10th century Ancient Greece — Rags
A woman was recorded to have thrown ‘one of her used menstrual rags at an admirer in an attempt to get rid of him.’
Sanitary apron
Pieces of rubber meant to be worn between bloomers and skirt, to create a rubber barrier when sitting.
Ladies elastic doily belt
A belt made of silk and elastic that was used as a tool to attach the pad.
Lister’s towels
Developed by Johnson & Johnson, Lister’s towels were the first absorbent and disposable pads, made of gauze and cotton.
Kotex
Pads of cotton-acrylic blend were made from bandages used during World War I. French nurses were seen using the highly absorbent bandages lying spare in warehouses after the war was over. Inspired, Kotex launched a commercial version, made from surplus war bandages.
Menstrual belt
Menstrual Cup
Patented by American Leona Chalmers, a rubber device was created to collect menstrual blood instead of absorbing it. Chalmers’ cups didn’t become very popular because the rubber was too hard. In 1959, Tassette cups, in collaboration with Chalmers, was launched as a softer version. This, too, failed. The production was stalled due to rubber shortage after World War II.
Tampon
Earle Hass created a version of the tampon that we now know of now. Cotton was inserted using cardboard tubers. A cord extended outside so it can be removed later. Kotex didn’t think it would work and passed on it.
Tampax
Gertrude Tendrich launched modern and disposable Tampax after buying the patent. Tampax was advertised for married women only, as people thought they women could lose their virginity if they inserted one.
Sanitary belt
African-American inventor Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner patented the sanitary belt — ‘featuring an adhesive to keep the pad in place.’
Maxi-pads
Stayfree launches maxi-pads, a complete game changer for menstrual management products. It was the first company to put adhesive strips on pads, putting an end to menstrual belts. New Freedom, a Stayfree competitor, released maxi-pads in 1972.
Rely tampons
Super-absorbent tampons due to the technological advancement of adding in a thickening agent in the cellulose. It was problematic due to high polyester content on the outside.
Tampax commercial
Courtney Cox, first person to say ‘period’ in a commercial.
Reusable menstrual cups
Menstrual cups made of latex and silicone surged in popularity.