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. ;)

Good for you for bringing this up! This is something I have been very worried about also. We have to wear white uniforms in our clinicals and they are practically see-through :uhoh3:. Just one tiny leak and the whole class will know my business; it's frustrating.

The spankies are a good idea; I think I'll give that a try. I just hope that everyone can't see the spankies through the uniform :confused:

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Specializes in home health & nonprofit management.

I had to wear white in school and wore a pair of dark biker shorts under my pants during TOM. Now I wear navy blue or black. Good question!

Gingilly

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Thanks for the embarrassing stories and laughs! :eek: :lol2:

My worst leak (and really the only one that was ever a big deal) was in 7th grade when I was in karate class. We wore white gees (spelling?). We were doing a million high kicks and stretches. People in class were behind me and all around me. I had my super duper tampon in, but didn't feel a leak. When I went into the dressing room to change, I saw that my pants were stained to about the size of a large pancake! I was shocked and super embarrassed. I kept looking at the people's expressions around me to see if they had noticed, but nobody seemed like they had. I don't see how the people behind me in class couldn't have seen that... I quit karate shortly after.... I couldn't deal with having to worry about that again. :chair:

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I think I'm going to try ordering a Diva Cup. I am so sick of tampons! I actually have never heard of it. Any other stories of the DivaCup?

I used to have Implanon for about a year (never a period), but I thought it was giving me headaches so I had it removed. Found out that it wasn't the cause at all! Oh well, my husband and I just use old school condoms now. LOL.

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In cooler weather, I felt safest wearing white long-johns over my panties. Now that it's warmer I'm going with two pairs of panties on. My top is also pretty long, so if there was a smaller spot, it may not necessarily show up unless I bent straight over (which I try not to do anyway). I really haven't found a tampon I like. I do go with a quality brand pad with wings. On days I am really worried, I'll use an extra long "overnight" sized pad.

I try to look at the bright side of that time-of-the-month. It means I survived yet another month without catching the baby-rabies.

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^ Have you tried Playtex Sport tampons? They are the best ones on the market IMO. The worst ones are Tampax anything since when they expand, they don't expand cylindrically but they expand in a rectangular fashion.

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it's a perfectly good question to ask. the nursing school i went to required that we wear white pants (gah!!) and if it was "my time of the month" i always doubled things-at the time i was wearing tampons so not only would i wear a tampon but a pad-just in case. in my 2yrs in the bsn program i didn't have any problems. good luck!! :up:

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I use the cup called Instead, rather than a tampon. It can go for hours without leaks. I also put a pad in just in case. I have not had a problem. Great question, though.

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I remember when we all had to wear white. All the time. Well, a super tampon and overnight pad together, plus frequent changes will keep you safe. Don't try to max out the time between changes- 2 hrs on heavy days. You'll be fine. Plus, nurses are not afraid to let you know if you have something on your teeth, your shirt, or your behind. Nothing embarrases us. Besides, who better to see your blood than a nurse? It won't phase us. Bodily fluids are part of life. Relax honey.

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lol i have to wear ALL white scrubs....so white you can see your undies through them... i just wear leggings underneath. It's a little uncomfortable but even when i wear tan undies they show.... and during that time of the month wear a just incase maxi pad...clinical days are LONG

**sigh* only 1 more year !

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I HIGHLY recommend Always Infinity pads. Its like the fluid disappears into them!

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Specializes in Dialysis.

I deal with this all the time, since I wear white pants and I have a couple REALLY heavy days. So I prepare by actually wearing an "overnight" thin pad, such as Always, then I also wear the Ultra OB tampon and I carry 2 or three extras in my pocket. Since they don't have an applicator, you can carry them on you. The pad helps out if I can't make it to the bathroom after 2-3 hrs and I have breakthrough. Then I can change in the bathroom and change the pad at my first break if necessary. So far I haven't had any accidents and I've been working for over 6 months now.

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