History Of Tampons: Who Invented Tampons?

• In the early 1870s, the first advertisements for menstrual products appeared primarily in print media. Although these ads were mostly for reusable menstrual pads, they normalised the idea of marketing sanitary products for mass consumption. At the time, doctors were prescribing tampons to absorb vaginal discharge.

• In 1879, the British Medical Journal published an article on one of the first tampon applicator designs made of glass and wood. It’s not yet known how effective this device was, but the good news is that tampons aren’t made of glass and wood anymore.

• Dr Paul Mundé, an American gynaecologist, defined several different uses for a tampon and yet somehow the idea of using them for menstruation still wasn’t on the cards. Firstly, he considered tampons a carrier device for applying medicine to the cervix or vagina. Among other uses, tampons were also considered devices for maintaining the shape of the cervix and preventing prolapse.

• In the 1900s, doctors still generally used tampons to treat gynaecological infections. The tampons contained capsules of antiseptic agents that you could break open before inserting the tampon. At the time, tampons were for hospital use only and the nurses typically made them in-house.

• Rumour has it that John Williamson, an employee at a major personal care product corporation, pitched the idea of creating an insertable period product back in 1920. Williamson’s great idea was to poke small holes in a condom and stuff the absorbent portion of a pad inside it. That way, if a woman inserted this device in her vagina, the condom would make it easy to slide in and the absorbent materials would control menstrual flow. In all honesty, Williamson was on to something! Unfortunately, his idea was eventually rejected.

• It’s the year we’ve all been waiting for: 1931. Earle Haas, a physician based in the US, developed a cardboard applicator tampon designed to absorb menstrual blood. The tampon was made of a thick strip of cotton attached to a string for easy removal.
• In 1933, Haas patented his device and sold it to a businesswoman by the name of Gertrude Tendrich for $32 000. She later established her own tampon brand.

• The 40s welcomed a major shift in the need for reliable menstrual products. World War II (1939 – 1945) resulted in more women taking on physically intensive labour while men were at war. Naturally, tampons gained popularity because they effectively minimise period leakage. However, they were still delivered in discreet packaging by mail.
  
  
• By 1945, tampons had become popular enough for new and exciting innovations to enter the market. Dr Judith Esser-Mittag, a German gynaecologist, designed a non-applicator tampon known as the “digital tampon”. As the name suggests, you only needed one finger (or digit) to insert the tampon. Interestingly, this tampon design became an increasingly popular option due to its eco-friendly nature.

• Lil-Lets was founded in 1954 based on Dr Esser-Mittag’s ground-breaking tampon design. Through extensive research, she was able to create an innovative widthways design made to fit women perfectly. Initially, there were two absorbency options available for varied menstrual flows: regular and super.  With a focus on premium tampon products, Lil-Lets was able to establish itself as a leader in the industry for several decades.  

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• The ‘60s marks the major boom of tampons. Several global companies, including Lil-Lets, created their own tampon designs. Interestingly, all these designs closely resemble Haas’s OG invention. As the age-old saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Haas’s design is still the blueprint to this day.

• After the tampon boom of the ‘60s, companies started to tweak and improve their product designs. We also began to see more practical tampon shapes and removal strings. Some companies even chose to design tampons with two separate strings to grab for easy removal.
  
  
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared that tampons are considered medical devices instead of cosmetics in the United States. Although this was a major hurdle for tampon companies, North American consumers could now benefit from products that legally required medical-grade testing before entering the market. 
  
  
• In 1975, the first “super absorbent” teabag-shaped tampon entered the market. Although the product was a hit among young women, many questioned how it could possibly be so effective. As suspicions grew, the Berkeley University Women’s Health Collective accused the manufacturers of this tampon of withholding information about its ingredients. There was a desire to know more about what they were putting inside their bodies.

• The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) released insights into the number of menstrual-related cases of toxic shock syndrome. Up to 100 cases were reported in a single year with significant outbreaks in Denver, Colorado. This ultimately led to the first super absorbent tampon being pulled off the market. Toxic shock syndrome is a medical condition caused by large amounts of toxins building up in the body. Symptoms include fever, rash, skin peeling and low blood pressure. If left untreated, the condition can be fatal.
  
  Due to the risks of TSS when using tampons, companies were required to implement a sizing and absorbency system for their products from 1989. 
  
  
• Although the ‘80s was a chaotic time for the tampon industry, it wasn’t all bad news. In 1983 tampons went to space for the first time with Sally Ride, an American astronaut. For her weeklong trip, the engineers packed a whopping 100 tampons!

• By the late ‘90s, there was rising concern about the ingredients used to make tampons. Don’t worry though — most commercial brands, including Lil-Lets, mass-produced chlorine-free products. The absorbent materials used to make Lil-Lets tampons, pads and pantyliners are purified through various chlorine-free processes making them super hygienic and free of impurities.

• Since the 2000s, it’s become far less taboo to talk about periods and feminine hygiene. There’s nothing to hide anymore and all cards are on the table. Women needed all sorts of products to handle menstruation and daily hygiene. Mirroring this major societal shift, Lil-Lets became the first period product company to cross all sectors of the feminine hygiene market.  As of 2000, Lil-Lets has expanded and now produces a wide range of period products such as tampons, sanitary pads, pantyliners and reusable products so you can choose what works for you!

• Just when we all thought we could relax, tampon regulations changed. In 2018, manufacturers were no longer required to disclose a full list of ingredients in their products. However, due to the rising concern for women’s health and the environment, many tampon brands still chose to be transparent.

• Fun fact: tampons are now used by over 100 million women across the globe. Considering that tampons haven’t fully infiltrated every market, there’s still room for these numbers to grow.