Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:39:26 +0000

The Shocking Reason Tampon Sizes Got So Confusing—And What It Reveals If you’ve ever shopped for tampons, you’ve probably noticed a puzzling reality: size labels don’t always match what you expect. One brand might call its smallest “Volume 1,” another “Regular,” and a third “Light,” yet the actual capacity and absorbency can vary rockier than that. This confusing patchwork of tampon sizing isn’t just a quirky inconvenience—it’s the result of outdated standards, inconsistent marketing, and a growing gap between consumer needs and product definitions. What’s truly shocking is how this confusion reveals deeper cultural, scientific, and social tensions around women’s health. ### The History Behind Tampon Sizing: From Inconsistency to Confusion Tampon sizing has evolved rapidly over the past century, but early standards were informal and nonexistent. In the 1930s, tampons were little more than cotton plugs with vague labeling. As brands entered the market in the 1970s and 80s, “Regular,” “Regular-Diaphragm,” “Large,” “Extra-Large,” and other labels spread—but with no universal capacity measurements. Some brands used milliliter estimates, others relied on physical descriptors (“snug,” “relaxed”), and many simply mixed terminology across countries and product lines.