HOMEPAGE
1990s Norwegian exhibition of the history of menstrual hygiene in Scandinavia on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the SCA Mølnlycke menstrual products company showing old washable pads.
Washable pads from Almora, Uttar Pradesh state, India and Rajasthan state, India - Italian washable pad, probably from the 1890s - instructions for making Japanese pads, early 20th century? - German, about 1900 - 1902 & 1908, U.S.A. - Tip for making a washable pad, 1907 - German washable pads and belt, with case (about 1935-40).
American modern Snap-on style washable pad, Washable pad with belt, a menstrual sponge, a modern, beautiful bowl to soak used menstrual pads in.
Norwegian 19th century washable pads, which are similar to these German pads.
German brief panty (German: Slip, Unterhosen) for menstruation (about 1960)
German menstrual underpants (Monatshöschen) from the Neckermann catalog, 1970s
CONTRIBUTE to Humor, Words and expressions about menstruation and Would you stop menstruating if you could?
Some MUM site links:
HOMEPAGE |
MUM address & What does MUM mean? |
Email the museum |
Privacy on this site |
Who runs this museum?? |
Amazing women! |
Art of menstruation (and awesome ancient art of menstruation) |
Artists (non-menstrual) |
Asbestos |
Belts |
Bidets |
Birth control and religion |
Birth control drugs, old |
Birth control douche & sponges |
Founder bio |
Bly, Nellie |
MUM board |
Books: menstruation & menopause (& reviews) |
Cats |
Company booklets for girls (mostly) directory |
Contraception and religion |
Contraceptive drugs, old |
Contraceptive douche & sponges |
Costumes |
Menstrual cups |
Cup usage |
Dispensers |
Douches, pain, sprays |
Essay directory |
Examination, gynecological (pelvic) (short history) |
Extraction |
Facts-of-life booklets for girls |
Famous women in menstrual hygiene ads |
FAQ |
Feminine napkin, towel, pad directory |
Founder/director biography |
Gynecological topics by Dr. Soucasaux |
Humor |
Huts |
Links |
Masturbation |
Media coverage of MUM |
Menarche booklets for girls and parents |
Miscellaneous |
Museum future |
Norwegian menstruation exhibit |
Odor |
Olor |
Pad, towel, napkin directory |
Patent medicine |
Poetry directory |
Products, some current |
Puberty booklets for girls and parents|
Religion |
Religión y menstruación |
Your remedies for menstrual discomfort |
Menstrual products safety |
Sanitary napkin, towel, pad directory |
Seguridad de productos para la menstruación |
Science |
Shame |
Slapping, menstrual |
Sponges |
Synchrony |
Tampon directory |
Early tampons |
Teen ads directory |
Tour of the former museum |
Towel, pad, sanitary napkin directory |
Underpants & panties directory |
Videos, films directory |
Words and expressions about menstruation |
Would you stop menstruating if you could? |
What did women do about menstruation in the past? |
Washable pads |
Read 10 years (1996-2006) of articles and Letters to Your MUM on this site.
Leer la versión en español de los siguientes temas: Anticoncepción y religión, Breve reseña - Olor - Religión y menstruación - Seguridad de productos para la menstruación.


MUSEUM OF MENSTRUATION AND WOMEN'S HEALTH

German menstrual pads, 1908-1990s
from an exhibition catalog


This illustration comes from "Menstruation: Monatshygiene im Wandel von 1900 bis heute," the catalog of the exhibition at the Lorsch branch of the Hessian State Museum in Darmstadt, Germany, that occurred from 26 November 1998 to 31 July 1999.
It's interesting that after chasing commercial washable pads from the markets in America and probably most of Europe - Raise your hand if you want to wash your pad! - washables made a comeback among certain groups mainly because of environmental concerns.
Below: Center item: a silk washable pad ("Vivas") in its packaging, 1992-93.
It measures 231 x 160 x 7 mm (9.1 x 6.3 x 0.3").
Read the interesting text on the packaging [I added the red; my translation]:
Vivas silk pad for menstruation. Washable. MIDDLE [MIDI] size: recommended price
DM (German marks) 13.90. GOOD FOR MY BODY AND GOOD FOR NATURE.
Vivas silk pad made of excellent raw silk--extremely absorbent because of
several layers of various woven patterns.
Therefore wonderfully soft and gentle to
the skin. Air can circulate, preventing odor and skin irritation. After use
Vivas doesn't wind up in the trash. You can use them 4-5 years until they go
back into nature. Sizes : MIDI for regular bleeding. MAXI for heavy bleeding
and for night. Wash before using them the first time. After use soften them
in cold water and wash them in the next laundry, 40-60° [C]. After drying
rub them together, which makes the silk again very soft
. Light and secure,
no additional fastening necessary in a tight-fitting cotton panty because fabric
on fabric doesn't slip.
Almost necessities: the VIVAS ceramic pot for softening
the pad
. The VIVAS pouch for safekeeping. Printed on 100 percent recycled paper.
[Mentrual cups & sponges often come with containers.]
See American modern Snap-on style washable pads, Washable pad with belt.
End | pattern for homemade pad & belt, 1908 - knitted washable menstrual pad, about 1948-1950 -
disposable pads from East Germany, 1950-1960s - silk washable pad, 1990s

German patterns for making pads and belts, about 1900
Instructions for making Japanese pads, early 20th century?
German washable pad ads, about 1900
American washable pads,
1902 & 1908
German washable pads and belt, with case (about 1935-40).
German brief panty (German: Slip, Unterhosen) for menstruation (about 1960)

© 2011 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce or distribute any of the work on this Web site
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