Menstruation is a growing topic globally. Women and girls all over the world experience menstruation. It is a natural process that occurs in a women’s body that causes the uterus to shed causing menstrual bleeding from the vaginal area. Menstrual products, designed to control the spread of menstrual blood, have been around since the 1800s and have since evolved making menstruation a little easier for women. Menstrual hygiene products are a multi-billion-dollar industry worldwide and there are a number of products in our stores that help aid in making menstruation less vulnerable for women. But how did this industry come about?

The Beginning of Menstrual Hygiene Products 

Between 1854 and 1915 twenty patents were classified for menstrual hygiene products. Before these patents were filed in the 1800s women had to make their own homemade menstrual products. They would use items such as rags, cotton, flannels, and woven fabric to find a way to control their menstrual blood. Growing concern for bacterial overgrowth inventors began to find a way to make menstrual hygiene sanitary for women. Patents were filed for products such as the menstrual cup, which was made from aluminum or hard rubber, Lister’s Towel, a form of sanitary pads, and rubber pants, underwear lined with rubber. These products weren’t available to the public until the 1890s through catalogs, and in the 1870s the only way these products were marketed was by door-to-door sales. Once the products became available to the public in the 1890s menstrual tools such as the “Ladies Elastic Doily Belt”, a silk elastic belt you would attach your pad to, and “Antiseptic and Absorbent Pad” were available for purchase around the same time. Though these products were in catalogs and introduced to the public it didn’t stop the stigmas and taboos that were formed against menstruation. The taboos and stigmas on menstruation made women not want to purchase menstrual products, resulting in the failure of some of the products that were produced.

From the 1900s to the 1920s nurses found that cellulose was more effective than cloth bandages at absorbing blood. The nurses found this out during WWI, and this inspired the first successful commercial sanitary napkin produced by Kotex, first sold in 1918. Kotex’s cellulose pads and the war played a pivotal role in women’s lives. During WWII women were needed in factory production and through ads in the bathroom, factor employers encouraged women to use menstrual products so that they could continue working during their menstrual cycle. Before menstruation women would stay in the comfort of their homes due to a lack of menstrual products. With menstrual products evolving this meant that women could participate in activities outside their homes and that they could work during their menstrual cycle giving women more freedom than they had before.

With hygiene concerns regarding the exposure of pads to fecal bacteria, the invention of tampons came around and was patented in 1933 under the name of “Tampax”. Healthcare professionals found that tampons were a safer, more hygienic option than pads. Though tampons were a better alternative than pads in some communities’ women were hesitant to use them due to moral issues regarding virginity and masturbation. Hearing the concerns regarding tampons helped inspire inventors in producing more efficient menstrual pads and tools. In 1956 Mary Kenner invented the first sanitary pad designed for women of all sizes with comfort in mind. The sanitary belt was an adjustable belt with a moisture-proof napkin pocket built in to keep the sanitary pad in place. It took Mary 30 years to patent her invention due to money. The patent later expired due to Mary not being able to market her invention because of racial discrimination.

Between 1950 and 1990 menstrual products continued to evolve and inventors continued to design products for menstruating women, such as beltless pads that came in different sizes. In the 1980s modern pads came into the market that had wings to allow a more secure fit to women’s underwear. Tampons became a more popular menstrual product but there had been a report that stated between 1979 and 1996 5,000 women had gotten Toxic Shock Syndrome. Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a life-threatening condition caused by toxins released by bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes which can be found on the vaginal skin. The majority of these cases came from tampon products that are no longer around. Though there were many cases of TSS medical professionals didn’t stop women from using tampons and suggested that there should be more natural and organic forms of menstrual products. In 1956 Leona Chalmers redesigned the menstrual cup to be softer and is similar to what we market today. In the 1970s more sustainable products such as period sponges and menstrual cups became more common to use as feminist and environmental movements developed. Women that felt they were being shamed because of their cycles or that they were concealed during menstruation practiced free bleeding to gain control of their bodies.

Menstrual Products 2000s to Present 

The market for menstrual products is continuously growing and evolving. There are hundreds of menstrual products designed to make a life for menstruating women safe, comfortable, and free. Menstrual products have come a long way in the past 200 years. Brands now produce products made of organic sustainable materials allowing for better menstrual health and environmental effect. With our body and environment in mind, brands are producing products such as menstrual underwear and reusable pads designed to be used for more than one use. Limiting the amount of waste that ends up in our planet’s landfills and oceans.

AVA, introduced by Stetho Health Systems, is one brand that has found a way to make menstruation better for women all over the world. AVA offers sanitary pads that are naturally encapsulated with Hemp Seed Oil. The microcapsules gradually open overtime when each layer of the sanitary pad meets the friction from your intimate skin. They are also triggered by pH fluctuations in the intimate area. When the microcapsules break open the Hemp seed oil will be released and will be absorbed by your endocannabinoid system. The Hemp Seed Oil will help regulate and reduce pain, inflammation, and malodor that occur during menstruation. This will allow women to experience less pain, feel less vulnerable during menstruation, and show up every day during their cycle as their best selves.

Advances in menstrual products have had significant impacts on women’s health and personal and professional freedoms. Throughout history, menstrual products have opened doors for women allowing them to feel empowered, liberated, and in control of their bodies. Women can now participate in areas of their communities that they once weren’t welcomed in. Menstrual products are still evolving, and inventors are continuing to find a way to make menstruation better for women all over the world.

Visit us for more information on the Micro-Encapsulation of Hemp Seed Oil.