1 in 4 people in the US can’t afford period products and are forced to use unhealthy alternatives instead

Just blood—
no sweat nor tears

Every person deserves period health
yet it is unaffordable to many.

Newspapers?    Not a Pad    A tissue?    Not a Pad    Some cardboard box?    Not a Pad    An old sock?    Not a Pad    Newspapers?    Not a Pad    A tissue?    Not a Pad    Some cardboard box?    Not a Pad    An old sock?    Not a Pad   

Menstruators get taxed and
pay more just for bleeding.

Period assets and sanitary products are expensive.
A basic sanitary purchase at a local pharmacy costs  $49.52* minimum 

...and let’s not forget the hidden costs:

It’s already hard to deal with,
it should not be hard to understand

Pe•ri•od Pov•er•ty

 

The limited or inadequate access to menstrual products or menstrual health education as a result of financial constraints or negative socio-cultural stigmas associated with menstruation.

Source: Glossary for the Global Menstrual Movement, PERIOD.

Men•stru•a•tor

 

A gender-neutral inclusive term to describe all people who experience menstruation as a biological function.

Source: Glossary for the Global Menstrual Movement, PERIOD.

Men•stru•al Eq•ui•ty

 

The affordability, accessibility and safety of menstrual products for all people - including laws and policies - that acknowledge and consider menstruation.

Source: Glossary for the Global Menstrual Movement, PERIOD.

Pe•ri•od Pov•er•ty

 

The limited or inadequate access to menstrual products or menstrual health education as a result of financial constraints or negative socio-cultural stigmas associated with menstruation.

Source: Glossary for the Global Menstrual Movement, PERIOD.

Men•stru•a•tor

 

A gender-neutral inclusive term to describe all people who experience menstruation as a biological function.

Source: Glossary for the Global Menstrual Movement, PERIOD.

Men•stru•al Eq•ui•ty

 

The affordability, accessibility and safety of menstrual products for all people - including laws and policies - that acknowledge and consider menstruation.

Source: Glossary for the Global Menstrual Movement, PERIOD.

Want to know more?

Download the full Glossary for the Global Menstrual Movement
by PERIOD.

Some Cramp-Inducing Stuff

Lower-income students and students of color (particularly Latinx students) are more affected by the lack of access to sanitary products than White and middle-income students.**

52%

of students have worn period products for longer than recommended because they can’t afford new ones.*
34%

of people who menstruate are unable to afford needed menstrual hygiene supplies.***
11%

of people who menstruate experience this issue on a monthly basis.***

*Source: CVS prices as of 5/23.

**Source: Period.org. The State of the Period: The Widespread impact of period poverty on US Students. Commissions by Thinx & PERIOD. October 2023 https://period.org/uploads/SOTP-2023.pdf

***Source: Sebert Kuhlmann A, Peters Bergquist E, Danjoint D, Wall LL. Unmet menstrual hygiene needs among low-income women. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;133(2):238-244. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000003060

Need help?

Bleed safely.

Find support, resources and education
with these partners:

Want to help?

We know where.

Reach out, contribute, or volunteer:

 

A global, youth-fueled nonprofit
that strives to eradicate period
poverty and stigma through
service, education, and advocacy.

The Period
Collective

A nonprofit organization based in
Chicago that is dedicated to
promoting menstrual equity by
ensuring that all individuals have
access to menstrual products.

The Campaign
Against Hunger—
I Got You, Girl!

When you support TCAH’s “I Got
You, Girl” Campaign, you help us
provide essential products to New
Yorkers struggling to make
ends meet.

Stay tuned for updates and additional NGOs.

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Made with ♥ by Amy, Barb, Dani, Molly & Pao.
5 bleeding and empowered women.
Special thanks to TBWA\Health Collective & TBWA\WorldHealth
New York City, October 2023.