HealthAdventures of menstruation in the USSR: What they said about them in the press

How did you manage without gaskets before?

For many centuries, representatives of the fair sex were forced to use improvised means as devices for collecting menstrual blood: moss, wool, fabric or cotton wool.
Now there is no reliable information about who invented and patented the first gaskets. In the early 20s of the 20th century, a revolution took place in the world of fashion, one of the results of which was the appearance of closed, tight-fitting underwear. This led to the beginning of mass production of feminine hygiene products and a change in their design: the products became more compact and thin, and were attached to panties with pins or rubber straps.

Only 50 years later, prototypes of modern disposable pads were developed, which had an additional absorbent layer and a self-adhesive surface. Over the past decades, hygiene products have improved significantly, becoming more convenient, practical and affordable.

https://youtu.be/5EtjaGQad4Y

HealthAdventures of menstruation in the USSR: What they said about them in the press

→ In Soviet times, the press paid very little attention to the “technical” side of the issue - hygiene products that should make a woman’s life easier during menstruation. For example, a special belt on which cotton wool wrapped in gauze had to be attached was very popular. Although by the end of the eighties the first pads named after women (“Angelina”, “Veronica”) and tampons were already appearing in the country, these goods were in short supply, and Soviet women did not often buy them. But instructions on how to make pads yourself - from the same gauze and cotton wool - were very popular. Pavel Vasiliev believes that due to the fact that women often made sanitary pads themselves, they did not understand why they should pay money for them.

In the eighties, articles about menstruation became scarce, and by the early nineties, hints of them remained only in advertising. Pavel Vasiliev believes that the “disappearance” of menstruation may be associated with a traditionalist discourse, which will only strengthen over time. Menstruation is definitively relegated to “women’s affairs” that has no place in a magazine; Some of the information is transferred to encyclopedias “for girls”, where tips on making sanitary pads are also stored. Subsequently, pads and tampons were promoted by advertising - in the press and on television. The first Tampax advertisement appeared in Burda magazine in 1989: it promised that with Tampax, women in the country would gain unprecedented comfort and freedom - and at the same time, in detail

, how to use it and how to dispose of it after that.

Almost thirty years after the collapse of the USSR, menstruation remains a taboo topic.
Despite the fact that pads, tampons and menstrual cups regularly appear in advertising, talking about them is still considered a "private" matter - and because of this, many women do not fully understand how their bodies function and myths continue to reign in society that during menstruation it is impossible to get pregnant and you cannot engage in any sports. The good news is that changes have begun: for example, in advertisements for sanitary pads, blood, rather than blue liquid, appeared. All that remains is to overcome the embarrassment. Cover: alexandrum01– stock.adobe.com

The difference between panty liners and regular pads

Since daily diapers are not designed to absorb large volumes of secretions, they have some differences from classic hygiene products used during menstruation.

Despite significant differences, products for every day and for absorbing menstrual flow have almost the same layer-by-layer design. The main absorbent material in both cases is cellulose.

The main function of daily hygiene products is to keep underwear clean and fresh throughout the day. They can be used in the following cases:

• for insurance before the onset of menstruation;
• to absorb residual spotting during menstruation, at the final stage of lochia or after surgery;
• for additional protection when using tampons;
• with heavy discharge, with the exception of menstruation (during ovulation, use of certain medications);
• to maintain cleanliness in the absence of the possibility of timely intimate hygiene (on the road, etc.).

Tampons and Ancient Egypt

Very often on the Internet you can find a statement that tampons were known to the ancient Egyptians. Mention is also made in this context of Hippocrates, the “father of medicine,” who allegedly mentioned small wooden sticks wrapped in soft linen that women inserted into the vagina.

Dr. Helen King, who has spent many years studying menstruation from a historical perspective, claims that the original Hippocrates quote has never been found, and the myth was widely used in advertising campaigns for famous brands producing personal hygiene products for women.

The same goes for claims about tampons in ancient Egypt and Greece. But there is evidence that Roman women attached subligaculum - absorbent cotton pads - to their underwear.

What are the daily routines?

All manufactured products for daily use differ in two main parameters.

Form. Most panty liners have a straight or anatomical design (tapered in the middle). Recently, improved hygiene products have appeared on pharmacy shelves:

• V-shaped for tanga or thong panties;
• shortened, covering only the gusset of the underwear;
• with a front opening for panties made of translucent fabric or lace.

Additional functions:

• with or without flavoring;
• white or black depending on the color of the linen;
• with increased absorbency due to the improved composition of the top layer;
• with perforation for additional air exchange.

