sanitary napkin
Enable an agent to recognise a sanitary napkin, assess its suitability and condition for external menstrual-fluid absorption, and determine appropriate use, care and disposal actions.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
recalled by Codex without web access - no source was read
Researched by: Codex
Purpose and description
Enable an agent to recognise a sanitary napkin, assess its suitability and condition for external menstrual-fluid absorption, and determine appropriate use, care and disposal actions.
A sanitary napkin is an absorbent article worn externally against the vulva, usually secured to underwear, to collect menstrual fluid.
It can be Identify a pad's intended use, reuse class and attachment method from its construction and documented labelling.; Compare coverage and measured fluid-handling performance while preserving differences in test methods.; Guide orientation, attachment and positioning using the applicable product instructions.; Assess visible damage, displacement, leakage and contamination to determine whether replacement or further inspection is needed.; Route a used pad to disposal or, for a reusable variant, its specified cleaning, drying and inspection process.; Check whether performance, material and environmental claims have evidence applicable to the exact product variant..
Distinguishing features
Its intended function is collecting and absorbing menstrual fluid outside the body, rather than absorbing internally like a tampon or collecting internally like a cup.
It is a distinct pad positioned against the external genital area, usually supported by underwear, rather than an absorbent region integral to a garment.
Its intended-use description identifies menstrual protection; similar appearance or absorbency alone does not distinguish it from an incontinence pad or wound dressing.
Disposable and washable constructions can both qualify; adhesive backing, wings and single-use status are optional features rather than defining requirements.
A boundary with pantyliners must consider declared menstrual use and intended protection level because size alone may not reliably separate the categories.
Scope
+ Intended external menstrual-fluid absorption and boundaries with neighbouring absorbent products
+ Pad geometry, layered construction and body-contact materials
+ Absorption, retention, fluid distribution and leakage performance
+ Attachment, positioning and compatibility with underwear
+ Unused, in-use and post-use condition, including reusable-pad care
+ Product instructions, substantiated claims and disposal requirements
- Tampons, menstrual cups and other internally worn menstrual products
- Menstrual underwear with an integrated absorbent structure
- Incontinence pads, diapers and wound dressings as independently intended product kinds
- Diagnosis or treatment of menstrual disorders and skin conditions
- Manufacturing machinery and absorbent-material production processes
- Menstrual-product access programmes and waste-management infrastructure
Characteristics
- Intended protection context
- Declared menstrual use; day, overnight or other labelled context; unspecified Establishes the product's intended role without treating marketing labels as measured performance.
- Reuse class
- Single-use; washable and reusable; unspecified Determines whether post-use handling leads to disposal or a documented cleaning and drying cycle.
- Pad geometry
- Length, width profile and thickness in mm, with measurement conditions Supports assessment of coverage, bulk and fit; dimensions must distinguish the absorbent body from wings.
- Layer and material composition
- Declared body-facing layer, absorbent region, garment-facing barrier, attachment materials and additives; unknown where undisclosed Explains fluid handling, skin contact, care compatibility and material-related claims.
- Fluid uptake and retention
- Uptake or retained mass in g, or volume in mL, with test fluid, duration, pressure and method Allows performance comparison only when test conditions are sufficiently comparable.
- Surface rewet
- Transferred fluid mass in g under a specified loading and pressure method Separates total absorption from fluid returning to the body-facing surface.
- Attachment mechanism
- Backing adhesive; adhesive wings; snaps or other reusable fasteners; holder-dependent; combination Determines placement actions and possible shifting, detachment or fastening failures.
- Underwear or holder compatibility
- Compatible garment shapes, materials or dedicated holders according to documented instructions Connects pad geometry and fastening to stable positioning during wear.
- Observed pad condition
- Unused and intact; unused but damaged or contaminated; in use; visibly leaking or displaced; used awaiting disposal; reusable awaiting washing, drying or inspection Supports the next handling action without assuming remaining capacity can be inferred from appearance alone.
- Care and replacement instructions
- Applicable manufacturer instructions, including any wear, laundering, drying, storage or service-life limits Keeps actions tied to the particular construction and documented instructions.
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 5 bundles · 9 layers · 16 findings · 30 questions.
Menstrual pad identity Defines the external menstrual absorbent kind and the variants that remain within it.
Several neighbouring products share the same general pad shape, so intended use and wearing arrangement must establish identity.
Intended-use boundary
Distinguishes menstrual protection from other absorbent-product purposes.
External menstrual absorbent
Recognition depends on intended external menstrual absorption, supported by product information rather than appearance alone.
- What documented intended use identifies this pad as menstrual protection? definition
- What separates this product from a pantyliner, incontinence pad or wound dressing when their constructions overlap? boundary
Variant and instance
Relates reusable and disposable designs, product variants and individual pads to the registered kind.
Reuse and product identity
Reuse class and exact variant determine which specifications and handling instructions apply to an individual pad.
- Is this construction intended for one use or repeated laundering and reuse? definition
- Which product variant, size and instruction revision supply the specifications being applied to this pad? provenance
Construction and fluid performance Connects the pad's layers and absorbent geometry to uptake, retention and leakage behaviour.
A pad's protection cannot be judged from thickness or a labelled absorbency category alone.
Fluid path and materials
Records how the body-facing surface, absorbent region and garment-facing structure manage fluid.
Layer functions and coverage
The model distinguishes the absorbent footprint from the full pad outline and records the documented role of each layer.
- Which materials and layers receive, distribute and retain fluid, and which limit transfer to clothing? definition
- What are the dimensions of the absorbent region compared with the overall pad and its wings? measurement
- Which composition details are documented, and which remain undisclosed? provenance
Tested protection performance
Separates measurable absorption and leakage properties from unqualified protection claims.
