Period Equity. Period. By A.F.
The Evolution of Menstrual Products
People start menstruating at the average age of 12. However, you can begin as early as 8 years of age or as late as 16 years of age. Menstruation is the monthly shedding of the lining of your uterus. It is also known by the terms menstrual period, cycle or period. The menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue from the inside of your uterus. It flows from your uterus through your cervix and out of your body through your vagina. Pads, tampons, period underwear, and cups let you go about your normal life during your period, without getting blood on your clothes or sheets.
According to Historians, the first mention of menstrual products was found in ancient Egyptian medical records. The product was made from Papyrus, a plant that was also used to make woven goods, food, and paper. Other early mentions were made in the fifth century B.C. by a Greek physician and the father of western medicine, Hippocrates, who wrote that in Greece they used wrapped lint around wood as tampons. While in ancient Japan, they were often using paper for absorption.
      They used woven fabric or flannel to make homemade cloths to use during their menstrual cycle. Soon, people started having concerns about possible bacteria growth from these homemade cloths since they were reused between each cycle and cleaning may not have been adequate. This was the start of the feminine hygiene market. Between 1854 and 1915, twenty patents were filed for menstrual hygiene products. Some of these patents included the first menstrual cup, rubber underwear, and Listerâs towels.
     The 1930s produced an influx of new inventions in period products. Modern disposable tampons were patented in 1933 under the name âTampax.â Most women did not stick to pads after learning how to properly insert tampons. In 1956, Mary Kenner, a female African-American inventor, invented the first sanitary belt with an adhesive to secure the pad in place. She created an adjustable sanitary belt with a moisture-proof napkin pocket built in. Her patent for the sanitary belt, unfortunately, was dismissed for thirty years due to racial discrimination. Women today find this menstrual pad to be incredibly useful.
    Since then, the market for period products has significantly expanded, especially when compared to what was used 200 years ago. Even standard pads and tampons have been innovated to be made from organic materials which is better for your body and the environment. You can now also use menstrual underwear and menstrual cups. There are even reusable pads you can use that are made of cloth which is also better for the environment. Marketers continue to use strategies built on the fear of knowing today, from odorized goods to subtle packaging. However, these advertisements have taken on a more positive tone recently, depicting feminine care products as empowering, encouraging women to take control of their bodies. Advances in menstrual innovation have had a massive influence on women's wellness and professional and personal freedoms throughout history. Throughout history, menstrual inventions have paved the way for women and people with cycles.
https://femmeinternational.org/the-history-of-the-sanitary-pad/#:~:text=Before%20the%20disposable%20pad%20was,women%20to%20handle%20their%20periods. Â
https://femmeinternational.org/the-history-of-the-sanitary-pad/#:~:text=Before%20the%20disposable%20pad%20was,women%20to%20handle%20their%20periods.
