What did women do when pads didn't exist?

Question

of if they were avaliable, say in prison or war.

Answer 1

Here is a site with a lot of 'interesting' information on that very subject:

http://www.mum.org/pastgerm.htm

Answer 2

I was under the impression (my mother mentioned something to me when i was much younger) about using torn up rags or strips of cloth. I read a book once where the mother was teaching her daughter to wash out her 'rags' which i believe is where the common slang term 'on the rag' comes from. They used to use rags before pads or tampons were invented. Messy I'd say.

Answer 3

My grandmother told me she used the cloth that flour sacks were made of when she was a teenager. If that wasn't available I guess any rags worked. They probably had to be washed and reused. I loved the series Clan of the Cave Bear and in the series Aayla used fur, washed and reused over and over. That was during cave man times.

Answer 4

Used Rags!

Answer 5

Some countries still use waded up rags or sit in a little hut away from the hunters in the village.

Answer 6

My grandmother who died a couple of years ago at 90 years told me they would use rags that were rolled up. Yep.....I thought the same thing...pretty gross. I didn't ask her if they washed and reused them. I really didn't want to know.

Answer 7

they would use "rags" like old sheets or towels. Yes they would soak them and wash them. Sure you have heard the term on the "rag" that 's where it came from.

Answer 8

Rags either burned after wards or commonly washed and reused. Messy but better than nothing. Thank god for tampons!!!!

Answer 9

They made their own out of material,padding and straps and washed them out again.

Answer 10

Possibly, just didn't care.
They didn't exactly have a very good cleaning etiquette back then.

Or used old cloths as pads and washed them.