The female anatomy is quite complex, with a few differences from that of men. Ladies are capable of bearing children and giving birth to living human beings. And his is because of the accommodative female reproductive system.
Women, despite their function of bearing children, have additional responsibilities that they must attend to on a monthly basis. And this is known as the menstrual cycle, in which the womb wall sheds if a woman does not conceive.
In comparison to where we were centuries ago, the female reproductive system was still an enigma that few understood. But that doesn’t mean women didn’t have menstruation back then! So, how did they go about dealing with this time of month?
Let’s find out by taking a quick trip down memory lane.
The evolution of female hygiene products
Pieces of cloths- 80s and back
Women used pieces of fabric to absorb menstrual fluids in the 1980s and before. After a while, they’d take them off, wash them, and reuse them. This was unsanitary because bacteria and other harmful pathogens could settle and breed, brewing a recipe for disaster, especially if the clothe was not properly cleaned or dried.
During the same time period, when women began to wear hoop skirts, they were all layered up, which meant their menses never reached the outermost clothe. As a result, they wore crotchless undies and bled on their layered clothing.
The Hoosier sanitary belt was later introduced. Women would tie the belt around their waists, and the belt would hold a washable pad that would catch the blood as they went about their daily lives.
The first sanitary napkin- 1896.
Then, in 1896, Johnson & Johnson developed the first disposable sanitary napkin. This was not well received, but companies such as Kotex and Sfa-Na-Kins joined the bandwagon to manufacture female menstrual pads.
The Sfa-Na-Kins types were created from sphagnum moss, a type of moss that can absorb 20 times its dry weight in fluids. It also has natural antibacterial properties, which helped to solve the problem of prevalent infections. The product was initially marketed as a surgical dressing.
In 1921, Kotex made a bigger breakthrough by using cellucotton wrapped in gauze.
Tampons- 1920s to 1930s
Tampons were not originally designed for menstruation; in fact, they predate the first sanitary napkin. They were used as first-aid products to stop the bleeding from deep wounds such as stab wounds and bullet wounds. Another application was to deliver medicine through the vagina.
However, patents for using it as a female menstrual product began to flood in during the late 1920s and early 1930s. In 1931, E.C. Haas was granted a patent for a certified female tampon. Tampax tampon was the name of a paper-tube applicator.
Period panties
Women can now celebrate period panties after years of support, increased knowledge, and resources. The period panty has adopted the ancient feature of being reusable while remaining a safer alternative to tampons, which have raised concerns about introducing toxicity inside the body. Furthermore, period panties are more hygienic and natural to use.
Today, there are numerous product panties reviews aimed at educating women all over the world on how to use them, their benefits, and why every lady should have them. It is truly commendable that we have arrived at a point where we can confidently say that our women and girls can be comfortable with their menstrual cycles.
They are a commonplace item that has been improved to fit a use that every lady need to live comfortably and go about her business without worrying about leakages.
In conclusion
The female reproduction system is a marvel that many people want to learn more about, and menstruation is a big part of it. As can be seen, scientists and major health organizations have been on the front lines to ensure that people are more enlightened and knowledgeable about the subject. A woman on her period can now use menstrual products confidently and discreetly without the rest of the world knowing.
It’s empowering to know that you can be yourself and keep doing what you do best no matter what time of month it is. Isn’t that correct, ladies?