Similar to the condom, the tampon has quite a long, winding history. From ancient civilizations to the battle for the supermarket shelves, for such a simple object, the tampon carries centuries of baggage with it. The thorough 2015 Atlantic article, “The Tampon: A History,” by Ashley Fetters, goes in-depth on how tampons came to be. She describes the tampon’s cultural weight the best:
“Every time a tampon user pops in a Playtex Sport or a Tampax Pearl, she’s handling a disposable, absorbent totem of centuries of technological innovation and cultural influence. The commercial tampon as we know it has been shaped and reshaped by a myriad of invisible forces—like genuine concern for women’s wellness, certainly, but also sexism, panic, feminism, capitalism, and secrecy.”
In this piece, I strive to use inclusive terms like “menstruator” instead of defaulting to “woman” unless I already know the gender of the person. While it felt a little awkward in writing, the move towards inclusivity is never over, particularly in the “feminine hygiene” industry. So where did it all begin?
1500 BCE - 500 CE
The Papyrus Ebers, the oldest printed medical document, details the use of the ancient Egyptian tampon, which was crafted from the papyrus plant.
According to the writings of Hippocrates, the father of western medicine, ancient Greek menstruators wrapped lint around a small stick before insertion.
Ancient Romans most likely used bound wool. Ancient Indonesian menstruators used vegetable fibers, while those in parts of Africa used rolled-up grass. Hawaiian menstruators were surely the most extreme as they were said to have used the “furry part of a native fern.”
1800s
Doctor Paul F. Munde describes eight distinct uses for the vaginal tampon, but only number eight is for absorption of vaginal discharge, and not even specifically menstrual discharge. While it seems that the ancient world understood the use of something absorbent for menstruation, during this time the focus was heavily placed on the use of menstrual pads. Indeed in 1879, commercial menstrual pads arrived in western markets. By 1900, tampons were “still best known as devices for treatment or non-menstrual absorption in the vagina.” This would shortly change forever.
1929
Dr. Earle Haas invents the modern-day tampon with an applicator. Allegedly, Haas got the idea while on a trip to California, when a friend said she did away with the bulky, external pads in favor of a piece of sponge she would insert. Cotton was already heavily used to staunch other bodily fluids, so Haas theorized a similar compressed form of cotton could work for menstrual blood.
After some experimenting, the design was complete: A tightly bound strip of cotton with an attached string for easy removal. This then fits into an applicator, implemented as to not “dirty” the user’s fingers. Clearly, from the conception of the modern-day tampon have been used as a discriminatory necessity for normal bodily function.
1933
Haas obtains a patent for the Tampax tampon.
1945
German gynecologist Judith Esser-Mittag begins developing a non-applicator tampon that would come to be called the O.B. tampon, a brand that would go on to be massively popular all over the globe. O.B stands for “one binde” or “without napkins” in German.
1971
Advertising for deodorized tampons, ones with “fresh, delicate scents” appear.
1975
Proctor and Gamble began testing a new tampon called Rely. According to Fretter’s research, the Rely tampon was “shaped like a teabag, engineered to expand both widthwise and lengthwise.” It was made entirely out of synthetic materials; one of which was carboxymethylcellulose, or CMC. CMC is an edible, hydrophilic ingredient used in manufactured products from ice cream to detergent. Chips of CMC inside the tampon made it hyper-absorbent and, it’s been said, that some could wear it for an entire period.
Rely was put on the market just before the 1976 legislation that imposed stricter regulations on American-made tampons. Some menstruators found this new tampon incredible, those with a heavier flow. Other menstruators, typically younger people who hadn’t given birth, felt it was painful to remove as it would stick to the uterine walls and dehydrate the vagina.
1978
Berkeley Women’s Health Collective accuses Rely manufacturers of withholding information on their tampon’s ingredients.
1979-80
55 cases of Toxic Shock Syndrome, or TSS, are reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Seven of these cases were fatal.
1980 (July)
The CDC issues a report directly linking tampons to TSS. In total, 812 menstruation-related TSS cases were reported; 38 of them were fatal.
1983
In somewhat lighter news, the tampon goes to space. Sally Ride becomes the first woman in space. In preparation for her week-long journey, engineers packing her things asked if 100 tampons would be enough.
1989
Public research linking synthetic materials (like CMC and polyester) to TSS. In the aftermath, the FDA orders tampons to create a standardized system of sizing, and thus the “junior,” “regular,” “super,” and “super plus” were instated.
1997
After acquiring Tampax’s parent company, Tambrands, Proctor and Gamble began designing the new and improved tampon. It would have a “premium applicator” meaning plastic to completely do away with the cardboard applicator now linked with “mom’s tampons.” The obvious goal was to rebrand away from the Rely tampon.
2000
James Madison University hosts the first Anti-Tampon Conference.
2001
Tampax Pearl, with its legendary leak guard braid, enters the market. Targeted towards younger menstruators, the Pearl was an instant success.
WHAT’S NEXT?
There are some pretty significant questions regarding the future of tampons and menstrual products in general. As a current hot-button topic, many wonder about the effect tampons have on climate change, which pushed the industry towards using more environmentally friendly and sustainably sourced ingredients. Brands like Rael, AthenaClub, and August proudly sell 100% organic cotton tampons, all with the option of applicator-type (plastic, cardboard, or non-applicator). Packaging and waste have also been taken into consideration with newer
Reusable menstruation products, like the menstrual cup, have gathered a large following. Thinx, a brand of underwear specifically designed to absorb menstrual discharge while still providing comfort and protection, recently launched “re.t.a.,” the first FDA-cleared reusable (perhaps refillable?) tampon applicator. DAME, another menstruation-focused brand, created their version of the reusable tampon applicator.
Of course, there’s always the need to acknowledge the absurdity of menstruation products, to begin with. The Free Bleed Movement stands to expose the taboos and stigma surrounding menstruation and has been protesting since the 60s. Additionally, if you live in the United States, among other countries, and you menstruate, you are subject to what’s been dubbed “the pink tax.” The pink tax refers to the extra amount of money women pay for specific products or services. Many things fall under this tax like personal care (like tampons!), vehicle repair services, and clothes.
Tampons have certainly come a long way from being itchy ferns or bits of sponge to the organic cotton of today. What does the future of tampons look like? Well, it wouldn’t be 2021 without the possibility of some high-tech tampons like the one with a saturation indicator or the brilliant idea of the vibrating tampon. I’ll believe it when I see it.
By Shelby Lueders