History of Tampons

By paytondorman
  • 500 BCE

    1st tampon

    1st tampon
    Ancient Egyptians came up with the first form of tampons which was a piece of wood wrapped in wood.
  • 500 BCE

    More forms of tampons.

    More forms of tampons.
    Romans used cotton, wool, paper, sponges, fiber, and grass.

  • 1st modern day tampon

    1st modern day tampon
    Earle Haas invented the modern day tampon.

  • Stores

    Stores
    Tampax had arrived on store shelves.

  • 1st tampon patent.

    1st tampon patent.
    Haas filed for his first tampon patent.

  • Newer tampons

    Newer tampons
    Invented by German gynecologist Dr. Judith Esser-Mittag in the 1940’s, the o.b. Tampon was marketed as a “smarter” alternative to applicator tampons by emphasizing greater comfort and doing away with the need for an applicator.

  • Current tampons

    Current tampons
    Esser-Mittag partnered with another doctor, Carl Hahn to start a company and market the o.b. Tampon, which stands for "one binde" or "without napkins" in German. The company was later sold to Johnson & Johnson.