To ask who is spending £13 on sanitary products per month?

[avocuddl]

Just watching This Morning on period poverty. I appreciate this may be a real issue but I just can't work out the costs stated on the website under 'The Facts' www.freeperiods.org/mission
£18k over a lifetime which equals £13 per month.

The MP said she'd spent £25 on one period?

I buy the always £1 pack and they're fine! A pack of paracetamol is like 20p?

Sorry if this has been done before but aibu?

@Mummyoflittledragon , I'm in my 50s . I've had a lot of menstrual blood to deal with in my life. I agree that washing out blood can be really hard and I certainly wouldn't demand people do it or judge them for going for disposables. Reusables are something that some women dismiss without thinking about it. If you think about it and it's not for you, I would obviously have no problem with that - if my opinion even matters to you on this which it, quite rightly, shouldn't.

I have heavy periods. So the cheap ones might as well be tissue paper to me.

£7 otc neurofen with codeine (only painkiller that works for me) & I need to use 2 super plus at a time (on days 1&2) with an always ultra pad every 4 hours for 5days. Can't be arsed calculating it but I've tried the cheap brands and they are inadequate for my needs.

According to this link the UK sanitary protection market in the UK in 2012 was worth £236 million.

Lets say it's currently £250 million to account for inflation, although the article says that use is declining to increased use of mooncups and implants that stop periods.

There are about 30 million women and girls in the UK. If you assume that 10 million of them are having periods (discounting those who are too young, too old, pregnant, had hysterectomies, have implants etc) then that makes the average annual cost of sanitary protection alone £25 per year or about £2 a month, which does back up the statement that 'the percentage of women whose periods cost them in excess of £10 a month is tiny'.

Of course that £2 will be unaffordable to some, and a small percentage will spend a lot more than £2, but it simply isn't the case that the extreme examples on this thread of £10+ spends are the norm, as this would be reflected in data on the size of the market.

Both dd and I have very heavy periods. Dd was on mefenamic acid for years but she started to suffer quite bad side effects.

At her worst she goes through a super tampon every 45 minutes. The Lilets Ultra she can usually last about 90 minutes. At one stage they lasted 2 weeks.

As far as I am concerned the only tampons that work for me are Lilets Ultra or Super Plus extra. They cost £2.19 per pack. I get through a pack every 2 days so in total thats about 4 packs per cycle. Then at my heavist and overnight I have to double up with pads I get through half a pack per cycle so that about another £1

So for me £9.76 per cycle. But I know my daughter has to spend a lot more. She gets through at least 6 packs per cycle plus pads and painkillers.

There seems to be a large painkiller, iron tablet and extra clothes washing costs sized hole in your arithmetic barbara.

OhHeKicked
Yes I was just sent home with pills not even referred to the gynaecologist. I told the gp I couldn’t take tranemexic acid but they couldn’t have cared less. Then my periods became absolute agony. As bad as the twisted ovary I’d suffered some years before and I got a gp appointment and told them I wanted a private gynae referral. That’s when severe adenomyosis was discovered and operated on. The gynae was great, prescribed me decent painkillers - tramadol but I couldn’t take that, at which point I went back to the gp, who finally took it seriously and prescribed me morphine.

I probably do spend that most months.
I have really heavy painful periods that last normally 7 days. I have to use both pads and tampons for the first 4/5 days.
I can't use most shops own brand - I've tried many and they make me itch then get burn like marks where I'm in contact with them. I can use some always so opt for the infinity pads. They're more expensive than regular ones but it's worth it imo.
I can and do use shops own tampax.
I try to bulk buy when things are on offer, when possible.
It's also pretty much a given that I'll leak at some point during every period so period knickers don't last too long and need re buying too.

I've never costed my sanitary needs but will do later this month. I also pay for the sanitary protection two of my daughters use even if it's through giving them pocket money that they then use themselves. Was funding three daughters and me but eldest has now left home and is financially self-sufficient.

It adds up when you're a female household.

Can these threads just fuck off already!?! They come as regularly as a period minus being useful for any reason at all.

All they do is highlight the ignorance of people who are lucky enough to have a normal period.

