Is it bad if you sleep with a pad on, then continue to wear it the next day if it does not have blood on it?
- Holly

It's not a good idea to wear the same pad you slept in, even if there's no sign of blood or discharge on the pad. It's the same reason you don't want to wear the same pad all day: Bacteria can build up on a pad after a couple of hours.

Bacteria can mean unpleasant smells, even if you shower or wash "down there." Putting on a used pad after a shower is like putting on a pair of sweaty gym socks after washing your feet!

So get a fresh start by including a change of pad in your morning hygiene routine. Your body — and the person you sit next to on the bus — will thank you.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: July 2011

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.