Tampons Through Time: From Papyrus in Ancient Egypt to Hippocrates’ Insights in the Fifth Century B.C

The inception of tampons involved using various natural materials, guided by the belief that absorbent substances could serve as effective tampons.

Ancient Egypt witnessed the early use of tampons, as medical records depict tampons made from the papyrus plant. In the fifth century B.C., Greek women crafted tampons by wrapping lint around small pieces of wood, as noted by Hippocrates, the esteemed physician known as the father of Western medicine. Romans utilized wool, and materials such as paper, vegetable fibres, sponges, grass, and cotton have been employed throughout history.

The transition to modern tampons occurred in 1929 when Dr. Earle Haas patented the tampon with an applicator. Inspired by a friend’s improvised sponge solution for comfort, Haas experimented with a compressed form of cotton, leading to a design featuring a tightly bound strip of absorbent cotton attached to a string for easy removal. An applicator tube maintained cleanliness.

Two enduring tampon brands emerged from this innovation. Dr. Haas filed for a patent on November 19, 1931, describing it as a “catamenial device,” derived from the Greek word for monthly. ( καταμήνιος (katamḗnios, “monthly”), from κατά (katá) + μήν (mḗn, “month”).) The product name “Tampax,” blending “tampon” and “vaginal packs,” was trademarked and sold to Gertrude Tendrich, who established the Tampax company. The tampon quickly gained popularity, appearing in numerous magazines by 1949.

The o.b. Tampon, another popular disposable tampon, was invented in the 1940s by German gynecologist Dr. Judith Esser-Mittag and marketed as a more comfortable alternative without an applicator, the o.b. The tampon featured a compressed, insertable pad designed to expand in all directions. In the late 1940s, Esser-Mittag partnered with Dr. Carl Hahn to create the company, which was later acquired by Johnson & Johnson.

One notable feature of non-applicator tampons, as highlighted by Johnson & Johnson, is their potential environmental friendliness. Approximately 90% of the raw materials used in o.b. tampons are derived from renewable resources.