Picture this: You’re in the middle of a rush at your new job when a sudden sharp pain hits. You ask your supervisor if you can take your break and head to the restroom, only to find out that your period had started earlier than what your calendar projected. Unprepared, you scramble to find a tampon from the communal dispenser, but it’s empty. Now left with no options, you’re placed in an awkward spot. Should you ask your coworker for an extra tampon, or dismiss yourself from the workplace hoping you’ll be able to make it back in time before anyone notices?
This may not be a common occurrence, but it reflects one of the many challenges millions of menstruating individuals in the United States come across on a regular basis. The expression “period poverty” first emerged in the UK by student activists, grassroots organizers, and public health scholars to describe this issue, which gained momentum in movements like the Free Periods campaign around 2017.
Period poverty refers to the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene resources and knowledge, such as washing facilities, waste disposal, and sanitary products. With this definition alone, the need for urgency may not be apparent. However, this issue transcends the inability to afford hygiene products. It also considers the institutions that lack consistent access to these supplies like schools, correctional facilities, shelters, and other public spaces. Additionally, the issue includes the policies enacted that make these products even more challenging to acquire.
While legislative efforts, such as The Menstrual Equity for All Act and the TANF Hygiene Access Act, strive to alleviate the strenuous fight to halt period poverty through promoting accessibility and awareness, there are public health and economic issues that affect education and participation from various institutions that persist.
The Rising Prices of Period Products
Feminine hygiene products may not seem expensive, but their prices vary significantly depending on the brand and the kind of product. Since 2020, inflation has driven the average price of tampons from $7.50 to $8.30. In bulk, the cost ranges from $15 to $20. Though eliminated in 20 states, the Tampon Tax contributes an additional economic burden for menstruating individuals. Various states continue to levy a sales tax on these items, which range between 4% and 9.9% (Table 1).
Criticisms of the tampon tax originated from standard sales and value-added tax (VAT) codes written in the mid-20th century, exempting period products from “medical necessities” (i.e., prescription drugs) and “basic groceries.” Instead, they are categorized as “non-essential luxury goods” as they were historically considered luxury and cosmetic items.
Table 1. States that Enforce Tampon Tax
| State | State Sales Tax on Menstrual Products |
| Louisiana | 9.9% |
| Mississippi | 7.0% |
| Tennessee | 7.0% |
| Arkansas | 6.5% |
| Idaho | 6.0% |
| Kentucky | 6.0% |
| West Virginia | 6.0% |
| Arizona | 5.6% |
| North Dakota | 5.0% |
| Wisconsin | 5.0% |
| North Carolina | 4.75% |
| Utah | 4.7% |
| Georgia | 4.0%–7.0% |
| Hawaii | 4.0%–7.0% |
| Kansas | 4.0%–7.0% |
| Oklahoma | 4.0%–7.0% |
| South Dakota | 4.0%–7.0% |
| Wyoming | 4.0%–7.0% |
Alliance for Period Supplies, Tampon Tax by State (2026).
Period Poverty: Beyond the Definition
When thinking about period poverty in the U.S., it could easily be associated with the inability to afford feminine hygiene products. But public health organizations describe it more broadly. Managing menstruation requires access to education, sanitation facilities, and products. Failing to have access to any of these components makes it more difficult for menstruating individuals to manage their period cycles.
The Misconceptions
Education is a key component to understanding menstrual hygiene. Without it, dogmatic beliefs surrounding menstruation tend to undermine the physical and emotional feelings of those who menstruate.
A notorious claim that women [or other non-identifying individuals] are “always on their period” to scapegoat accountability persists to do harm. While it has been scientifically proven that a person’s menstrual cycle is subjective and typically averages 28 days, the notion that someone could be “always on their period” can damage a person’s self-esteem and confidence. Such remarks are not appreciated.
These assumptions discourage open conversations about menstruation that could ultimately help end period poverty.
