10 Facts About Sanitary Pads Every Girl Should Know Now!

Sanitary pads are something that has become a crucial part of life for most women. You will find it interesting to know that there are some facts related to sanitary napkins that even women who use them have no idea about. So to boost your general knowledge and perhaps help you solve some issues, here are 10 interesting facts about sanitary napkins that every girl [and everyone else too] must know.

1. Early mention in Greek

Sanitary napkins being the newer term used in the 19^th century, find its mention in the ‘Suda’ which is a Greek encyclopedia dated back to the early 10^th century. It is said that a woman named Hypatia once threw her menstrual rag at one of her admirers to discourage him, and it pretty sure worked! Talk about mood swings.

2. Used for soldiers

Before being used as a sanitary product for women, disposable menstrual pads were popular because of Benjamin Franklin’s invention to prevent wounded soldiers from bleeding out and to be used as bandages. This was because it was the cleanest, safest and most absorbent material present then.

3. Women used rags earlier

Women in earlier days used cloth or rags during their menstrual period. They were a kind of homemade sanitary napkin made from various cloths that could be reused but led to them getting dirty and unhealthy. This would lead to infections and diseases if washed and reused. Menstruation was looked down upon and menstruation hygiene wasn’t even considered which led to women suffering a lot health-wise during this period.

4. Patented in 1956

Sanitary napkins evolved from the 19^th century but it was patented by Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner in 1956, an African American woman. She designed a sanitary belt with an inbuilt moisture-proof napkin pocket. The sad part is that the company that was interested in this product earlier declined when they came to know that she was an African American woman.

5. Used by only 45% of Indian women

Even in this day and age, we have only 45% of Indian women who actually use sanitary napkins. There is a percentage that uses tampons and menstrual cups, but that too is a small percentage. Many women in India still use cloth, rags, mud or oil which is unhygienic and they end up suffering from life-threatening diseases and disorders.

6. Need to be changed every 3-4 hours

For all those who use sanitary napkins, you need to be careful about your time period and for how long you wear a pad. A sanitary pad must be changed every 3-4 hours as the synthetic cover layer on the top surface contains chemicals and overtime may diffuse into the genital skin and cause infections.

7. Washable pads

There are washable menstrual pads available that don’t have to be disposed of and hence prove to be more economic. They became popular because they are allergen-free and perfume-free and were a more comfortable option for women who faced irritation due to disposable sanitary pads that often have a synthetic top sheet that leads to pad rashes.

8. Unwrapped pads can cause infections

Proper disposal of sanitary pads is very important. They contain blood and body fluid post their use and they can become a serious cause of infections if not disposed of properly. Always wrap the pad well so that it isn’t open and dispose in a bin or incinerate. A pad left open can cause the growth of bacteria and viruses.

9. Sizes Availability

If you have been using only one pad size for all these years. Then here’s a fact for you, owing to different period problems that women face, sanitary pads brand have invented solutions for it. If your period flow is higher than regular you can pick XXL or XL size pads which are longer and wider to last you longer. You can choose from a range of - regular, large, XL, XXL and night pads.

10.   Taboo

Menstrual sanitary pads even post their invention remained a taboo in the society for a very long time. Even after their introduction, women had to put their money in a box and take a packet for themselves and would not even talk to the pharmacist. The pads at their introduction were also very expensive and it was a challenge for the poorer section of society to afford them.

Sanitary napkins are a necessity for menstrual hygiene. Sadly, they are still not used by many women around the world and people have made it a topic of taboo. The awareness still has to be spread about the proper use of sanitary napkins. Hope these facts helped you understand better and make the right choice.

Wondering what pads would be best for you? Check out the recent launch of Gal Pal Sanitary Pads by Clovia, featuring a soft cotton-feel top sheet it gives you a rash-free experience. Bamboo fibre sanitary pads by Sparkle are also organic and safe to use.