Uptake, retention and rewet
Performance observations require their test conditions because fluid, loading pattern, pressure and orientation affect interpretation.
- What uptake, retained capacity and rewet results are available, with units, test fluid and method? measurement
- Under what loading, compression or movement conditions was edge leakage or garment-side breakthrough assessed? measurement
- Which labelled absorbency or wear-duration claims are supported by these tests, and where does their applicability stop? boundary
Fit, attachment and wear Covers pad placement, fastening, body contact and observable performance during wear.
A pad can have adequate absorbent capacity yet fail through shifting, folding, poor coverage or uncomfortable contact.
Placement and fastening
Relates orientation and attachment features to compatible underwear or holders.
Stable menstrual coverage
Correct placement must identify the body-facing side, any directional shape and the intended fastening arrangement.
- How do the instructions identify the body-facing side, front or rear orientation, and attachment sequence? action
- Which underwear shapes, fabrics or holders are compatible with this pad's dimensions and fastening mechanism? boundary
- What observations reveal folding, bunching, shifting or attachment failure during wear? measurement
Body contact and use state
Records relevant contact materials and observable reasons to change or discontinue use.
Contact condition and replacement
The model records wetness, leakage, friction or reported discomfort without diagnosing their causes or assigning an unsupported safe wear interval.
- Which body-contact materials, fragrances, lotions or other additives are declared for this variant? provenance
- What replacement or discontinuation actions do the applicable instructions specify for leakage, damage or discomfort? action
- Which observations can establish an unsuitable use state, and which cannot reliably establish remaining absorbent capacity? boundary
Care, disposal and evidence Governs the pad's handling between uses or at end of use and the evidence behind applicable claims.
Single-use and reusable pads have different post-use paths, and material or certification claims do not independently establish appropriate handling.
Post-use and storage
Distinguishes disposal from reusable-pad washing, drying, storage and retirement.
Reuse readiness and disposal route
Subsequent actions depend on reuse class, product instructions, observed condition and the available local waste route.
- For reusable pads, what washing, drying and storage instructions apply, and what conditions require retirement? action
- For disposable or retired pads, what disposal route is supported by product instructions and local waste guidance? action
- What evidence establishes that an unused or cleaned reusable pad has been stored appropriately and remains fit for its intended use? provenance
Standards and claim applicability
Connects claims and conformity records to their issuing bodies, methods and exact product scope.
Substantiated pad claims
Claims about absorbency, contact safety, sterility, biodegradability or certification require separate evidence and must not be inferred from packaging style or material names.
- Which standards or conformity requirements apply in the intended market, and what are their issuing bodies, versions and scopes? provenance
- Does each cited test report or certification cover the exact pad variant and the specific claim being evaluated? boundary
- What disposal conditions and evidence support any compostability or biodegradability claim for the complete used pad? provenance
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- This describes the product category, not a particular brand, product line or individual item.
- The length range is approximate and excludes some liners and extra-long products; absorption capacity needs a specified test method before products can be compared.
- Jurisdiction-specific regulations and applicable product standards require verification and are omitted here.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of sanitary napkin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Kinds and varieties
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Disposable pads
- Reusable washable cloth pads
- Winged pads
- Wingless pads
- Overnight pads
- Maternity pads
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of sanitary napkin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- GS1 Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) - 8, 12, 13 or 14 decimal digits - Identifies a commercial trade item, such as a particular pad package, rather than the sanitary-napkin concept.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of sanitary napkin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Collecting menstrual fluid during everyday activities.
- Providing external menstrual protection during sleep.
- Collecting postpartum discharge using maternity variants.
- Providing supplementary protection alongside an internally worn menstrual product.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of sanitary napkin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Overall length of common disposable menstrual pads - Approximately 200-350 - mm
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of sanitary napkin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Leakage when fluid loading exceeds local absorption or retention capacity.
- Side or end leakage caused by poor positioning, bunching or inadequate coverage.
- Adhesive or fastening failure allowing the pad to shift.
- Skin irritation associated with friction, retained moisture or sensitivity to product ingredients.
- Plumbing blockage when pads are flushed.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of sanitary napkin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Common English names include sanitary napkin, sanitary towel, sanitary pad and menstrual pad.
- Access to disposable and reusable products varies with affordability, retail availability, washing facilities and waste services.
- Absorbency labels and size categories vary between brands and markets and should not be assumed equivalent.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of sanitary napkin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Pantyliner - Generally smaller and intended for lighter discharge or spotting; the commercial boundary with a very light menstrual pad is not sharp.
- Tampon - Absorbs menstrual fluid inside the vagina rather than collecting it on an external pad.
- Menstrual cup - Collects menstrual fluid in an internally worn receptacle rather than an external absorbent article.
- Period underwear - Incorporates absorbent protection into the garment rather than using a separate pad.
- Urinary incontinence pad - Is designed primarily to absorb urine, with fluid-handling requirements that differ from menstrual protection.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of sanitary napkin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- How does the registry distinguish sanitary napkins from pantyliners, maternity pads and products marketed for both menstrual and urinary leakage protection?
- Which authoritative test methods provide comparable uptake, retention, rewet and leakage measurements across disposable and reusable sanitary napkins?
- Which sanitary-napkin standards, labelling requirements and conformity schemes apply in the intended jurisdictions, and what does each actually establish?
- What evidence supports product-specific replacement guidance and reusable-pad cleaning, drying and retirement criteria?
- Which environmental claims remain valid for the complete pad after use, and which local waste systems can accept it under the claimed conditions?