When I first mentioned to my mom that I was using a menstrual cup, her expression was priceless. “How does that even work?” she asked, her eyes widening in curiosity. What followed was a trip down memory lane. She recalled using cloth towels and struggled to describe period products that predated modern pads. “It was like a garter belt,” she explained, leaving me utterly speechless.

The truth is that period products have come a long way in their evolution. Yet, we can argue it hasn’t been enough. Recent studies have discovered harmful metals in period products, and until last year, most of these products had never been tested with actual human blood.

So, how did we get here?

Let’s hop into our time machine

The term “menstruation” originates from the Latin word “menstruus,” meaning “monthly.” In Old English, it morphed into “monadblot,” which translates to “month blood.” By 1822, we began calling it a “period,” signifying a recurring cycle of events.

Women have been dealing with menstruation since the dawn of time, and throughout history, mythology and religion have often linked the monthly cycle with magic, sorcery, and wisdom.

One constant, however, was the need to manage the blood flow

Ancient Romans believed periods could bestow superpowers and destroy crops simultaneously.

Archaeologists have uncovered some of the earliest period products in ancient Egypt. Women then used natural materials like wool, grass, and papyrus as tampons. In Japan, tampons were made of paper and held in place by a special binder called “kama,” requiring women to change them up to 12 times a day.

Ancient solutions: pieces of cloth

From the days of the Romans and Ancient Greeks up to Victorian times, women used small pieces of cloth to manage their periods.

These makeshift pads were not the most absorbent and required regular washing and reuse. While it might seem like a relic of the past, many women today still lack access to modern period products, highlighting that our journey toward accessible menstrual hygiene is far from over.

In the Victorian Era, there were sanitary aprons

Enter the Victorian era’s less-than-glamorous sanitary apron. This rubber contraption, with strips running between the legs, was designed to protect clothing and furniture from menstrual blood.

While it did the job, it certainly wasn’t comfortable or breathable, leaving many women longing for a better solution.

The market for period products began in the 19th century

Between 1800 and 1900, women mostly used woven cloth or flannel to make household cloths. However, the risk of infection began to concern many.

It was then that the feminine hygiene market began. Between 1854 and 1915, twenty patents for menstrual hygiene products were registered, including the first menstrual cup, rubber underwear, and Lister’s pads.

Then came the sanitary belts

By the 1880s, washable sanitary pads held in place with a belt became popular. These belts, made of elastic with clips at the front and back, held pads that were not very absorbent, posing a challenge for those with heavy flows.

Despite their shortcomings, sanitary belts remained in use until the 1970s, when self-adhesive pads began to replace them.

Bloomers came with the turn of the century

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some women could afford sanitary bloomers—rubber undergarments designed to prevent leaks. Like sanitary aprons, these bloomers focused more on hiding periods rather than providing comfort or breathability, making them another cumbersome option.

But there were also some natural alternatives for period products

During the late 19th century, some women turned to sea sponges as a more natural solution. Easier to clean than cloth pads, sea sponges were marketed as a hygienic alternative.

The absorbent sanitary napkins changed the game in the early 20th century

Disposable pads made their debut when nurses began using bandages to absorb menstrual flow. In the late 1880s, Johnson & Johnson introduced the first commercially sold disposable sanitary pads, known as Lister’s Towels. These gauze and cotton pads were held in place by sanitary belts, significantly improving menstrual hygiene.

The rise of tampons

The modern tampon, as we know it, was invented in the early 1930s by Dr. Earle Haas, who created a cotton tampon with an applicator. Despite societal and religious concerns, tampons gained popularity by the 1960s and 70s, offering a convenient alternative to pads.

But then, in the 1970s, the super-absorbent tampons became popular for the wrong reasons

Procter & Gamble introduced super-absorbent tampons called Rely in the late 1970s.

These tampons could absorb nearly twenty times their weight in fluid but were linked to toxic shock syndrome, leading to their withdrawal in 1980.

The incident underscored the importance of safe tampon use and led to updated guidelines.

Did you know? Menstrual cups are not new

Although they seem like a recent innovation, menstrual cups have been around since the 1930s. Leona Chalmers patented the first cup, made from rubber, in the 1950s.

However, it wasn’t until the 2010s that menstrual cups gained widespread popularity as an eco-friendly, cost-effective alternative to tampons and pads.

Since the 1970s, adhesive pads have become the to-go period product for many

The early 1970s saw a revolutionary change with the invention of self-adhesive pads. Women could finally say goodbye to the cumbersome sanitary belts.

By the 1980s, adhesive pads had become the most popular choice, and various sizes and absorbency levels were now available on pharmacy shelves.

Finally, period underwear offered a different solution

Period underwear, introduced in the 1990s, has become increasingly popular. These garments, made from absorbent materials, can be worn alone or with other period products. They offer a reusable, eco-friendly option, with styles ranging from thongs to full briefs and even period swimwear.

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