Feminine hygiene products for every day are produced by the same manufacturers as products for critical days. According to sociological surveys, the rating of panty liners is as follows:

1. "Naturella Light" (the most breathable).
2. "Descreet Normal" (best absorption capacity).
3. "Ola!" (affordable price).
4. "Kotex" (convenient packaging).

Improvised products instead of gaskets

Read the article at the link on how to wash periods from underwear. It provides tips for removing fresh and old stains.

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But a huge upsurge in the development of this tool came after the First World War. Scientists have invented drugs of synthetic origin, the mechanism of action of which was aimed at absorbing blood from severe wounds.

Wearing overnight pads during the day or pads with the maximum number of “drops” at the very beginning of your period is a crime against your own health.

Terms of use

The only undeniable advantage of using daily bags is the effective maintenance of cleanliness of underwear. When used correctly and changed regularly, the products give a feeling of freshness, comfort, confidence, and do not hinder movement. Modern daily hygiene products are thin and remain invisible even under thin, tight-fitting clothing.

To avoid negative consequences, experts recommend adhering to the following rules:

• Use panty liners only as needed and no more than once a week;
• Change products every 3-4 hours;
• When wearing daily bags, be especially careful about intimate hygiene;
• Choose pads without fragrances with high air permeability (with perforations or a non-continuous adhesive layer applied in the form of dots or stripes).

Gynecologists advise buying products in individual packages. This is more hygienic and allows you to easily dispose of used pads.

What can replace pads and tampons?

From the article you will learn about what a pad should be, types of urological and medical pads, alternatives to pads (menstrual cups and panties).

The first pads appeared in the 1970s, and I don’t even want to think about how women coped with the peculiarities of their physiology before they appeared.

After the release of the egg, a temporary gland is formed at the site of the follicle - the corpus luteum. It takes on the function of producing progesterone, during which time more than 80% of the hormone is produced. Progesterone continues to prepare the uterus for implantation. If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum recedes, the concentration of hormones drops, which causes the start of a new menstrual cycle.

How did they survive before, and how do many people still live like this? They make pads and cotton wool and rags. The rags were washed, the cotton wool was changed. Here's a gasket for you, since you're too lazy to go out in the rain.

Expert opinion Daria Shirochina (obstetrician-gynecologist) When sending a teenage girl to camp, a mother or other loved one should make sure that she has pads in case she gets her period for the first time, because you can never say when this will happen.

Bleeding is normally a uniform burgundy or dark brown color; small clots are allowed. The total volume of blood loss for the entire period of menstruation ranges from 50 to 150 ml. In a healthy woman, the amount of discharge per day is 20–30 ml.

Menstrual phase. The first day of the menstrual cycle corresponds to the beginning of bleeding. Characterized by the separation and removal of the endometrium from the uterus. The process is caused by a decrease in hormone levels, the surface layer loses the support of estrogen and progesterone, and prepares for exfoliation.

The process of making personal hygiene products is very simple and does not require much time. When talking about how to replace the gasket, it should be borne in mind that the material must have good absorbent and moisture-retaining properties. The hygienic product will consist of several layers:

1. The adjacent layer that is in direct contact with the skin.
2. An absorbent layer that is responsible for retaining moisture and absorbing it.
3. Bottom protective layer that has waterproof properties.

Flaws

With constant use, untimely change (less than every 4 hours) and non-compliance with the basic rules of intimate hygiene, daily pads can cause the development of certain pathological conditions:

1. Disturbance of natural microflora. When wearing pads with a continuous adhesive layer for a long time, especially in combination with underwear and clothing made from synthetic fabrics, a greenhouse effect occurs. This provokes increased activity of opportunistic flora and leads to exacerbation of candidiasis, vaginitis and other pathologies.
2. Infections. Under the influence of high humidity and temperature, dangerous bacteria rapidly multiply on the surface of the gasket, which can cause many diseases. Women who have already been diagnosed with infectious and inflammatory pathologies of the genital tract should use the daily with special caution, as this not only complicates their treatment, but also contributes to the development of complications and relapses.
3. Allergic reactions (rash, itching, irritation, redness and swelling of the skin and mucous membranes). Most often, various fragrances, deodorizing substances and other synthetic components with which the surface of the product is impregnated lead to the development of allergies. In some cases, there is increased sensitivity to the adhesive or non-woven materials of any of the layers of the hygiene product.

