The First Pads

At the start of the 20th century scientists were just beginning to study and understand bacteria and its impact on public health. This research had a big impact on how periods were catered for, with rising concerns about whether reusable menstrual rags were being properly cleaned and if they were good for your overall health. This sparked a new commercial market for disposable, ‘cleaner’ menstrual products and around the turn of the century patents were filed for several inventions from the first ever menstrual cup through to rubber bloomers (yes... rubber pants!). However, none of these patents were successfully developed into products and it took the First World War for the first big menstrual product development.

Nurses treating the wounded in battle realised the cellucotton wadding (a pulped wood fibre) they were using to pack wounds on the battlefield was incredibly good at absorbing blood, so good that they started using it themselves when they had their period. 

When the war ended and nurses returned from the frontline, several men saw a business opportunity in using up all the leftover cellucotton from the war and Kotex was founded in 1920. The company sold its first product in 1921 and by the mid 1920s had become a successful brand. 

(IMAGE CAPTION) An example of an original Kotex newspaper advert from the 1920s