special needs kids or for girls who do a lot of sport and for just any girl really.

"I must say I would highly recommend this product."

Tampons and towels are currently taxed at five per cent in the UK and women spend around £2,000 on sanitary products in their lifetime.

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In 2015 activist Laura Coryton created a petition calling for the UK government to introduce a zero-rate for the products, which gained more than 320,000 signatures.

Supermarkets including Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons cut prices on nearly 100 menstrual protection products in order to shoulder the five per cent VAT cost.