What did menstrual bleeding mean to the people of the past? And what expectations did that raise?
Category: menstruation
Vicarious menstruation
One aspect of the history of menstruation that is fascinating to a modern reader is the phenomenon of ‘vicarious menstruation’, in which a woman bleeds regularly from another orifice, or even from a wound. While modern medicine still recognises conditions in which other mucous membranes bleed along with, or instead of, the womb lining, the cases… Continue reading Vicarious menstruation
Menotoxin – when menstruation can kill?
In the 1920s there was a serious medical debate about an invisible substance called ‘menotoxin’. This was believed to exist in menstrual blood; it could blight flowers and prevent jam from setting, and bread from rising. The theory can be seen as a surprising throwback, in the age of germs (germs, rather than air or… Continue reading Menotoxin – when menstruation can kill?
Period pains – have women always suffered from menstrual cramps?
A recent YouGov survey of 1000 British women showed that the majority had period pain, and 52% had found it affected their ability to work. John Guillebaud, a professor of reproductive health at University College London, suggested that the level of pain is almost as bad as a heart attack. Have women always suffered pain? Early twentieth-century advertisements for ‘Hall’s… Continue reading Period pains – have women always suffered from menstrual cramps?
The history of tampons – in ancient Greece?
Did ancient Greek women use tampons? It’s clear that women today are curious as to what women in the past did when they were menstruating. I did my PhD on ancient Greek menstruation and I also feel I’m on a crusade to clear up some of the ‘creative’ (actually, just plain wrong) statements about Hippocrates… Continue reading The history of tampons – in ancient Greece?
Mistaking histories 