Additional question: the packaging on the outside of my box of tampons says the ancient Egyptians invented tampons. I've read this before in a children's history book and a magazine but where does this come from? How would we even have any records of this?

This is a little outside the areas you specify, but Zoroastrianism is and was quite preoccupied with menstruation. I could probably write something on Zoroastrian women in the ancient world based on scriptures and some other articles I have if you're interested?

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4ldxtb/how_did_women_and_perhaps_men_deal_with_menstrual/?utm_content=title&utm_medium=front&utm_source=reddit&utm_name=AskHistorians

Last comment by /u/Subs-man has a few links relating to this topic.