The Period Product Puzzler: Designed for What, Exactly?

Have you ever felt that your period product, pads or tampons, were not cutting it? Don't worry, it's not you, it's them. 

Every menstruating person on earth knows the trials and tribulations of finding and using period products. Out of everything we go through each month, you would think period products would be the lest complicated. Yes, they are uncomfortable,. Yes they will stick to the wrong things, or nothing at all. Yes, its really hard to figure out what you need for what flow. But, they are made for this right? Turns out, they haven't been.

Made for, but not tested with.

Turns out, period products are not designed, or tested using actual blood. Yes, you read that right. A recent study conducted by the Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland is the first to actually measure period products with actual blood. And when I say recent, I mean RECENT. It was August 2023. 

Lets back up a bit....

Whilst the use of pads and tampons can be traced to Ancient Egypt (they used papyrus) the period products as we know them today have not really been around that long. Disposable pads, primarily made of cotton, were invented around 1890, replacing the rags used previously. I am not even going to get into the fact that these only came to being after Ben Franklin made something similar for wounded soldiers, and of course a woman took it for something that HALF THE HUMAN population experiences. Tampons are younger, with the disposable cotton ones we are familiar with today being invented in the early 1930's. 

Now there are a myriad of companies developing, marketing and selling these products. Liners, pads, maternity pads, and tampons, in light, medium, and heavy flows. There are options marketed for tweens, those who are more active. those who want things more discreet. But even with all these companies, bringing in all this money, there are very limited industry standards surrounding their manufacturing.

Toxic Shock, Testing and New Products.

Us older Millennials, and the Gen X'ers out there would be aware of Toxic Shock Syndrome, or TSS. This was discovered in the early 1980's and was linked to tampon use. This instigated the first industry standards in the manufacturing of period products, and even then these are limited to tampons. Other than the materials used, it appears that there is no other testing or manufacturing requirements. This is even applicable to new types of period products, such as cups, discs and underwear. 

So, whilst the testing is not rigorous, things are at least tested for absorption right? I mean, how else could they claim to market for different levels of flow? Well, technically yes. Whilst they don't even have to test; chances are the millilitres they claim are a best guess; manufacturers who do test, do not actually use blood in these tests, they use water or a saline solution. 

Obviously, it goes without saying that water is not blood, and more importantly, it is not menstrual blood. Menstrual blood not only contains blood but is also composed of vaginal secretions and endometrial cells, meaning that unlike water, even when it is mixed with sodium chloride (that's just salt)  to make it thicker, it has heterogeneous properties.  AKA, blood does not get absorbed the same way as water does.   

Ever tried to clean up a lot of blood with a sponge?

No, just me? 

Unfortunately, this is one of the many areas in which Women's Health and physiology gets left behind.  Migraines, period pain, endometriosis, even car crash dummies and over the counter pain medications. But I will get to those in other blogs.  Things really need to change, but the first step, like with everything, is knowing that we have a problem. Then hopefully the right people will become aware, and the right studies and industry standards will be undertaken and implemented. 

The Results

Also, if you are interested in the study, it was to see which period products were the most absorbent, obviously using actual blood. For those that don't want to read the entire study, out of the period products they used, cups and discs held the most, with period underwear being the least. I will still continue to wear my Bonds Bloody Comfy Period Undies however, and you can read why over here.  And for those that do want to read more, I have linked the full study at the below, as well as other links if you want to read more on the history of menstrual products or TSS.

Read the Study HERE 

Red blood cell capacity of modern menstrual products: considerations for assessing heavy menstrual bleeding - E, Colwill AC, Edelman A, et al Red blood cell capacity of modern menstrual products: considerations for assessing heavy menstrual bleeding BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health 2024;50:21-26.

History of Period Products - Pads  Tampons

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Effects of toxic shock syndrome Staphylococcus aureus, endotoxin and tampons in a mouse model -- Tierno PM Jr, Malloy V, Matias JR, Hanna BA. Effects of toxic shock syndrome Staphylococcus aureus, endotoxin and tampons in a mouse model. Clin Invest Med. 1987 Mar;10(2):64-70. PMID: 3581548.