By: Lisa Wei

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), period poverty can be defined as the lack of access to safe and hygienic menstrual products during monthly periods and inaccessibility to basic sanitation services or facilities as well as menstrual hygiene education. Period poverty affects people worldwide, leaving millions to struggle with its social, emotional, and physical health impacts. 

Period poverty happens when individuals cannot afford or access necessary items to manage their menstruation. This includes products like pads, tampons, menstrual cups, period underwear, and other sanitary items. These basic essentials are necessary for maintaining healthy menstrual health, however, many people around the world struggle to obtain these items. While period poverty is often associated with developing countries, it’s also a serious issue affecting wealthy countries. Approximately 500 million people, or one-fourth of all those who menstruate, lack access to menstrual products, according to Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHM). In some places, menstrual products are considered luxury and are not covered by government programs, despite being necessary for human health and wellbeing.

Many households struggle with the choice of food, rent, and healthcare. Period products, although essential to maintaining healthy menstrual hygiene, are not always a priority, leading to alternative solutions or none altogether. Therefore, period poverty is not just a matter of access to menstrual products: it is also tied to other issues such as poverty, gender inequality, and inadequate sanitation systems. 

The consequences of period poverty are profound; when people lack the means to manage their periods properly, it can lead to many negative impacts on those communities affected. This includes reduced access to education, negative influence on employment, increase in health risks, social effects, and many more. That’s why PinkCostFree is committed to helping address period poverty. Tackling period poverty requires a varied approach that includes educating others and raising awareness, which is why we decided to create Bailey’s Bulletin, a blog dedicated to teaching others about menstrual health and period poverty. By raising awareness, providing education, and improving menstrual product accessibility, we can help eliminate period poverty together.