Menstrual hygiene is important

The history of menstrual hygiene

Women and “their days” – that’s a chapter in itself. And a very personal one at that, because menstruation is still a very shameful topic today, which you only talk about with your best friend or with your gynecologist. And yet, women of childbearing age have to deal with their periods once a month.

Probably the most important question in this context is that of suitable menstrual hygiene. Today we are in the fortunate position of being able to select these specifically for our needs and desires. That was not always so. Women used to stuff cotton or folded fabric into their underwear to catch menstrual blood. There weren’t many other options back then. However, development progressed and at the beginning of the 20th century the first disposable pads came onto the market. These have been and continue to be developed to this day and, along with tampons, are the best-known menstrual hygiene products. The tampon was developed in the 1950s and came to Europe from the USA over the years. It revolutionized menstrual hygiene and gave women significantly more freedom of movement during their periods.

Types of menstrual hygiene

As mentioned above, there are tampons and pads. A number of alternative menstrual hygiene products have also been developed in recent years. We briefly present some of them here:

Pads or tampons?

Pads and tampons are available in different sizes and absorbencies. Even young girls who have not had sexual intercourse can use small sized tampons. Big advantage of tampons: they are inconspicuous to wear because they are inside the vagina. Therefore, they also allow women greater freedom of movement. This is particularly appreciated by those with sporty ambitions, because bathing, swimming, saunas, jogging – none of this is a problem when using a tampon.

But some women just don’t feel comfortable with the thought of tampons. They prefer disposable pads, which are also comfortable to wear thanks to their constantly improving surface structure. For the first days of menstruation and for the nights there are extra large and absorbent pads to buy. Another tip: if you use pads, you should make sure that they have an adhesive strip. This is the only way the bandage can be securely fixed in the panties and nothing can slip.

Alternative menstrual hygiene

So much for the most well-known menstrual hygiene products. What many do not know: there are other alternatives that have become increasingly popular, especially in recent times. Among other things, we are talking about the menstrual cups, which are also referred to as Mooncup, Ladycup, Divacup etc. depending on the manufacturer. Made of silicone, these small containers are folded up and placed inside the vagina, naturally catching the blood. Inserting the cup requires some practice, but once you get the hang of it, you can enjoy all the benefits of this menstrual hygiene. Absolute freedom of movement, no drying out of the vagina, rarely emptying the cup, an intact vaginal flora and no mountains of rubbish like when using pads or tampons – all this makes the small cup more and more popular, not only with eco-freaks. Of course, with this method you come into contact with your menstrual blood – a fact that scares many women. Maybe it’s time to take a closer look at your own natural body processes in order to get a better feeling for your own body?

In addition to the menstrual cups, menstrual sponges and washable pads or panty liners are available as alternative monthly hygiene products. The sponges are relatively expensive and have to be changed frequently, which is why they are only suitable to a limited extent for long-term use. Washable pads are an alternative to the disposable version and have very good absorbency thanks to insertable pads. They are washed similar to cloth diapers for babies and can be used for years. Women who use them appreciate the pleasant wearing comfort and the avoidance of cellulose waste.

Which monthly hygiene is suitable for which woman – everyone has to find out for themselves. Fortunately, we have choices and can choose the products that we feel most comfortable with.