Middle Ages

If we very briefly answer the question of what women did until the 19th century during their periods, then the answer would be: nothing. Most European women did not wear underwear, so there was nowhere to attach the fabric.

However, there were also exceptions. An alternative method "for the rich" was rag "pads", which were secured between the legs using a special belt that was fastened around the waist. For example, we know that Elizabeth I, Queen of England, owned three black silk belts.

The “civilized” approach to personal hygiene also involved pieces of tissue being inserted into the vagina to stop bleeding. But most women simply allowed the blood to flow out of them naturally. This, apparently, if you believe the records, did not surprise anyone.

Laura Klosterman Kidd, an expert on the subject, studied 17 women's diaries and letters with recommendations on what to pack for a trip. She did not come across a single mention of objects that could in any way make a woman’s life easier during this period.

Nothing changed. A German doctor wrote in 1899: “It is absolutely disgusting to bleed on your shirt and then wear it for four to eight days, it can easily lead to infections.”

Yes, some women did use menstrual tissue, but most women could not afford such an expensive pleasure.

At the same time, women “in these days,” for example, were forbidden to work in factories, especially food factories—it was believed that they could “poison” the products.

The linen was securely attached to the so-called hygiene belt. The first advertisement featuring disposable wipes appeared in the United States in 1888. Until this point, any advertising touching on the topic of menstruation was considered taboo.

The product did not attract consumers and was discontinued.

The women also used a sanitary belt, but this time they agreed to disposable pads. World War I nurses discovered the absorbent properties of special medical paper - they used it to absorb blood from open wounds, but they were also quite suitable for menstrual blood.

Inspired by this idea, Kimberly Clark invented Kotex, the first disposable menstrual wipes.

The first tampons with a cardboard applicator appear. Tampax introduced its product to the market in 1934. It was recommended for use only by married women because it was widely believed that tampons were only suitable for women who had already lost their virginity.

War, women have to move a lot, there is no time to slow down. This is how the first tampon without an applicator appears. Between 1936 and 1943, tampon consumption increased fivefold.

Time ago. And again a hygienic belt, but not a word about menstruation. Women should remain silent about this uncomfortable period in their lives. But menstruation should not serve as an excuse for refusing housework.

Cloth pads that can be washed. The time of the struggle for women's rights has changed almost nothing in attitudes towards menstruation.

The first self-adhesive gaskets appear! This happened in 1972, and soon their advertising was allowed in the USA.

We invented the first super-absorbent tampons with a plastic applicator, which are convenient to insert inside. And then there is the rather rare, but still occurring problem of toxic shock syndrome, which resulted in 84 deaths. In 1985, This Word “menstruation” is heard on TV.

Let's fly: gaskets with wings!

For the first time, such a thing as a menstrual cup is entering the market. Although the first bowls appeared in the 1930s, they are coming back into fashion in the 2010s. Their popularity is explained by economic, environmental and other advantages.

https://youtu.be/gAYzNm-tDFc

Truly, it is good to live in the 21st century! And if you suddenly dream about the luxury of balls, remember that behind the gloss hides a dirty life.

Features of use during menstruation

In fact, pads in the basic understanding of this product appeared a very long time ago, until about the middle of the 20th century, starting with Cleopatra they tried to come up with any items that would help them during menstruation.

Another question that concerns both mothers and daughters is whether it is correct to use panty liners or should not be done? The answer cannot be clear-cut. For example, a mother actively uses panty liners - she feels discomfort if they are not there.

At first, the product was not in demand, but not because it was not needed. Under the prevailing Puritan morality at that time, it was extremely difficult to advertise a new product without using “indecent” words and at the same time explain what it was about.

How to use pads during menstruation and daily correctly

In this case, you need to replace the hygiene product immediately after leaving the water, so as not to provoke various complications. If the girl is not yet ready for them, she will have to wait until her period ends. In the 20s of the twentieth century, when “Kotex” appeared in stores, and their manufacturers were faced with female modesty, which hindered the promotion of a new product, a way out of this situation was found: delicate products were laid out somewhere in a secluded place, and a box was installed nearby for money. This original step turned out to be successful, and sales volumes increased sharply.

If a woman has a regular menstrual cycle and there are no disruptions, then there should be no problems. However, changes sometimes occur in the female body, due to which menstruation can occur at the most unexpected moment. And if a representative of the fair sex was not ready for this, then a very unpleasant situation arises for her.

You can also use a clean handkerchief or napkin that is in your handbag as a pad. To enhance the effect, toilet paper must be wrapped in these materials.