There comes a time when we realize we’ve been doing something the same way for years. Not because it’s the best way, but because it’s the only way we were ever shown.
This is the kind of story with pads and tampons.
Most of us probably didn’t sit down to go over all of our options. Instead, we were given a box with a quick explanation, and from there, it became a part of our monthly standard. We learned how to plan ahead, to carry extras, to deal with the little annoyances, and eventually it became our routine. Not necessarily comfortable or ideal… just normal.
As women start to rewrite the script, we begin to ask questions… Who designed them? Were they designed for us in mind? And do these products still make sense for us today? These questions allow us to open the door to a much bigger conversation.
For most of history and before commercial products existed, women relied on homemade solutions like cloth pads made from old rags or other absorbent material. These homemade remedies were used and washed for reuse. Things started to shift in the early 1900s when nurses during World War I noticed cellulose, used in medical care, was highly absorbent and worked well for period care. This led to the first disposable pad.
The “modern tampon” entered the picture in 1931 when Earle Haas invented and patented the design we are familiar with today. He experimented with cotton fibers and a string for removal, and introduced the idea of an applicator to make insertion easier, something that would later evolve into plastic applicators. The patent and trademark rights were eventually bought by Gertrude Tendich, founder of the brand we all know today, Tampax.
It’s important to understand that much of this development happened when women’s health wasn’t being studied or prioritized the way it should have been. Up until the 1990s, women were often excluded from clinical trials, and a lot of medical research was based on male bodies and then generalized for women bodies. Add in the stigma around periods and how rarely they were discussed openly, and it’s not surprising that period care hasn’t evolved as quickly as other areas of health and wellness.
These innovations were still significant at the time, but they were shaped within a system where women weren’t deeply included in research or product development. As a result, design often prioritized convenience, profitability, and social norms over comfort, transparency, and how products actually feel on our bodies.
For a long time, the conversation wasn’t about what is best for our bodies, in fact it was not a conversation at all, it was just the choice of pads or tampon because those were the only options. That was it. That’s why having more options today is creating a real shift in how we think about period care.
Since the early 2000s to present, we now have menstrual cups, menstrual discs, reusable cloth pads, organic cotton alternatives, and period underwear. It gives women more options to choose what feels best for their bodies and lifestyles.
And to be clear, this isn’t about saying pads and tampons are bad or that we need to throw out what we’ve always used because there is a reason they have been the default for decades. They are accessible, familiar, and for many women, still the go to. It’s more about realizing just because something has been normal for a long time doesn’t mean it’s the only option we have, or the best option.
Pads and tampons were created in a different era, with different priorities, and without the full understanding we have today of our bodies.. And honestly, now that we have more information and more choices, it makes sense that we are starting to ask more questions. Especially when newer alternatives, like period underwear, can make the whole experience feel a little easier, a little more comfortable, and a lot less like something we have to manage.
That’s really what this shift is about. Not that we were doing it wrong before, but realizing we don’t have to settle in the same way anymore. Whether we stick with what we know, mix different options together, or move toward things like period underwear, the point is the same. We finally have the space to choose what actually feels better for our bodies and fits more naturally into our lives.
It almost comes full circle. Before commercial products existed, women relied on reusable cloth-based solutions that were washed and reused. Her Bloom period underwear brings back that same idea of reusability and practicality, but with modern materials, design, and comfort built in.
