For this reason, the safety and effectiveness of tampons is a health issue of vital importance for all women. In her book everything you must know about tampons 1981, nancy. Tampons are available in several absorbency ratings. History of feminine hygiene products menstrual cups menstruation intimate health. For the past few weeks, subwayriding new yorkers have been surrounded by advertisements for absorbent underwear, the latest in a long history of products designed for use during menstruation. Even so, the concept of absorbing menstrual blood either outside or inside the body is nothing new. This masking is a form of passing, though it is not often thought of in that way. According to the book, everything you must know about tampons. They cover everything from menarche to menopause, including what menstruation is which receives an outstandingly clear explanation plus an enlightening discussion of the pad v. In this hip, hilarious and truly eyeopening cultural history, menstruation is. Our products are made to australian standard, so you can be assured youre getting the best quality and comfort. Menstrual cups, cloth menstrual pads, period panties, and sponges are reusable feminine hygiene products. Since then the innovation of tampons has continued. Feminine hygiene products have evolved significantly over time.
Most women in history would not recognize the pads and tampons we use. Plus supporting libra is supporting the australian economy. Tampons are used by up to 85 percent of menstruating women, and the average american woman can use as many as 17,000 tampons in her lifetime. Perfect for a preteens introduction to adulthood and for women of all ages.
But the first tampon wasnt invented until 1929, developed by dr. I started writing this book because i was so fascinated by how we got to this negative. How did we end up with the tampons and pads we all know. For varied reasons including comfort, a preference for reusable products, and worries about chemical residues you may opt for modified or alternative products, such as allcotton sometimes organic chlorinefree tampons, chlorinefree disposable pads, washable cloth pads, and devices that collect rather than absorb the menstrual fluid. Very little is known about pre20th century methods, but. Most women in history would not recognize the pads and tampons we use, which became mainstream in 1960s and 70s. Ancient egyptians crafted a disposable version from softened papyrus. In 1879, around the same time commercial menstrual pads were arriving in western markets for the first time, the british medical journal published a report on dr. Tampons, like sanitary pads, pose health risks to women. The history of the tampon because they havent always. In the united states, the food and drug administration regulates tampons as medical devices history. Disposable tampons or pads are the goto menstrual hygiene product for an overwhelming majority of menstruating americans, with a reported 98 percent using either or both products every month. The cultural history of menstruation, the average woman throws away 250 to 300 pounds of pads, tampons, and applicators in her lifetime.
Our organic tampons have nothing to hide, so why conceal them in a book. The oldest printed medical document, papyrus ebers, refers to the use of soft papyrus tampons by egyptian women in the 15th century bce. But what did people use before the era of special undies, tampons, pads, and cups. The real story behind free tampons and pads in public. How much have tampon and pad prices changed through the. Part i will tackle the history of this critical feminine care product, while part ii will dispel popular myths. Tampons come wrapped in plastic, encased in plastic applicators, with plastic strings dangling from one end, and many even include a thin layer of plastic in the absorbent part. Tampon was marketed as a smarter alternative to applicator tampons by emphasizing greater. A tampon is a feminine hygiene product designed to absorb the menstrual flow by insertion into the vagina during menstruation.
Thus, griswold pointed out, the manufacture of tampons actually freed up raw materials and transportation for other aspects of the war effort. A tampon is a usually disposable plug that a woman inserts into her vagina during her menstrual period to absorb the flow of blood. Women have crafted tampons and pads for their own use for thousands of years. Feminine hygiene products that are meant to cleanse may lead to allergic reaction and irritation, as the vagina naturally flushes out bacteria. Manufacturing tampons required far less cotton than did pads, and shipping the finished product required far fewer freight cars. Tampons, pads, and liners made with naturally absorbent ingredients. Another similar and popular type of disposable tampon is the o. At the same time, french nurses began to utilize wood pulp pads used in hospitals as disposable menstrual pads. In this hip, hilarious and truly eyeopening cultural history, menstruation is talked about. Pms cramp care and sexual wellness essentials, too. There is evidence which suggests that women have been using tampons made of various materials for thousands of years. As technological users, women developed great savvy in manipulating belts, pins, and pads, and using tampons to effectively mask their entire menstrual period.
