Frequently asked questions

In the world of period care – where most of your options are synthetic – we make 100% cotton pads, liners, tampons, urine pads and maternity pads. Our products are oh-so-soft, let your skin breathe and care for (your) nature. They respect the planet and your body’s own processes, like the pH value of your intimate skin or your vagina’s self-cleaning abilities.

For sure! Cotton is naturally absorbent, so our 100% cotton period products reliably protect you against leaks – without relying on perfume or chemical absorbents.

Our 100% cotton period and incontinence products are made with your sensitive intimate skin in mind. They are hypoallergenic, extremely soft and dermatologically tested on irritated skin. Because they prevent brooding bacteria and are free of regular irritants (like chlorine bleach or perfume), your chances of getting an allergic reaction or skin irritation – itchiness, redness or bumps – are minimal.

You can find us at most big drug stores in the Netherlands, like Etos or Kruidvat – as well as in supermarkets like Albert Heijn and Jumbo, in several pharmacies and here – at our online shop– of course!

Our period pads have a 100% cotton topsheet and absorbent core. The backsheet (the thin layer on the back of the pad, protecting you against leaks) is made of unique, breathable plastic. Our pads contain 0% chlorine bleach, perfume or chemical absorbents.

On all our products (both online and on the packaging), you’ll find icons depicting 1 to 6 drops. These drops indicate how much period blood a pad absorbs and are used by all period pad brands. The heavier your flow, the more ‘drops’ (aka absorption) you will need.

If you’re switching from pads from another brand, opt for our pads with the same number of drops (say, you used other pads with 3 drops, you can use Sanature pads with 3 drops too).

On your period? Sit down on your toilet and attach the sticky backside of the period pad to your underpants. If you’re using pads with wings, fold the wings around your undies. To fully experience the benefits of our cotton period pads, we recommend wearing them with cotton underpants.

It depends on your flow, but we recommend switching your pad every 4 to 6 hours (or whenever it feels too wet). You can safely wear period pads all night. If you have a heavy flow, we recommend using our pads night when sleeping.

After giving birth, your intimate skin can be extra sore and sensitive. In the first hours to days after giving birth, opt for our 100% cotton maternity pads – which are specially made for heavy post-partum blood loss. When your flow decreases, you can switch to our highly absorbent 100% cotton period pads, like pads super and night. 

Because our maternity and period pads are made of 100% cotton (and free of perfume or chemical absorbents), they are extremely soft to your skin and come recommended by midwives and post-partum carers.

Our panty liners have a 100% cotton topsheet and absorbent core. The backsheet (the thin layer on the back of the pad, protecting you against leaks) is made of unique, breathable plastic. Our pads contain 0% chlorine bleach, perfume or chemical absorbents.

Of course! Our liners are hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested on sensitive skin. Wearing them, you get clinical protection against intimate skin irritation like redness, itchiness or bumps.

Our panty liners absorb different types of (vaginal) fluid, preventing it from getting on your underwear or clothes. So, they can be handy on those barely-there days of your period, as extra protection with a tampon, for everyday discharge, post-sex discharge or while working out. It depends on your preference. 

To use, attach the sticky backside of your panty liner to your underpants. To fully experience the benefits of our cotton period pads, we recommend wearing them with cotton liners.

It depends on your flow and activity levels, but we recommend switching your liner every 4 to 6 hours, after intense activities like workouts or biking, or whenever it feels too wet. You can safely wear a panty liner all night.

Our tampons are made of 100% cotton, tip to core. They’re free of chemicals, plastic or other synthetics.

You use our cotton tampons in the same way you’d use regular tampons. Start by washing your hands, then position yourself comfortably (many users prefer to sit on the toilet, but you can also stand). Use one hand to spread your vulval lips and the other to insert the tampon into your vagina. Once in, use your index finger to further insert – until the tampon is fully inside your vagina, but the string is still visible. 

When standing, the tampon should not feel uncomfortable. If that’s the case, use your index finger to insert a bit further – until only the tampon string is visible.

It depends on your flow, but we recommend switching your tampon every 4 to 6 hours. Always switch your tampon within 8 hours.

