Description
| - A sanitary napkin, sanitary towel, sanitary pad, Maxi pad (U.S.), menstrual pad, or pad is an absorbent item worn by a woman while she is menstruating, recovering from vaginal surgery, for lochia (post birth bleeding), abortion, or any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood from a woman's vagina.
These pads are not to be confused with incontinence pads, which are worn by men or women who have urinary incontinence problems or experience stress incontinence. An incontinence pad is a similar item to a menstrual pad, perhaps with a high absorbency. Menstrual pads may be used by some people for this purpose.
Through the ages women have used different forms of menstrual protection. Menstrual pads have been mentioned as early as the 10th century, in the Suda, where Hypatia, who lived in the 4th century AD, was said to have thrown one of her used menstrual rags at an admirer in an attempt to turn him off. The Museum of Menstruation has articles and photos of some...
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