What kind of sanitary napkins did ancient women use during menstruation?

Before humans invented sanitary napkins, how did women deal with menstruation? Let's learn how ancient women treated their periods!

In primitive society, women had no way to deal with menstruation. They just used hay or leaves to wipe the blood and called it a day.

During the transition to the slave society, humans gradually developed civilization. Women at this time used tree bark or animal skins to sew underwear to cover their bodies. When menstruation came, they put some dry things on the underwear to absorb the dirty blood, and learned to wash the vulva with clean water.

In feudal society, human beings gradually invented silk and cloth, and gradually abandoned primitive things such as animal skins and tree barks. Clothes became the biggest symbol of civilization. At that time, before papermaking was invented, women put wood ash into small strips of cloth and tied the two ends around their waists with thin threads, which became the so-called sanitary belts. The number of replacements is determined by wealth.

After replacing the sanitary belt, pour out the dirt inside and wash it with clean water and soap. Let it air dry before use. If in urgent need, dry it over fire. This is basically done in private.

Some wealthy families would prepare clean cotton and other items for women as materials for making sanitary belts. However, since new cotton does not absorb water easily, many women are more likely to accept wood ash.

After humans invented papermaking, things that easily absorb moisture, such as straw paper, came in handy. Some people use straw paper directly or put it in a sanitary belt. Some wealthy families use white paper used for sacrificial ceremonies to make sanitary belts, because this kind of white paper is not only tough, but also relatively white and hygienic. However, due to the high price of this paper, not all families can afford it.

In the past, only relatively wealthy families paid attention to women's physiological hygiene. Women had a low social status, and many girls from ordinary families had to find ways to solve the pain of menstruation on their own. Some girls use cotton or other items as plugs and insert them into the vagina in an attempt to prevent the outflow of dirty blood, while some girls never use sanitary belts in their entire lives.

In ancient times, there were very few sanitary belts for sale in the markets. Even if there were, they were only sold by peddlers or some rouge and powder shops. So basically, the sanitary belts used by women are made by themselves. Among women, the older will pass the virus to the younger, and the older will pass it on to the younger. Learn from each other the techniques and skills of making sanitary belts. Some women with skillful hands will even embroider patterns on sanitary belts.

The frequency of replacing sanitary belts used by women and the number of belts to be prepared should be determined based on the family conditions. Some women use a sanitary belt for their entire lives.

Due to poor sanitary conditions and heavy labor, many women suffered from serious gynecological diseases. In addition, ancient men had little knowledge of hygiene, which often brought many germs to women. Some men who cherish women will actively buy materials to make sanitary belts for their women, while some men enjoy collecting sanitary belts for women. But most men think that women's sanitary belts are a symbol of evil and dirtiness. It is taboo to see women's sanitary belts.

In the early 20th century, some companies began manufacturing sanitary napkins, and women would pin the napkins to their underwear with safety pins (though if the pins popped off, the consequences would be disastrous!), or they would wear a "menstrual belt" that was like a cumbersome wrap, so it was always inconvenient when menstruation came.

In 1921, Kimberly-Clark of the United States finally succeeded in producing the first disposable sanitary napkin - Kotex. In 1927, Johnson & Johnson launched Modess. Since these two companies have a considerable market share in disposable sanitary napkins, many women would mention either Reliable or Modesse when they mention cotton pads.

Later, the first disposable tampon, Tampax, was introduced in 1933, and as we can see today, there are many options. And in the 70s and 80s, there was another breakthrough: the invention of self-adhesive sanitary pads, which no longer required pins or straps! Women living in the modern world are so lucky!

Ancient times: using natural products, and usually sitting around waiting until the period was over.

Modern times: Use cloth and wash it before reuse.

Modern: Cotton wool is widely used in the medical field.

Today: The advent of sanitary napkins, the era of mass production. The shape of sanitary napkins that everyone sees now probably appeared in the 1910s during the First World War.