Conversation so far:
what did they do before tampons and pads
Before the disposable pad was invented, most women used rags, cotton, or sheep's wool in their underwear to stem the flow of menstrual blood.
what are some alternatives to tampons and pads
Alternatives to tampons and pads include menstrual cups, period panties, and menstrual sponges.
what are menstrual sponges
The Menstrual Sponge is a natural, renewable resource that's been used in personal care for ages, including for use as menstrual tampons.
are menstrual sponges hygienic
Some sponges are 'untested and potentially very unsafe'. According to the FDA, twelve “menstrual sponges” were tested in the 1980s and they contained sand, grit, bacteria, and “various other materials.”

Question: what about period panties
Self-contained rewrite: are period panties hygienic