Bellini
No I agree. Women shouldn’t dismiss them. I never tried them because I couldn’t handle the thought of all the blood clots and frequent changing. My bed was already carnage. I was very ill as well. I am going to get dd a couple of pairs of the diary doll type knickers with inserts etc, see how she gets on although I suspect she won’t want them when at school etc.

I’m lucky as my periods are fairly ok most months but since being in Peri menopause
They are a lot heavier and I have ruined underwear and a bedsheet in the last 3 months so if you factor that in happening regularly I can well believe it.

For actual period I use/buy a pack of pads in Aldi at 60 p. Then I might use 2 packs liners a month for spotting at end of period (Peri menopause makes mine last over a week ) and urine incontiance £2 ish Plus a few tampons for the first two days.

If it’s a good month that would be my only costs.

Im probably exceptionally light i tend to buy 2 packets a month not at all through need more so i dont smell need paracetamol once in a blue moon and maybe as im feeling a little low I might have a sweet treat or two I probably spend £4 a month if that

I also think it’s period shaming regarding the stains and that we must be doing something wrong as it’s ‘avoidable’ despite many people agreeing you often get no warning before flooding. It isn’t like an average period where you get some spotting as warning. You just flood. And to spend your whole menstruating life sitting on towels is embarrassing and degrading. Why should all heavy period suffers just be chained to black clothing, sleeping on towels, getting up multiple times in the night and stressing about cold soaking all their clothing? It’s not a nice way to live your life is it?

Not all women have access to high quality washing machines or even the stain removing products. My biggest issue has usually been items that I cannot put into a machine like a mattress or a sofa pad. I threw out the worst of my PJ’s (cheap primark ones) and never wear good ones when I am expecting my period - sometimes I want to wear no pants and no pads for some relief from the irritation - but I can’t always do that

I think it's different for everyone. I'm on the pill and I take several packs back to back so I have less withdrawal bleeds. When I do have them I buy a box of tampax pearl regular for £2.50ish. That will usually be enough as my bleeds aren't that heavy.
But for others they may need to buy more products so will of course spend more

Yes leaking on sofas is truly shit.
What was life changing for me though was buying black pants. No idea why I hadnt done it sooner.

Black Trousers – Some school uniforms don’t have these as standard.
Also, when I was a grad student, I was so breaking I only had two pairs of trousers – full stop – the woman who cleaned the univ. office I was using actually gave me a pair of hers, she was so tired of seeing me in the same ones. Many people are this poor for a lot longer, some their whole lives, poverty in this country is rife.

Washing things out – water is metered in many parts of the UK now, so that in itself is expensive for some families. Also, some people live in cramped conditions with poor facilities so nowhere to leave clothes to soak and may also be embarrassed to do so.

Laundry – many people don’t own a washing machine or ration its use because of costs. And for many a launderette is not a quick trip and is very expensive. Was reminded of this recently when my machine broke and took time to get a new one installed.

Older women and sanitary products – during perimenopause my periods changed to being irregular – more often not less – and lasted for 10 to 12 days on average, this was for over three years. I spent my life tying things around my waist in case it suddenly started. They also became very heavy, I used a cup plus a tampon plus a sanitary towel and still had to change things every 2 hours. Also, in many schools/colleges/workplaces there is nowhere to take out a cup and empty it and put it back without having to go through communal areas with bloodstained hands. With the advent of unisex toilets this is even more of an issue.

Moon Cups – don’t always work for everyone’s anatomy, not much use if you have a heavy cycle, issues about removing, rinsing and reinserting in public spaces. Not much use to young girls with intact hymens, I started my periods at 10, many start at 9. Although given the sneering comments of some on here perhaps they think we should have poor females’ hymens broken to save money, appalling how tight richer people are, when the amount stated is probably something they would spend without thought, and for many is probably less than they spend on coffee every day or food they throw in the bin and so on….for some a lifetime’s use of sanitary products is the equivalent of the cost of the kitchen many people on MN discarded into landfill because they didn’t like the colour…

Supermarkets – agree with many other posters a number of people rely on local shops, as transport costs to supermarkets prohibitive, don’t have cars and so on…I found cheap own brand products often unreliable and too flimsy, not that absorbent.

