Dear Kate underwear are designed to be worn as backup in addition to your usual period (tampon/menstrual cup/sanitary pad) routine. They're an extra layer of protection to prevent spill and stain disasters. Keep in mind that Dear Kate underwear are not designed to stop waterfalls! They are great as a pantiliner replacement for minor leaks and regular discharge. Our mini lined pairs and thongs can hold up to 1 teaspoon of liquid and our fully lined pairs can hold up to 3 teaspoons of liquid. Generally, a regular absorbency tampon holds 1 teaspoon of liquid and a super absorbency tampon holds anywhere from 3-4 teaspoons of liquid.