The first commercially available period pads appear to have been made by Thomas and William Southall around 1880.
While the concept of disposable menstrual pads evolved from an invention by Benjamin Franklin to help stop bleeding in wounded soldiers, it was the Southalls who seem to have brought the first commercial product to market.
Here's a breakdown:
- Benjamin Franklin's contribution: He created an invention to help stop bleeding in soldiers, which served as an early precursor to disposable absorbent pads.
- Thomas and William Southall: Credited with creating and selling the first commercially available menstrual pads around 1880.
Therefore, while Franklin contributed to the concept, the Southalls were the pioneers in making period pads commercially accessible.
