Periods, once shrouded in secrecy and even referred to as taboo or a disease, are now more widely recognized as a natural and integral part of every woman’s life (and with a monthly occurrence at that until menopause, but we’ll save that topic for another day).
Despite historical stigmas, the topic of menstruation products has gained visibility and expanded over time. There have been several breakthroughs to note, though, such as the first time the word ‘period’ was said in an ad in 1985, featuring Courteney Cox (it was so iconic, that she recreated it to make an ad on menopause); the first time a red “period” in a form of a dot appeared in an Always print ad in 2011; and that time when the menstrual flow was shown as red, also in a TVC created by Bodyform in 2017.
Throughout history, women have utilized various materials to manage their periods. From lint wrapped in wood in ancient Greece to buffalo skin or moss in Native America, the journey of menstrual products has been both innovative and resourceful. In more recent centuries, cloth pads emerged, known locally as pasador, and have since evolved into modern versions.
So much has changed: Not only are we able to talk about our periods more freely now, but the market also offers a myriad of all-new options at our disposal. There are menstrual cups, period panties, and plenty more. For those of us who’ve grown up and only been used to sanitary napkins and tampons, are we ready to make the switch? Are the new generation of period products more promising in terms of preventing leaks, making us feel less conscious when we’re on our periods, and overall, are they more hygienic to use?
Here, we detail the new range of accessible period products available in the market, detail the pros and cons, and what they do. Menstrual products—what is out there?
Sanitary napkins, menstrual pads, or traditional sanitary pads
Sanitary Napkins were created by Johnson & Johnson in 1897. These were called Sanitary Napkins for Ladies or Lister’s Towels—the latter, a sort of tribute to Dr. Joseph Lister who “developed sterile surgery and inspired the founding of the company.”
These pads are recognized as the first commercial and disposable pads in the market and were made from cotton and gauze. They were kept in place using a sanitary belt (similar to the “wings” on most modern pads but were made entirely from cloth) and were used until the 1970s. It wasn’t until 1969 when Stayfree created pads with adhesives which would eventually make the sanitary belt outdated.
In the Philippines, sanitary pads are perhaps the most commonly used period product. In the golden age of TV and advertising, sanitary napkins were heavily advertised, often showing a woman in white pants or a floral dress, doing a strenuous activity—presumably on her period—but feeling fresh and clean regardless, thanks to the napkin’s effectivity. There used to only be “with wings” and “non-wing” options, but to date, there are several brands available in the market with various formats, benefits, lengths, and uses, from overnight to day pads, and more.
Reusable cloth pads or the modern pasador
No one inventor can be attributed to cloth pads. The resurgence of this option comes from the desire to have a more sustainable and less toxic option. Nowadays, modern cloth pads have more moisture-wicking materials that are more comfortable and snap closures that keep them in place.

The Brand Hannah Organic Reusable Pads
P650, The Brand Hannah PH

Simula Cloth Overnight Period Pad
P200, Simula PH
Bamboo pads or organic cotton pads
Cotton and bamboo pads have recently become a popular choice for those considering sustainable and less toxic alternatives to traditional menstrual products.
A variation of the sanitary pads most women are accustomed to, organic cotton pads were created as a more environment-friendly option. Sanitary napkins are usually made from a combination of polymers and plastics that can take up to 500 to 800 years to fully disintegrate. There is also the matter of waste generation to consider. Organic cotton pads are more sustainable, take less time to disintegrate, and can be a more viable option, especially for those who may be allergic to regular sanitary pads.
Meanwhile, bamboo pads are made from fully biodegradable materials like bamboo fibers and usually have natural antibacterial properties.

Hiraya Pilipina Dream Bamboo Pads
P249, Hiraya Pilipina

Nala Organic Cotton Day Pads
P219, Nala Woman

Halia The OG Cloud Kit
P425, Halia.co

Hormony Organic Pads
P135, Eco Shoppe PH

Mirko PH Organic Cotton Pad
P240, Roots Collective PH
Tampons
The earliest use of tampons can be traced back to the 5th century B.C. in Ancient Egypt; medical records would detail tampons made from the papyrus plant. On the other hand, Romans would make theirs from wool.
However, it wasn’t until 1931 that it would be patented and further developed with a modern-day applicator by Dr. Earle Haas, who patented the tampon. Few years later, Gertrude Tendrich would buy the patent and create a “female-centered” company we now know as Tampax. Before the company was born, she would actually sew each tampon on her own—imagine that!
The non-applicator tampon was invented in the 1940s by German gynecologist Dr. Judith Esser-Mittag. She later on sold it to an unnamed company which would then be acquired by Johnson & Johnson.
Tampons aren’t as heavily advertised in the Philippines, compared to sanitary napkins. Usage-wise, many women prefer to wear tampons, especially when doing activities like swimming, or even exercises or sports as it allows for freedom of movement. As tampons are designed to be inserted inside the vagina, it gives less odor as opposed to a sanitary napkin. On the whole, wearing a tampon is also more discreet, especially when wearing fitted or tight clothing.

