It Took Until 2023 to Test Period Products With Real Blood – And That’s a Problem
It sounds unbelievable—but it’s true: period products weren’t tested with real blood until 2023.
For nearly a century since the invention of tampons, the products millions of people use during their periods were tested using saline solution or water—not actual menstrual blood [1]. This might seem like a minor technical detail, but it actually reveals something much bigger: how deeply neglected women’s health research has been for generations.
A Century-Old Oversight
Dr. Sarah White, CEO of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health and a member of Australia’s Women’s Advisory Council, called the findings "mind boggling." She pointed out that tampons were invented nearly 100 years ago, yet only recently have researchers started seriously asking how we can accurately test whether someone is experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding—a symptom that can be linked to chronic conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, and more [2].
“We had normalised pads and tampons being changed every hour, many of us suffering heavy bleeding in silence,” one post from Unlearning Shit Australia stated [3].
Why It Matters
When menstrual products aren’t tested with realistic materials—like actual blood—they fail to reflect the real-world experience of users. That means we don't have an accurate sense of how much blood a pad or tampon can actually absorb, which makes it even harder for patients and providers to recognize when bleeding is abnormal.
And that delay matters. Conditions like endometriosis, which can cause heavy and painful periods, take an average of 7–10 years to diagnose [4]. For people silently enduring extreme bleeding, pain, or fatigue every month, not having this information can mean years of misdiagnosis and suffering.
This isn’t just about menstrual products—it’s about how women’s health is systemically under-researched and underfunded. As Dr. White puts it:
“Every single medical condition that affects women needs to be reassessed.” [2]
Historically, most medical research was conducted on male bodies, with the assumption that results would apply to women too. But women’s bodies are not smaller versions of men’s. Hormonal cycles, reproductive organs, and disease progression can differ significantly.
Moving Forward
This moment of realization isn’t just frustrating—it’s also an opportunity. Acknowledging the gaps in menstrual product testing is a crucial first step. But we need more:
More funding for women’s health research
Mandatory testing standards that reflect real use
Medical education reform to include menstrual health and disorders
Patient voices at the center of product development
If we can take periods seriously, we can start to take women’s health seriously, too.
Let’s stop asking people to normalize pain, blood loss, and silence.
Let’s demand better.
References:Davis, N. (2023). “Why Are Tampons Still Being Tested With Water?” The Guardian.White, S. (2023). Commentary via Unlearning Shit Australia.Unlearning Shit Australia. (2023). “It took until 2023 for someone to finally realize...”World Health Organization (2021). Endometriosis Fact Sheet.