Another major misconception about menstrual health is how the use of tampons threatens virginity. The myth originated from early 20th-century societal taboos combined with historical misunderstanding of the hymen being a “seal of virginity.” It was believed that not adhering to these beliefs compromises a woman’s purity.
To set the record straight, virginity is a social construct, not biological.
The “Forever Chemicals”
Concerns about menstrual products aren’t restricted to affordability. Researchers are also looking more closely at the contents of these items. Clean bathrooms, running water, soap, and private changing spaces are all a person needs to safely manage their hygiene, yet many of these resources remain inaccessible to many individuals. While access to these necessities is a great challenge, researchers are raising questions about the safety of the products themselves, more specifically, the chemicals used to make the products.
A study testing the polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the University of Notre Dame discovered “forever chemicals” in reusable hygiene products. These products are said to have a class of toxic fluorinated compounds that repel oil, water, and stains, which have a strong chemical exposure that, if used long-term, can result in risks for immune suppression, hormone disruption, and reproductive issues.
The federal government has yet to regulate or ban PFAS in consumer products, but the states have introduced new laws that do. Legislation in Minnesota, Washington, and California, has been passed to phase out the incorporation of these chemicals in these products, encouraging the participation of other states as well.
It’s unfortunate that menstruating individuals have to go through such a dilemma in order to find safe products to manage their hygiene. Though at this rate, it seems that all states will recognize period poverty as a moral injustice in the near future.
The Problem is Everywhere
In the U.S., no state is exempted from period poverty. Both metropolitan and rural cities lack the resources needed to maintain hygiene in their institutions. Focusing on teenage students, 20% of those who menstruate struggle to afford products. To add, a research article by BMC Women’s Health found that 14% of college students experienced period poverty on a yearly basis while 10% faced it every month. Experiencing these challenges tends to have negative effects on a student’s academic and emotional well-being.
Many states are currently addressing these negative health impacts by requiring schools to provide free menstrual products. Thinx & PERIOD’s study on the issue presented statistics on students’ attendance only to highlight that 25% of teens have missed class because of the lack of products.
Correctional facilities face menstrual inequity as well. A study conducted by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) in 2023 reports that 29.5% of 156 respondents had to barter to obtain period products. Nearly half (48.1%) prolonged the use of products due to limited supply, leaving almost a quarter of them to suffer negative health consequences, while others resorted to homemade products or toilet paper to manage their periods.
We’re Going Places
The U.S. continues to face the challenges of period poverty, but meaningful progress has been made in recent years. Legislative measures to improve access to products include the TANF Hygiene Access Act and the Menstrual Equity for All Act.
The Menstrual Equity for All Act seeks to increase access to free period products in public institutions, including schools, shelters, and prisons. Parallel to such a provision, the TANF Hygiene Access Act permits states to supply funds to low-income families to purchase products and other hygiene necessities. Although there are individuals who are not eligible for such assistance for reasons like location, these enacted policies showcase the changes being made to demonstrate growing commitment to make menstrual products more readily available.
Outside of legislation, groups like Period Law, PERIOD, and the Alliance for Period Supplies have been instrumental in boosting awareness about menstrual equity across the nation through policy representation, community product drives, and educational campaigns.
The collaborations of politicians, non-profit organizations, educators, and communities at large signal an eventual shift towards a future where products are more widely available and menstrual health is recognized as a vital component of public health, even if there is still work to be done.
Period Poverty in the US: What Can You Do?
The growing attention to menstrual equity continues to be an ongoing effort, but it doesn’t need to be solely in the hands of lawmakers and advocacy groups. Individuals can encourage visibility of this issue by donating menstrual products to local shelters, food banks, or community organizations such as PERIOD or even internationally with Days for Girls International.
Having conversations revolving around period poverty with your peers can help put a stop to this issue. Reducing the stigma by having open conversations about menstruation and perhaps even sharing educational resources that raise awareness about period poverty in the U.S.
There are various ways for individuals to help end period poverty, but it calls for full cooperation from policymakers, organizations, and communities to accomplish this effort.