New york makes history, with tampons and pads the new. She discusses its use and shows a drawing in her book the intimate side of a womans life from 1937. The most common menstrual products are a veritable cornucopia of plastic. Because youll insert your tampon directly into your vagina, it will absorb your period from the inside. Pads and tampons have a complicated history period. According to nancy friedmans 1981 book everything you must know about tampons. The company received the lowest level of priority, but a priority nonetheless. It was a contraceptive device, a way of distributing medicine, a method of healing, and often not thought to have anything to do with menses at all. Schroeder surveyed the history of public conversation about menstruation or, more to the point, the lack of such conversation since the nineteenth century. In the book, authors elissa stein and susan kim also recount how. The history of tampons and how they have evolved for safety. Tampons offer the benefit of invisible protection and help keep your period private. Representative carolyn maloney of new york calls for more research on femininehygieneproduct safety. What to do with menstrual flow our bodies ourselves.
They can be worn with any outfitshort shorts, skirts or even bikini bottoms. As such, you wont feel any moisture from your menstruation, which you might be able to feel with pads, as they catch your flow on the outside. Books are taxed at 7% in germany, far less than the 19% tax on. In june, campaigners published the tampon book quite literally a book filled with 15 tampons. Women in egypt used papyrus as tampons, according to flow.
In 1888, women had access to the first commercially available disposal sanitary pads, named southball pads. What impact are my moon cycles having on the planet. Take a bizarre look back at period products used throughout history. In her book everything you must know about tampons 1981, nancy friedman writes, there is evidence of tampon use throughout history in a multitude of cultures. Even today, you may notice that you dont hear the words blood, bleed, or vagina in advertisements for pads and. One thing youll likely need to get straight is that the tampon, in history, was rarely a tampon in the way we think today, and not just in material or shape. The only pads, tampons and liners made in australia are from libra. Once inserted correctly a tampon is held in place by the vagina and expands as it soaks up menstrual blood. They stock up on pads, cramp stuff, ibuprofen, tampons, etc. To join the movement, you can sign the petition online, read about the history of menstrual advocacy, and even get your money back on tampons and pads. Its important for both women and men to be aware of this history for many reasons. Mom and klai show what to buy when shopping for your period. A brief history of pads and tampons maxim hygiene blog. The history of the regulation of menstrual tampons.
Every month, i seem to go through an endless number of disposal pads and tampons. This book looks at the social history of menstrual hygiene by examining it as a. Whereas now you can grab a pad or tampon and go, women in the. Sanitary napkins, tampons, and pantyliners are disposable feminine hygiene products. Since you wear pads on the outside of your body, swimming while wearing one is a nogo. The majority of tampons sold are made of rayon, or a blend of rayon and cotton. In this twopart post, were going to focus solely on tampons. A poster advertises hartmanns towlettes or pads circa 1900. The pros and cons of tampons vs pads the period blog. One danger comes from the use of fragranced tampons, which exposes women to phthalates, a group of endocrine disruptors that can interfere with hormone function and balance. The tampon book is a protest against germanys 19% tax on tampons as luxury. The history of menstruation has been full of rumours and.
Before you start reading my blog on the history of periods, im excited to say that my funny history book a million years in a day. Haas originally got the idea for the tampon after learning his friend in california used a sponge tucked into the vagina to absorb blood. When kotex pads flew off the shelves, cellucotton figured it was onto a winner and changed its name to mirror their miracle product. The cultural story of menstruation elissa stein, susan kim on. Museum of menstruation and womens health, the tampon. I started writing this book because i was so fascinated by how we got to. I was wonderingwho invented tampons and maxi pads and how did they use them.
In 1879, around the same time commercial menstrual pads were. Find out when and how sanitary pads, tampons and menstrual cups were born. But every time a tampon user pops in a playtex sport or a tampax. Jerry brown signed assembly bill 10, which makes tampons free in californias low income districts. History of feminine hygiene products florida independent. Another case of possibly, maybe in tampon history comes from blood moss, a european plant with pretty unique astringent and bloodstoppering qualities. Today, cass is fighting back by sketching tampons, pads, cups, and sponges as a way to educate menstruators of all ages and genders about the magic that is menstruation. But, organic tampons havent been around for centuries. In this hip, hilarious and truly eyeopening cultural history, menstruation is talked about as never before. For example, there are tampons promising up to 8hour leakfree protection, those made from organic cotton, for they are packaged in modern designs, provide a variety of absorbency levels and some have outer layers. Select the exact number of each absorbency, in every box of tampons and pads.