Female sanitary products have come a long way since ancient Egyptians first started using papyrus to control the flow. And although their history is long and fascinating, there is still more to your tampon than you may have expected.

1.Some of the earliest tampons were made out of weeds, wool, and papyrus.

Even scarier: Women in ancient Greece used thin planks of wood wrapped in lint to keep clean during their time of the month. Outch!

2. They can soak up any type of blood; not just menstrual.

Since tampons are literally cylindrical absorbent cotton, they are great to keep on hand for emergencies or in a first aid kit. Seriously, you could save someone's life by inserting one into a gunshot or knife wound. Not only can they absorb blood from the wounded area, but they can fill the laceration to minimize blood loss.

3. Religious leaders in the '40s and '50s believed that tampon insertion could cause a woman to become aroused.

Obviously none of these leaders were women — or have suffered from PMS.

4. Many American and European women used linen diapers to stop their flow prior to WWI.

Thankfully, some super smart nurses in France realized that bandages were actually a better absorbent, and the quest for better sanitary products for women began.

5. Historically, professional women were more inclined to use tampons.

Tampon use skyrocketed during WWII when women began taking over men's professions. They were much easier to deal with than sanitary pads and were advertised to help women forget about "that time of the month" while performing war duties.

6. Tampons are taxed as luxury items in many places around the world.

Despite their obvious importance in a woman's life, they're subject to high taxes. In Australia for instance, feminine hygiene products are taxed by 10%, which generates about 25 million Australian dollars per year. Ironically,"necessary" tax-free items include condoms and lubricants.

7. Prior to the 1970s, tampons (and menstruation in general) were rarely spoken about in public to preserve a woman's modesty.

They were even banned from being advertised or discussed on television. And since some women felt uncomfortable speaking to their daughters about the topic, tampon manufacturers went so far as to publish books about a woman's menstrual cycle to prevent any improper female discourse.

8. The average American woman uses 16,800 tampons in her lifetime.

That's a whopping $3,000! Too bad it's such a necessity — that money could go towards a really fun trip or a new bag or pair of shoes.

9. Tampons have been used to avoid unwanted pregnancy.

Medical professionals warn against this for a number of reasons. For one, they're only designed to use during menstruation. And more importantly, they don't properly block the entrance of the cervix, where fertilization occurs. Not to mention it sounds really painful.

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