What do you call sanitary towels?

An elastic belt contraption? I wasn't that lucky! I was just turned 11 and my mother gave me a length of tape and a towel, and I had to get on with it! We never spoke about what they were called, she just told me to get them out of her dressing table drawer when I needed them! As soon as I was old enough I used Tampax.

We used to call them ‘mouse hammocks’! Thank god those days are long gone.

My mum used to send me to the hairdressers with a note saying something like "Mene" which I think is the product name. The hairdresser was a man, but I had no idea what I was collecting.

Like Wyllow3, I changed over to tampons very quickly. My Mum took a bit of persuading but the belt made me itch, the pads felt huge and very uncomfortable, I hated them both.
The nick-name I remember for the looped towels was “hammocks for mice”. And a chum always used to say “the painters were in” when she was menstruating.

When did the belt stop being necessary? I remember being issued with a list of requirements when I went into hospital to give birth 40 years ago which included 2 belts and several mega packs of towels. I dutifully obeyed but I was only there for 2 nights!

My mother called them doofers, I called them pads, I have no idea what DD calls them!

No longer need them but my daughter wears period pants which are just ordinary pants with special built in protective layer. Just wash as normal and no pads needed.

They come in light, medium and heavy protection. She buys hers at M and S.

I told my friend who no longer has periods and she has bought herself some because on occasions she has a “wee” accident if she coughs or sneezes!

PS my mum was dumbstruck I'd successfully used tampon as clearly not sexually active but I was somewhat determined NEVER EVER to wear that horrible belt contraption after one try.

My mum called them ST but I never used them I read a magazine called "Jackie" and there was a discreet ad for tampons free "just ask nurse ex" Was a real beginner but it worked out
so have never used/named them except once.

But a confusing question by mum in O/P as tampons different to pads? Trying to think what I'd called them - probably period pads?

Our lives are history now.

Dempie55

Blondiescot

I remember going with my mum to what was a little draper's shop in our home village. She'd be discreetly handed a brown paper package and nothing was said. It was years before I actually twigged what was in that package. I still don't understand why it was the draper's shop which sold them though. Thank god we've moved on from that nonsense.

This was my mum too! The secret brown bag from the draper's shop. In my innocence, I thought it was a bag of buns, because the bag was the same sort as the baker used!

I presume the draper sold them because they were the ones who stocked the elasticated contraption that was the Kotex sanitary belt?

Ahh yes, that does make sense now that I think of it. Those were horrible contraptions!

crazyH 😲 poor you.
A few years ago I went to a garden centre wearing pale blue jeans, I had both a tampon and a pad on just in case, but when I got home discovered they hadn’t been enough😬

Pads or tampons.
Mum calls them sanitary towels , it’s an older age thing.

It was also "Aunty's visiting" when letting your friends know why you couldn't go swimming.

I can’t help but add my story . I still am so embarrassed 🙈 When I was perimenopausal and thought that I was all done, I went to church in a white trouser (height of summer), just using a pantiliner. During service, I felt that something was happening. So, sat down. After service, waited for the church to empty. I minced (like Larry Grayson) my way back to the car, drove home. Even the car seat got stained. Moral of the story., for all the younger GNs . Wear pads during the perimenopausal period, at least for a whole year, until you are 100% sure, you are clear to go.

My mum used to call them bunnies but that was years ago.........DD's call them pads and I keep a supply here - not that I need them any more - for if the DGD's get caught out when they visit; they all know where they're kept and just help themselves.

Blondiescot

I remember going with my mum to what was a little draper's shop in our home village. She'd be discreetly handed a brown paper package and nothing was said. It was years before I actually twigged what was in that package. I still don't understand why it was the draper's shop which sold them though. Thank god we've moved on from that nonsense.

This was my mum too! The secret brown bag from the draper's shop. In my innocence, I thought it was a bag of buns, because the bag was the same sort as the baker used!

I presume the draper sold them because they were the ones who stocked the elasticated contraption that was the Kotex sanitary belt?

Ive had no need for them for over a decade but I’d still say Sanitary pads or tampons, my mum always referred to them as ST’s. We used to get sent to the shop with a little note and would come back with a box all discreetly wrapped up in newspaper & placed in our shopping bag. Inside this secret parcel would be a box of Dr Whites no 2, ridiculous when you look back.

My aunt used to say “are you unwell?”

florentinaworked in pharmacy most of my working life,also Boots trained as a dispenser.
In 1968 ladies of the night also required douches with appropriate tubes,and jugs,and so did the women who helped to dispose of unwanted pregnancies,all explained by an older experienced drug counter assistant.
Trusses that needed measuring and suspensory bandages that needed sizing, Rendalls and pessaries all in the drawers that confused without any training or knowledge.

I call them sanpro which is short for sanitary products. I have never really thought about the connotations of the word sanitary so maybe I should change my terminology

My mum and nan also called them 'bunnies'.

Oopsadaisy1

We used to call them ST’s back in the day, then Tampax became all the rage.

That's what we called them.

sodapop

I call them pads as well.

I remember when I first started nursing they were bulky cotton wool affairs and we called them bunnies.

My mum called them 'bunnies' too and her period was her "chum" ! I could never use tampons as I have a retroverted womb but seem to recall my 'bunnies' were "Dr White's" in my vocabulary....so glad to see the back of them a quarter of a century ago. As my mum used to say (often!): "Men! They don't they're living!"

Downtoearth
I worked at Boots as a dispenser. During my 6 months of drug counter experience, I too had my innocence shattered...well brought up Catholic girl that I was, when I was asked for a packet of Durex. The customer was a well known local lady of the night.
In those days contraceptives were not on display so had to ask a senior colleague where they were.
"In the drawer marked indoor sports." I was told.😳