A pantyliner (also pantiliner, panty liner or panty shield, vaginal cover) is an absorbent piece of material used for feminine hygiene. It is worn in the

gusset In sewing, a gusset is a triangular or rhomboidal piece of fabric inserted into a seam to add breadth or reduce stress from tight-fitting clothing. Gussets were used at the shoulders, underarms, and hems of traditional shirts and chemises made ...

of a woman's

panties Panties (in American English; also called pants, undies, or knickers in British English) are a form of women's underwear. Panties can be form-fitting or loose. Typical components include an elastic waistband, a crotch panel to cover the genit ...

. Some uses include: absorbency for daily

vagina In mammals, the vagina is the elastic, muscular part of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vestibule to the cervix. The outer vaginal opening is normally partly covered by a thin layer of mucosal tissue called the hymen ...

l discharge, light menstrual flow,

tampon A tampon is a menstrual product designed to absorb blood and vaginal secretions by insertion into the vagina during menstruation. Unlike a pad, it is placed internally, inside of the vaginal canal. Once inserted correctly, a tampon is held in ...

and menstrual cup backup, spotting, post-intercourse discharge, and

urinary incontinence Urinary incontinence (UI), also known as involuntary urination, is any uncontrolled leakage of urine. It is a common and distressing problem, which may have a large impact on quality of life. It has been identified as an important issue in geri ...

. Panty liners can also help with girls who are having discharges and about to start their cycle. Pantyliners are related to

sanitary napkin Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and treatment and disposal of human excreta and sewage. Preventing human contact with feces is part of sanitation, as is hand washing with soap. Sanitation systems ...

s in their basic construction—but are usually much thinner and often narrower than pads. As a result, they absorb much less liquid than pads—making them ideal for light discharge and everyday cleanliness. They are generally unsuitable for the

menstruation Menstruation (also known as a period, among other colloquial terms) is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. The menstrual cycle is characterized by the rise and fall of ...

medium to heavy flow, which requires them to be changed more often. Pantyliners are found in an assortment of sizes, shapes, and portability options, ranging from tiny, compact liners to long, protective liners designed for heavy

vaginal discharge Vaginal discharge is a mixture of liquid, cells, and bacteria that lubricate and protect the vagina. This mixture is constantly produced by the cells of the vagina and cervix, and it exits the body through the vaginal opening. The composition, amou ...

and light days (light menstrual flow). There are even styles designed to fit with

thong The thong is a garment generally used as either underwear or in some countries, as a swimsuit. It may also be worn for traditional ceremonies or competitions. Viewed from the front, the thong typically resembles a bikini bottom, but at the ...

underwear. Disposable pantyliners are made with a sticky adhesive on the back of the pad to hold them in place in the panties, and some styles have 'wings' which wrap around the panties, providing additional stability. An alternative to disposable pantyliners is reusable cloth menstrual pads. Reusable cloth pantyliners come in a variety of sizes, materials, patterns, colors, and absorbencies, and are usually secured to the underwear by wrap-around wings that snap together at the ends. These are made of cotton (often organic) and can be washed and reused for years.

Gallery

File:Always Platinum Pantyliner.jpg, Always Platinum Pantyliner File:Discreet Pantylinner.jpg, Discreet Pantyliner File:Carefree Cotton.jpg, Carefree Cotton File:Always dailies long.jpg, Always dailies long File:Carefree long.jpg, Carefree long

Bibliography

*{{cite journal , doi=10.1080/00015550310007409 , last1=Runeman , first1=B. , last2=Rybo , first2=G. , last3=Larkö , first3=O. , last4=Faergemann , first4=J. , title=The Vulva Skin Microclimate: Influence of Panty Liners on Temperature, Humidity and pH , journal=Acta Derm Venereol , year=2003 , volume=83 , issue=2 , pages=88–92 , pmid=12735634 , doi-access=free Feminine hygiene