If you sleep less than 8 hours, you can do so wearing a tampon. Change your tampon directly before going to bed and right when you get up. That’s because wearing a tampon for longer than 8 hours increases the risk of vaginal infections and TSS. Want to sleep in or don’t want to change your tampon first thing? Opt for a period pad instead – which you can safely wear for longer than 8 hours.

Yes, our cotton tampons can be worn while you’re swimming. Even underwater, they’ll protect you against leaks. We recommend changing your tampon as soon as you’re done swimming.

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a very rare but serious disease and can be fatal in extreme cases and when the doctor is not consulted in time. The disease is caused by toxins from certain bacteria and can affect men, women and children. But TSS disproportionally affects people on their periods. Symptoms include sudden high fever (over 39 °C), dizziness, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, fainting, skin inflammation similar to sunburn, sore throat and muscle pain. Symptoms can develop quickly, although not always all at once. 

If you experience these symptoms, directly notify your doctor and let them know you’re on your period. Remove the tampon as a precaution. If you have had TSS before, consult your doctor before using tampons.

To reduce the risk of TSS, we recommend the following hygiene measures:

• Wash your hands thoroughly before and after inserting the tampon.
• Only use tampons that are in the original, undamaged packaging.
• Depending on the amount of bleeding, use the smallest size tampon and change your tampons regularly, every 4 to 8 hours.
• Only use one tampon at a time.
• Only wear tampons if you’re on your period, never as a precaution.
• Remove your tampon and contact a doctor if you have a high fever during your period.

Our incontinence pads have a 100% cotton topsheet. A cushioned cotton core with enhanced absorbency and a perfume-free system that neutralises odours. The backsheet (the thin layer on the back of the pad, protecting you against leaks) is made of unique, breathable plastic. Our pads contain 0% chlorine bleach or perfume.

Of course! Our incontinence pads are hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested on sensitive skin. They have a soothing effect on intimate skin irritation like redness, itchiness or bumps.

On all our products (both online and on the packaging), you’ll find icons depicting 1 to 8 drops. These drops indicate how much urine a pad absorbs and are used by all incontinence brands. The heavier your urine loss, the more ‘drops’ (aka absorption) you will need.

If you’re switching from incontinence pads from another brand, opt for our pads with the same number of drops (say, you used another incontinence pad with 4 drops, you can use a Sanature incontinence pad with 4 drops too). 

If you’re using incontinence pads for the first time, ask your GP or pelvic floor physiotherapist for advice on which absorbancy level you need.

If you’ve ever used period pads, you can use incontinence pads in the same way. Sit down on your toilet and attach the sticky backside of the incontinence pad to your underpants. Our bigger incontinence pads (with more absorbancy) have form-fitting pleats, ensuring the pad fits safely and comfortably in your underwear. Change your incontinence pad every 3 to 4 hours or when it feels too wet.

As a medical device, our incontinence pads are covered by your health insurance in certain cases. Ask your health insurance about their conditions or contact us via hello@sanature.com.

Our incontinence pads are disposable devices. Re-using them may cause microbial contamination for the user. Our incontinence products are hypoallergenic and tailored to sensitive skin, but if your skin becomes severely irritated while using them, consult a medical professional. Any serious incident caused by the medical device will be reported to the manufacturer and the competent authority of the State in which the user is established. To use our incontinence products, you must remove the adhesive strip and fix the pad to the panties. Store our incontinence products in a dry, cool place. Our incontinence products should be kept out of the reach of children.

Our maternity pads have a 100% cotton topsheet and absorbent core. The backsheet (the back layer that protects you against leaks) is made of unique, breathable and compostable bioplastic (using cornstarch). This makes our maternity pads natural and biodegradable. They’re free of perfume, chlorine bleach and chemical absorbents.

Of course. Your vulval skin can be extra sore and sensitive after birth. Our maternity pads are hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested to soothe sensitive or irritated skin (like redness, itchiness or bumps).

In the Netherlands and Belgium, you get free delivery on orders of €30 or more. Of course, you can also place a smaller order – in which case you have to pay shipping costs.

