Time of the month in light colored scrubs

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This is a 'personal' question for the female nurses... It seems in school and professionally, most nurses wear light blue scrubs and the school I'm looking into requires them. Typically during 'that time of the month' I wear dark pants just on the off chance that there may be an accident. I can only imagine when you are on a long shift and taking care of people, possibly doing strenuous transfers and such, it can be harder to get to the bathroom as often as needed and an unwanted incident could occur. Professionally, do most of you have the latitude to wear dark scrub bottoms and if you can't, what do you do?

Sorry for asking a 'gross' question that people aren't really 'supposed' to talk about, but I'm trying to figure out the logistics of our annoying monthly situation. You're all nurses or nurses-to-be, so I figure you should be able to handle personal questions like these, if anyone can. ;)

Specializes in NeuroICU/SICU/MICU.

I used to have super heavy periods with really awful, debilitating cramps (it runs in the family. My mom wound up getting a hysterectomy because of it). I've been on Depo-Provera for a couple of years, and haven't had a period in over a year because of it. Some people do experience serious side effects, but I've been lucky that it's worked well for me. It's soo convenient to not have to worry about bleeding anymore.

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This is a very good question... This may not work for most, but when it was that time for me and i had to wear my white scrubs for clinicals, in addition to doubling up on protection, i would wear black leggings under my uniform. It made me feel more secure because they were snug, and it added a layer of protection. If i did happen to have an accident, it would happen to my black pants before it got to my whites. It worked for me. ;-)

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Funny story. My school's uniform was all white. And on one of my clinical days I didn't have time to run to the bathroom as much as I would have liked. I used a pad with wings, and when lunch came I went to go to the bathroom & it turned out I had a leak & someone in the hospital noticed & told me. So embarrising! So here I am in my clinical rotation now with a blood stain on my butt, which stands out like a sore thumb on an all white uniform. What do I do? I went to the bathroom with a classmate & first had a mini meltdown & then this lady that worked in the hospital came in. And told me to take off my pants because realistitcally we are all women. So now i'm standing in the bathroom with no pants on all upset. Scrubbing my pants in the sink (just the stain part) with soap & water & it actually came out after scrubbing it a little. (But while i was pantless, another student from another college came in & gave me that look like what is going on in here LOL). Very embarrising situation, but thank God I had an angel & that lady came into the bathroom to tell me that if i scrubbed the hell out of it with soap & water it would come out & then I used the hand dryer to dry the pants. (at the time I couldn't figure out how to use tampons)... But ever since that situation I forced myself to figure out tampons so hopefully by wearing a tampon & a pad I will never be in that situation again. Hope this story gives you a laugh & helps you out. :)

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ghillbert said:
Do people really have this much of a problem? I have to say, I'm 35 and I don't think I have ever had a leakage issue in public.

Yes some of us do! I have to double up no matter what I am wearing. Consider yourself lucky that you have never had this be an issue!

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
Coriander said:
I don't use tampons because of my IUD

Why? Tampons aren't contraindicated with IUDs, to the best of my knowledge.

And speaking of IUDs, I'm going to put in a vote for MIRENA! :up::up::up:

I've been using Mirena for over seven years now, and I hardly ever even notice when it's "that time of the month". Within six months of insertion, good ol' Aunt Flo just stopped visiting. Every now and then she'll poke her head in the window and say "howdy" but she always leaves right away, never even stepping through the doorway. (translation: I might see the faintest tinge one or two times when I wipe that day, then nothing else) I haven't used any type of product in well over six years (and no, I'm not menopausal!).

It's not an option for the young non-mothers (recommended for women who have had at least one child), but the hormonal part of Mirena is truly minimal compared to oral BCPs or Depo shots. I can't recommend it enough... truly amazing product!

And for those with "hemorrhage" issues, Mirena is approved in parts of Europe as a treatment for heavy menstrual periods, even in women who don't need the birth-control aspect of it. [tv commercial voice]Talk to your doctor / ob-gyn / midwife to find out if Mirena is right for you![/tv commercial voice]

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My school allows lab coats. I wear mine to every clinical, just in case - its nice for the warmth, too. It's long enough that it covers my bum, which makes me feel much more secure. Beyond that, I wear a night-time tampon and a great big boat of a pad.

