The long history of sanitary napkins, the surprising item women used to absorb during their 'monthly' period

In today's life, sanitary napkins are no longer strange. But have you ever wondered when they appeared, who invented them? And before sanitary napkins, what did women use to absorb?

Women during their menstrual cycle , or after giving birth, or having surgery on their private parts , often have to use sanitary napkins. With its absorbent effect, it has become an indispensable item in modern life. However, not everyone knows its origin and inventor.

In the primitive times, women feared the most during menstruation. At that time, humans could only use leaves, moss, and animal fur to absorb. In the Egyptian period, the first tampons began to appear. They were small bags woven from sedge fibers, which were highly absorbent.

During the Egyptian period, tampons are believed to have appeared. (Illustration photo).

The Greeks used muslin cloth to absorb their menstrual flow . A Greek mathematical genius, Hypatia, even threw menstrual cloths in their faces to ward off stalkers.

The Chinese also used gauze. After each use, the cloth would be washed, dried, and reused. The phrase 'on the rag' was used to refer to women during their period.

By the 19th century, Norway had begun to introduce the first sanitary napkin , with a pad and strap design for ease of use. Notably, it was inspired by the device used by politician Benjamin Franklin to stop bleeding on the battlefield. But it was still a reusable item, and it was not until later that disposables appeared.

The first sanitary napkins for women appeared in Norway. (Photo: Archive).

Since 1917, Kimberly-Clark has been making Cellucotton bandages – an absorbent material made from wood pulp. They are useful in first aid because they are absorbent, easy to find, and cheap. From here, this material is also used to make sanitary napkins for women.

In 1920, Kotex officially appeared, marking a new turning point for sanitary napkins. However, its price at that time was quite expensive, only people in the upper class could use it. People in the lower class or poor countries still used the old way during each menstrual period.

The original sanitary napkin was born in 1971. (Photo: Archive).

In 1971, sanitary napkins with an adhesive strip in the middle for easy application were officially introduced. Women no longer had to struggle as before during their period. Many years later, sanitary napkins became more popular, cheaper, and more women could afford them.