High prices on menstrual products are forcing some to cut back

Sales of menstrual products fall as prices continue to rise

What you probably already know: Menstrual products are expensive and prices have risen along with everything else over the last few years. That’s prompting many people to make due with less so they can afford other products, such as food. It is likely to exacerbate an issue known as period poverty, which is tied to lower rates of school and work attendance by people who can’t afford period products.

Why? A Wall Street Journal report shows that the average price of a pack of sanitary pads has gone up 41% and tampons are up 36% since 2009, and quotes one woman saying she’s spending $22 a month on period products. Because these products require federal clearance to be sold, there are fewer generic brands than other common supermarket items.

What it means: One in four people who menstruate in the U.S. is affected by period poverty and make decisions about attending school or work based on access to these products. These issues tend to impact lower-income areas and more often people of color. The consequences can be far-reaching, from poor health and academic performance to feelings of shame and loss of dignity.

What happens now? A group called Period Poverty is trying to solve this issue by providing low or no-cost, plastic-free solutions to underserved communities across the globe. Other groups have also added this issue to their priority list, as a World Bank study found that period poverty affects approximately 500 million people across the world. P&G has donated 80 million period products in the U.S. through its partnership with Feeding America. Some states are considering legislation on the issue that would provide free access to products for school students.

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