I also carry tampons in my pocket, so I can change them at every opportunity. I was afraid of the wrapper showing up, so I cut the white pocket lining out of an old pair of jeans and ran a piece of string through the mouth of it to make a simple little drawstring bag. It's opaque enough that it hides the wrappers.

Seriously...white. Such a sucky color.

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Ladies, we don't have to have periods anymore! Just stay on the pill (that's if you don't have medical conditions preventing it.)... But I never thought about leaking on my scrubs before. Wearing extra pants underneath sounds like a plan.:yeah:

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Specializes in Pediatric, Psych, School.

Our uniforms were the whitest white I'd ever seen, and I'm not one of those light flow girls. Here is what I did: a tampon and a pad with snug undies or pantyhose underneath--the pantyhose are a good idea, anyway, because they aid in circulation.

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Specializes in Hospital, Foot Nurse, NRSNG Educator.

My goodness, will you listen to how much trouble it is for us poor women to "get through a workday" when it is "that time" ? :jester: hahahah,.... Well, I am not only one of those that has had that problem, (and still do) and yes, super tampon, and night pads... excusing my self often... usually you are close enough to your co-workers to say... "that time" and slip out as often as forgivably possible... to "take care of business" ... but also one that has had the nightmare of spot alert ~! and worse ! Did the whole wash pants in the bathroom, blowdrying with hand dryer, and always cary added "SUPPLIES" in my scrub pockets, and not as noticable when have a scrub jacket on ... I also teach and had a student in a class of almost 100 tell me on break,... that my spare tampon pkg was visibly peeking out of my little jacket pocket ! Well, they were in the health care field ... broke the ice anyway ! hahahahhaha

and by the way.... now 54yrs old, had 4 children .... can I be done yet , started at 11 !!?!?!?!?? (at least it has lightened up... )

well, thanks ladies (and gents) lol.... for the chuckle and hope I helped.... life is great isn't it ?:nurse: just keep smiling.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
brillohead said:
Why? Tampons aren't contraindicated with IUDs, to the best of my knowledge.

And speaking of IUDs, I'm going to put in a vote for MIRENA! :up::up::up:

I've been using Mirena for over seven years now, and I hardly ever even notice when it's "that time of the month". Within six months of insertion, good ol' Aunt Flo just stopped visiting. Every now and then she'll poke her head in the window and say "howdy" but she always leaves right away, never even stepping through the doorway. (translation: I might see the faintest tinge one or two times when I wipe that day, then nothing else) I haven't used any type of product in well over six years (and no, I'm not menopausal!).

It's not an option for the young non-mothers (recommended for women who have had at least one child), but the hormonal part of Mirena is truly minimal compared to oral BCPs or Depo shots. I can't recommend it enough... truly amazing product!

And for those with "hemorrhage" issues, Mirena is approved in parts of Europe as a treatment for heavy menstrual periods, even in women who don't need the birth-control aspect of it. [tv commercial voice]Talk to your doctor / ob-gyn / midwife to find out if Mirena is right for you![/tv commercial voice]

Back when I had a uterus LOL, I tried various BC options. I always battled very long and heavy flows (although I never had these problems most people talk about, but I was adamant during that time to not have slip ups).

Anyway, I tried the shot and gained weight and had bleeding on and off every few days for 9 months. So I went back on the pill. After my 3rd son I got Mirena and I bleed so heave and bad and would have terrible cramps for 4 months before I got it removed and went back on the pill.

The pill has been the only thing to keep me regular and not AS heavy.

Now it's not an issue at all. I used to envy those that would get on the different things and practically have no period after.

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Oh honey I understand your issue. I am lucky in that I get to wear royal blue but that still won't hide things very well. I have and instructor who preaches, "Say no to crack" our scrubs ride really low. So I bought shorts to go under my bottoms, sort of like Under Armour material found in sporting stores. I know it's not so in style but I do use the thinnest pad I can possibly find just in case. I've been lucky and have had no issues yet but I'm sure I won't be having any embarrassment with all that. Well good luck in school.

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Specializes in Hospital, Foot Nurse, NRSNG Educator.

Ha hahahahhaa , I will have to use that one.... on my students "SAY NO TO CRACK" HAHAHHAH, not to mention the " tell-tale" students, I am always saying that one.. ! no comment underwear thanks.... I like to keep that term "UNMENSIONALBES" as just that ! LOL ! :jester: its good to have some fun in class !

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