Period Poverty

Period Poverty is defined as the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products, period education, hygiene facilities, waste management, or a combination of these. This global issue stems from the lack of menstruation health awareness and the fact that access to essential period products is seen as a luxury rather than a basic human right.

It has reached a point where 1 in 5 menstruators have reported having to miss work, school, or similar activities due to not being able to afford or access the proper menstrual hygiene products they needed. Check out the statistics below to see how period poverty affects menstruators in the United States.

Period Poverty In The U.S.

  • 64% of menstruators in the US alone have reported struggling to afford or access basic menstrual hygiene products.

  • 83% of teens feel like period poverty is an issue that is not talked about enough.

  • On top of the rising costs of period products in the US, 21 states still apply Luxury Tax to essential menstrual hygiene products.