Just let me choke back the mild trauma the words "sanitary belt" invoke in me, and I'll tell you.

Back in the Stone Age when I was a teen, sanitary pads weren't adhesive. Instead, you had an elastic band - the sanitary belt - with tabs front and back. You'd use safety pins to attach the ends of the pad, and pull the assembly on like a pair of knickers. Then your actual knickers went on top of that.

It was all just as horrifying as it sounds. Tampons had been invented, but were rare and exotic in my neck of the woods. The whole subject was hedged round with shame and embarrassment. The subtext of "sanitary products" is that you are filthy, disgusting.