Stanley A. Mothers and daughters of invention: notes for a revised history of technology. Metuchen, N.J.:Scarecrow Press; 1993. Hufnagel GL. A history of women’s menstruation from ancient Greece to the twenty-first century:Psychological, social, medical, religious, and educational issues. Edwin Mellen Press; 2012. Period products have come a long way over the years – and what’s more, the discourse around them has evolved, too. We are becoming more empowered to choose the period products that are right for us, whether that’s pads, tampons, cups, or period underwear. In fifty years, we'll probably have period products so convenient and effective, they'll make today's tampons look as absurd as sanitary belts look to us now. But I wonder if we'll have shaken off the baggage of all the menstrual products that came before. My period with the sanitary belt taught me that no bleeding woman is an island — we're affected by all the ideas and taboos about periods that came before us.

History shows us that advances in menstrual technologies have had significant impacts on women’s health and personal and professional freedoms. From patents to pilots, menstrual technologies have been opening doors for women and people with cycles throughout history. Papyrus wasn’t the only material the Ancient Egyptian women used to put in their vaginas… Crocodile poop was also used as an early form of birth control! 2. Pieces of cloth Towards the end of the 19th century, we start to see the introduction of the sanitary belt. Used between the 1890s and 1970s, these belts played an extraordinarily large role in menstrual care in the 20th century and were the precursor to the disposable menstrual pads which came to prominence in the 1980s.

1. Papyrus

Throughout history, from the Romans and Ancient Greeks, up to Victorian times, women have used small pieces of cloth between the legs to soak up period blood. It’s not the most absorbent of methods, and clothes would need to be washed and reused. From cute animal-shaped stuffies to flaxseed, wheat or lavender filled bags, microwavable heating bags are reusable and ready-to-go in as little as one minute. Reader, I must disclaim that, as someone who's currently sat on top of 1000-degree (read: a safe, not skin-burning temperature) hot water bottle, aspirin on board and feeling very sorry for myself, I'm well aware of the limitations of a period heating pad. Then again, when the period cramps feel so bad that it seems nothing - not a nap, not curling up in a ball on your bed and sobbing for relief - will help, heat therapy is always my next point of call, even if just to take the edge off. But while inventors were beginning to see the need for these products, moral taboos around menstruation meant consumers were still hesitant to be seen purchasing them. Case in point: the commercial failure of Lister Towels, the first disposal pad made of gauze and cotton, which first hit the market in 1896 (2). 1900s to WWI: Lessons from the battlefield

I came across this early Victorian wonderfulness today and had to share. The following can be found in Exercises for Ladies: Calculated to Preserve and Improve Beauty, and to Prevent and Correct Personal Defects, Inseparable from Constrained Or Careless Habits: Founded on Physiological Principles, by Donald Walker and published in... As the feminist movement pushed women to become comfortable with their bodies, free bleeding was adopted by women who resented the fact that they were expected to hide and feel ashamed of their periods (though it was hardly mainstream) (3). A sanitary towel belt, also known as a pad belt or menstrual belt, is a specially designed-accessory that helps secure and hold menstrual pads in place. It typically consists of a flexible and adjustable elastic belt that wraps around the waist or hips, along with attachments or loops to secure the pad in position. I’m glad I found this little article “Perfumes and Perfumery” in an 1888 issue of Good Housekeeping. I’ll feel more confident describing my Victorian characters as smelling of lavender, clove, jasmine, or patchouli. ATCHOULY is an East Indian perfume and was of rare popularity when first brought into prominence as... Minimally Invasive, 10-Minute Procedure Could Restore Sense Of Smell In Long COVID Patients Using an image-guided minimally invasive procedure that takes less than 10 minutes, patients could alleviate symptoms of parosmia, a condition characterized by a distorted sense of smell.Like sanitary aprons, these were made of rubber. The bloomers were designed to make it less obvious that women were on their period, by adding an extra layer of protection to prevent any leaks onto clothing or furniture. Like their Victorian counterpart, these methods seemed focused more on hiding periods, rather than actually being breathable, or comfortable for those wearing them. 6. Sea sponges During the First World War, nurses noticed that cellulose was much more effective at absorbing blood compared to cloth bandages. This inspired the first cellulose Kotex sanitary napkin, made from surplus high-absorption war bandages, which was first sold in 1918.

Menstrual cups have become hugely popular in the last few years with those looking for a more environmentally-friendly alternative to pads and tampons. But did you know that these period product alternatives aren’t new? They’ve actually been around since the 1930s!

Nicole W. A question for women’s health: chemicals in feminine hygiene products and personal lubricants.Vol. 122, Environmental health perspectives. National Institute of Environmental Health Science; 2014. p.A70-5. Though females have experienced menstruation since before humans even fully evolved as a species, there’s very little documentation about periods among ancient peoples. This is likely due to the fact that most scribes were men, and history was mainly recorded by men. As a result, “we don’t know whether women’s attitude [about menstruation] was the same [as men’s] or not,” Helen King, Professor of Classical Studies at the Open University, writes. “We don’t even know what level of blood loss they expected… but the Hippocratic gynecological treatises assume a ‘wombful’ of blood every month, with any less of a flow opening up the risk of being seen as ‘ill.’” Today if you visit the pharmacy, you can see shelves full of adhesive pads ranging in size, absorbency level, and design. It’s safe to say the humble period pad has come a long way in the last one hundred years. 12. Period underwear This enhanced comfort and freedom of movement enable women to go about their daily activities with confidence and ease. Benefits of Sanitary Towel Belt a) Leakage Protection And yet, in our era of seemingly infinite menstrual options — I personally have a Diva Cup, regular tampons, O.B. tampons, and "overnight" pads under my bathroom sink right now — I wondered if anyone was still using a sanitary belt. I had friends who used washable pads, and I myself usually jammed a clear rubber cup into my bleeding ladybusiness. Was it so out there to imagine that maybe some people were still using sanitary belts by choice?