How Women Managed Their Periods Through History, From Moss to Menstrual Belts

It’s one of those topics that’s been kept behind closed doors for most of human history. Periods were private, rarely written about, and often misunderstood or feared. Yet every woman throughout time has dealt with them in one way or another. 

What’s fascinating is how little evidence survives, especially from earlier centuries when menstruation was either taboo or simply considered part of life that didn’t need to be recorded. So how did women manage their periods centuries ago?

How Women Managed Their Periods Through History

Women in the past didn’t menstruate as often as women today. Before reliable contraception, many spent large parts of their fertile years either pregnant or breastfeeding, which naturally suppressed their periods. However, when it did arrive, they had to handle it using whatever resources were available to them at the time.

Ancient Beliefs and Early Practices

In ancient societies like Greece, Rome, and Egypt, people had many theories about why women bled every month. Some believed menstruation rid the body of excess fluids. Others saw it as a cleansing or healing process. There were even claims that menstrual blood held special powers, used in remedies to treat wounds or certain illnesses.

When it came to managing the bleeding, practicality ruled. Written evidence is scarce, but historians and archaeologists have pieced together possible solutions. In ancient Greece and Rome, women likely used soft, absorbent materials such as wool, linen, or moss. 

They would wrap or twist these materials and insert them to absorb the blood. Egyptian women may have taken thin strips of papyrus, rolled them into tight, tampon-like shapes, and used them the same way.

It’s easy to overlook how basic hygiene was at the time. There were no soaps or disinfectants as we know them, and washing facilities were limited. Yet women managed. They did what they could with the materials around them, cleaning what was reusable and replacing what wasn’t. 

The Medieval Period

By the Middle Ages, attitudes toward menstruation had darkened. Under the influence of the Church, periods were no longer seen as cleansing but as something impure. The idea of “uncleanness” took hold, linking women’s biology with sin and moral weakness.

Religious writers warned of dire consequences. They claimed that a menstruating woman could dull a mirror’s shine, kill grass by walking on it, or spoil food simply by touching it. Some even suggested that women should stay indoors until their period had passed, avoiding contact with others.

For wealthy women, this was manageable. They could withdraw to their chambers, rest in bed, and rely on servants to wash soiled linens. Rags or cloths made of linen were the main method for absorbing blood, and sheets would be laid beneath them to catch any leaks. Afterward, the fabrics were washed and reused.

Working women had no such luxury. They had to carry on with their daily tasks in fields, markets, or homes. Some historians believe they allowed the blood to flow naturally beneath their clothing, using rags to wipe away excess when they could. Many wore long shifts made of linen that sat close to the skin, which absorbed some of the blood. These shifts could be washed later with other garments.

It’s possible that some women wore red skirts or petticoats to conceal stains, although the evidence is limited. What is certain is that most had to endure the discomfort in silence. There were no products, no understanding of hygiene, and no social space for open discussion.

During this time, the term “courses” began to appear in language and writing. It became a polite way to refer to menstruation and was widely used from the late medieval period through to the 19th century. You’ll find it in medical texts, diaries, and letters, especially among educated or upper-class women who avoided direct or “vulgar” terms like blood or period. 

The phrase came from the idea of a “monthly course” or “the courses of nature,” reflecting the regular, cyclical flow. In older writings, expressions like “She is in her courses” or “Her courses are stopped” were common, with the latter often implying pregnancy or illness. Physicians in later centuries, particularly between the 17th and 19th centuries, referred to it more clinically as “the menses” or “the monthly courses.”

The 19th Century and the Victorian Era

Moving into the 19th century, social attitudes toward women’s courses changed very little. The Victorian age, often remembered for its strict moral codes and repression, treated menstruation as something that polite society did not speak of.

For upper-class women, courses were often viewed as a form of illness. They were encouraged to rest, stay indoors, and avoid social events. The poorer classes didn’t have that option. Working women had to continue their labor, whether in factories, kitchens, or homes. 

They created makeshift solutions from whatever they could find. Some tied belts or cords around their waists, suspending strips of cloth between their legs to catch the flow. These cloths were washed by hand and reused many times. It was far from ideal, but it offered some sense of protection.

At the time, menstruation was framed in medical terms as a sign of weakness. Doctors often described courses as an ailment, a monthly affliction that left women frail and emotional. This view reinforced the belief that women were unfit for strenuous work or intellectual activity during that time. Few questioned it, and many women internalized the idea that their bodies were unpredictable and in need of restraint.

Even so, some women experimented with “sanitary girdles” or belts, which held cloth pads in place. These early attempts at structured menstrual products were awkward and uncomfortable, but they laid the groundwork for what would follow.

Early 20th Century

By the late 19th century and early 20th century, industrialization and advances in textile production began to change things. The first disposable sanitary pads appeared around this time. Made from wood pulp, they were originally used by nurses during the First World War for wound dressing. Some realized they could serve another purpose and began using them for menstrual care.

As products improved, the idea of commercial sanitary protection took hold. Companies began to market pads directly to women, though the advertising was discreet and euphemistic. Many women still felt embarrassed buying them, so products were often sold in plain packaging.

In the 1930s, the first disposable tampon was introduced. It was designed to be inserted internally, much like the papyrus rolls of ancient Egypt, but with a far greater understanding of hygiene and anatomy. For the first time in history, women had access to products that allowed them greater mobility and confidence during their periods.

Even so, social attitudes were slow to evolve. Menstruation remained a private matter, discussed in hushed tones and often associated with shame. It would take decades before menstruation became a subject of open discussion and education.