Sanitary Napkins / Sanitary Pads

 

Definition of Sanitary Napkins/Sanitary Pads

 

Sanitary Napkins or Sanitary pads is an absorbent pad of cotton and cellulose, worn by women during monthly menstruation or Sanitary Napkins are a disposable pad of absorbent material worn to absorb menstrual flow.

 

Definition of Tampon

 

A tampon is a plug of cotton or other absorbent material inserted into a body cavity or wound to absorb bodily fluid. The most common type in daily use (and the topic of the remainder of this article) is a usually disposable plug that is designed to be inserted into the vagina during menstruation to absorb the flow of blood. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates tampons as medical devices.

 

Difference Types Of Sanitary Napkins / Sanitary Pads

 

Panty Liner - Designed to absorb daily vaginal discharge, light menstrual flow, "spotting", slight urinary incontinence.

Ultra-thin - A very thin (compact) pad, which may be as absorbent as a Regular or Maxi/Super pad but with less bulk.

Regular - A middle range absorbency pad. Most used by the women.

Maxi / Super - A larger absorbency pad, useful for the start of the menstrual cycle when menstruation is often heaviest.

Night - A longer pad to allow for more protection while the wearer is lying down, the size is little longer than regular pad, Night pads with an absorbency suitable for overnight use.

Maternity - These are usually slightly longer than a maxi/Super pad and are designed to be worn to absorb lochia (bleeding that occurs after childbirth). Special design for women after childbirth, vaginal surgeries or abortion.

 

Regular Sanitary Napkins	Ultra-thin Sanitary Napkins	Night Use Sanitary Napkins	Panty Liner

 

Useful Link for Sanitary Napkins

 

1. Wikipedia. Sanitary napkin.
2. Powerhouse Museum. Manufactured Pads.
3. iloveindia.com. History of Sanitary Napkins.
4. About.com: Women History, Sanitary Napkins.
5. Answer.com: Sanitary Napkins. Pantiliner.
6. sanitarynapkin.110mb.com. Sanitary Napkins.

 

How Select Sanitary Napkins / Pads?

 

1. Consider different styles, brands, sizes and thickness.
2. Select a shape or design
3. Consider of the absorbency rate
4. Thickness for comfortable
5. Best support system for preventing slippage

 

Important Factors to Consider for the Selection Of Sanitary Napkins

 

Sanitary napkins are normally made up of three layers: surface layer, absorbent layer and underlying layer. The choice of sanitary napkins should be based on considerations relating to the materials and functions of these three layers.

1. Surface Layer Consideration - prefer to have a cotton net surface with rapid absorption to avoid wet skin surface.
2. Absorbency Layer - middle layer should have effective absorption agents, avoid to use paper pulp from recycle paper as absorbency agents.
3. Underlying Layer - underlying layer should be made of air permeable materials.

 

Useful Link for Sanitary Napkins

 

1. eHow.com. How to select Sanitary Napkins?
2. sanitarynapkin.110mb.com. How to choose Sanitary Napkins?

 

Homemade Sanitary Napkins

 

Before manufactured/disposable sanitary napkins became available and affordable, women made their own sanitary napkins by sewing or folding absorbent cloth into thick pads. They attached them to some sort of belt with loops, pins or clasps. The sanitary napkins would be washed and re-used many times.

 

 

Pictures Source: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/rags/homemade_napkins.asp

 

Articles Source:

 Consumers Association Of Penang. July 2002. Utusan Konsumer. Page 5. Georgetown:  Consumers Association Of Penang.

Useful Link for Homemade Sanitary Pads / Napkins

 

1. Hillbilly Housewife. Homemade Sanitary Napkins.
2. Powerhouse Museum. Homemade Sanitary Napkins.
3. eHow.com. How to Make Sanitary Napkins.
4. sanitarynapkin.110mb.com. Homemade Sanitary Napkins.

 

Warning : Sanitary Napkins - A silent Health Threat

 

 

To make a sanitary pad, wood pulp fibers are first dispersed in water in large tub. Most of the chemical s and dyes required are added at this stage. The pulp is then scraped and brushed and inserted with air to make fleecy.

The average women use approximately 15,000 pads over the course of her lifetime. The effect of continual exposure to dioxin, which is forever stored in fat cells, may become cumulative and deadly.

Full Article at Sanitary Pads - A silent Health Threat