In the Netherlands and Belgium, we deliver using PostNL. Orders placed before 19:00 are processed the same day. The exact delivery time of your parcel depends on your destination. We deliver in a discrete, cardboard box.

As soon as your order has been sent out, you’ll receive an email with a track and trace. If something is wrong, or you need assistance, can contact us via hello@sanature.com.

We’re sorry to hear that. Please contact us via hello@sanature.com and include your full name and order number. We’ll help you with the next steps.

Unopened products (packaging) can be returned within 30 days (starting once you’ve received your parcel). You can return your order by emailing webshop@sanature.com and informing them that you have returned your order. 

Then, send your product in original packaging (including the invoice) to:

Sanature BV 

Lipsstraat 50 F 

5151 RP Drunen 

Nederland

We use personal information so we can provide you with the best service. You can read more about our use of personal data in our privacy policy.

We don’t offer subscriptions at this time. But we do want to make it as easy as possible for you to re-order your favourite period products. By creating an account, you can easily re-order previous orders. If you buy more than 8 products, you get a special discount. 

Did you use to have a Sanature subscription? Your subscription has been automatically cancelled as of November 1st. Now, you can also make use of easy re-orders and discounts. If you have a question about your cancelled subscription, please contact hello@sanature.com.

Of course! Periods don’t stop when you go to the office, school, gym or café. That’s why we encourage businesses to offer free period products to their clients or employees. On our ‘for businesses’ page, you’ll find handy dispensers that you can use to period-proof your bathroom. 

If you have other wishes or need help with a business order, please contact us via hello@sanature.com and we will help you with the next steps.

At Sanature, we work closely with medical professionals, including post-partum carers and pelvic floor physiotherapists. We like to keep our medical community in the loop on the latest developments at Sanature and, at certain times, there’s the option to request (free) samples to hand out to your patients. Would you like to receive an update once the samples are available again? Contact us via hello@sanature.com.

You can’t spell Sanature without nature. In an industry like ours, where most of your options are synthetic, our products care for (your) nature. We use natural ingredients that respect the planet and your body’s processes, like your intimate pH-value or your vagina’s self-cleaning abilities.

Our respect for people and nature is also important for the future of Sanature. This is reflected in efforts like improving and making our products more sustainable. Our menstrual products currently consist mostly of cotton (an average of 71%): a natural, biodegradable material. By 2025, our goal is to find more sustainable solutions for the remaining 29% of our menstrual products. For example, by replacing non-biodegradable materials (such as our leak-proof plastic backing) with biodegradable alternatives or by partially replacing virgin materials in our packaging with recycled alternatives.

Additionally, all our products are manufactured in Europe, in a factory we regularly visit. This way, we ensure that the working conditions where our products are made are safe, high-quality, and ethical and that they are shipped to the Netherlands more sustainably, by train.

In areas where topics such as menstruation and urinary incontinence are still taboo, we try to break that taboo and make body knowledge more accessible. We do this through educational content, partnerships with experts such as pelvic floor physiotherapists, and by keeping our natural menstrual products accessible to people with lower incomes (through donations to Het Armoedefonds). In 2025, we aim to expand these collaborations by establishing a Board of Advisors (with medical experts focusing on various themes surrounding gender-specific care) and formalizing partnerships with organizations working to close the gender health gap.

As a small team primarily made up of women – where decisions are made collaboratively – we want to grow together in the right direction. Sanature is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and by 2025 we want to formalize equal growth opportunities for our (future) employees. We have already formalised space for (self)development and will branch out with internal education on inclusive language, and revising our application process to counter (unconscious) biases.

First, contact the store where you purchased your Sanature product. In most cases, they can help you. Did the store refer you to us? Then please contact us via hello@sanature.com. Include a brief explanation of your complaint, specify which product it concerns, and provide the LOT code (this sequence of numbers is printed on the side or bottom of your packaging). This way, we can help you as quickly as possible.

We’re always up for fun collabs! Feel free to email us via hello@sanature.com and we will get back to you if it’s a match.