Nala Regular Tampons
P429, Nala Woman

Ladouce Tampons
P249, Ladouce Tampons PH
Menstrual cups
The first menstrual cup was invented and patented in 1937 by Leona Chambers, an American actress and singer. Her goal then was to make menstrual health easier for women who were longing for a belt-free product and not let periods get in the way of their daily lives.
Although World War II made the availability of rubber scarce, she continued to produce and sell her invention even after the war. In the 1950s, she sold the rights of the cup to Robert Oreck who then started his own company, Tasette, in 1959. Sadly, the company shut down in 1973.
The rebirth of the menstrual cup started with the Keeper Cup. Lou Crawford was inspired by the company Tasette and created a natural gum or latex menstrual cup. The company also made a silicone-grade cup and called it the Moon Cup, which was trademarked in 2022.
The Mooncup (one word), however, which was trademarked and manufactured in the UK, was created in 2002 by Su Hardy. Hardy had a reaction to the latex in the rubber cup she first came across in Australia and needed a hypoallergenic version. The company, Mooncup Ltd., is credited for being the first to manufacture medical-grade silicone menstrual cups.
Locally, Sinaya Cup is the first to introduce the product to the market. Other brands available in the market are Haliya, Bulan, Mirko, R/evolution, and Higala. To date, menstrual cups have been more accessible to women in the Philippines. It’s the period product of choice for those who prefer an environment-friendly option. The menstrual cup also allows women to do activities that they previously could not do or would be hesitant to do while on their period like swimming, diving, surfing, climbing, hiking, trekking, or biking.

Sinaya Cup
P1,199, Sinaya Cup

Comfort Cup
P899, Comfort Cup PH

Aunt Flo Menstrual Cup Set
P1,250, Aunt Flo Beauty

Bulan Cup
P940, Lauvette PH

Haliya Cup
P599, Haliya Cup
Menstrual discs
It was in 1994 when Audrey Contente, an executive at Ultrafem, Inc., introduced the menstrual disc to the market. Quite similar to a menstrual cup, the disc is larger and more circular in shape. It is placed further inside the vagina (the upper end) where it meets the cervix called the vaginal fornix.
The menstrual disc would later on be called “Instead” and would be acquired by Evofem (formerly Instead Healthcare). Years and several name changes later, the company is acquired by The Flex and rebrands the product as Softdisc.

Bessy Menstrual Disc Kit
P799, Bessy Cup

Higala Menstrual Disc
P599, Higala
Period panties, undies, or menstrual underwear
Surprisingly, although period panties or menstrual pants may have not been widely used until recent years, this garment’s origins can be traced back to the 1970s. Its predecessor, the Kleinerts pants, included a waterproof section where sanitary pads could be placed or adhered to. One of the most innovative products created, period underwear provides a moisture-wicking, antimicrobial, and sustainable option for women.

Ecoflo Flow Heavy Active Bikini
P850, Ecoflo

Dana Seamless Period Underwear
P1,272, Her Period

Barebone Period Undies
P453.62
From Diapers to Period Undies: The Birth of Ecoflo
To turn a horrible accident into a sustainable business endeavor is a formidable undertaking, one that demands courage and strength. For Leigh Carcel, it was falling, or in her own words, “flying down a long flight of stairs which almost shattered her spinal cord” that led to the creation of her own brand, Ecoflo.
The morning after her emergency surgery, the doctor said that she might never walk again. It is absolutely something one would find devastating to hear while on vacation. Carcel would then spend three months in the hospital and another seven months for outpatient rehabilitation.
“I was paralyzed from the waist down,” she shared. “I basically had to re-learn how to walk, re-learn how to stand, re-learn how to run. During my rehab program, I was taught all of this, but because of my injury, I had mild incontinence,” she added.
She initially used adult diapers which she found “bulky and really uncomfortable.” A friend suggested she try leak-proof underwear and that’s when the lightbulb moment, so to speak, happened.
“I couldn’t wear cute leggings,” shared Carcel. “I was willing to try anything at [that] point. It was a game-changer. It worked just as well, if not better, than my adult diaper. It was comfortable, just like any underwear,” she mused.
Years after the accident, she launched Ecoflo, a line of leak-proof underwear and as Leigh explains, a “sustainable alternative to what we’ve been accustomed to using for decades.”
The switch may not happen overnight, but a good number of women have decided to use period panties instead for good reason: in the long run, it saves money as commercial sanitary napkins and tampons can be really costly; Ecoflo Undies, for example, are comfortable, breathable, and not bulky; and because of the environmental impact of disposable period products, as it takes pads 700 to 800 years to decompose.
Ultimately, it all really depends on every woman’s needs and preferences. The best part is, there are plenty more options made more accessible to us today, and many of them are even locally made. It’s definitely a win for Filipina women.