Finally, I am sick to death of seeing this topic come up over and over again in this manner, it often seems to be yet another, disingenuous attempt at poor bashing. The real point is that no girl or woman should not have access to appropriate sanitary protection, no matter the cost.

It should be a human right, lack of adequate sanitary protection has been demonstrated to contribute to other health issues, which will be more expensive to treat in the long run – for those who are only concerned with the bottom line:

Anxiety/depression www.independent.co.uk/news/health/period-poverty-anxiety-depression-study-women-mental-health-sanitary-products-a8452581.html

Saving money by buying cheap long-lasting tampons can contribute to developing toxic shock syndrome, being forced to use loo roll or rags can cause bacterial infections and contribute to long-term gynaecological issues
www.gynaegeek.com/the-blog/2017/11/26/menstrual-hygiene-the-health-implications

www.health24.com/Lifestyle/Woman/Menstruation/spotlight-on-sa-womens-menstruation-plight-but-still-not-enough-being-done-20180528

I had fibroids and was bleeding up to 28 days in a month for several years. I got through ££s in tampons and pads, before I switched to a Meluna cup (Mooncup had a too small capacity and always leaked). Used to bleed all over DH during sex as well (menstrual sponge helped). I feel daft for spending so much money in the past when there are so many alternatives, but I guess I'm lucky that I don't have any pain issues with the Meluna. I did spend a few months taking the Pill back to back to avoid any periods at all, which cost nothing, and did work, but probably wasn't the best thing for my mental health in hindsight (didn't realise it was down to the Pill at the time, because I had a lot of external issues which also would have caused poor mental health too). A couple of years ago I had a myomectomy to remove my fibroids, which was brilliant and now my periods are down to three light days of bleeding a week. I do use panty liners daily, but that's more of a preference/freshness thing, and my cycle is very irregular, so I never know when my period might start.

I used to take Tranexamic acid on prescription for heavy periods as well but I got free prescriptions due to low income so it didn't cost me anything.

PookieDo I realise I should start a separate thread on this but a washing machine is not necessarily your friend with blood. You need cold water in a sink or bucket and then you need soap and that's it.

I'm really puzzled at all the ruined pants and clothes. I've got blood on pretty much everything over the years and I've removed it from everything too. The pale grey fitted sofa cushions I couldn't remove were my toughest challenge but they are still going strong with no stain and it's a good 5 years since I bled on one of them.

I know you are puzzled by it, many people are. I also am frustrated by it myself! I only buy black pants now and most stuff is black through habit but it has happened to me and I haven’t been able to get the blood out entirely! My sofa pads are the worst (UNDER the washable covers) and the mattress didn’t fare well initially but I have spent time and money (hired a steam cleaner) to try to sort this out. I don’t know why my blood vs your blood is any different - I haven’t always been able to clean things the moment it happened is the biggest issue, PJ’s and bed might get leaked on but I don’t have alternatives to change into or don’t wake up, then hours later I go to clean them and it won’t fully come out

Even taking the mini pill to reduce periods they are still heavy and last 8 days. Even using more traditional products I can’t imagine spending £25 a month. If your periods are that bad there are specialist products available through the hospital or GP which will be better than shop bought and not as expensive.

Haahaa! That's back there with the mythical Generous Benefits and Wide Range of Support for People with Disabilities.

And the mini pill has a quite common side effect of constant bleeding rather than reduction.

SMH. Give me a fucking break. Specialist products available. PMSL.

Exactly Mmmhmm.

I have issues with very heavy period flooding since I have my dc, and I could easily have spent £14 per period as I go though a super tampon and pad every hour and a half.

I have a mooncup now, which is much better.

The whole thing's a bloody nonsense.

YANBU.

PookieDo - steam and hot water are no good for blood, you need the coldest water you have. Doesn't even matter if it is a stain has been there for a few hours or overnight - stick the fabric in cold water or start sponging with cold water if it is a mattress or sofa. If it is in a bucket or the sink, leave it to soak and then use soap - just ordinary soap and more cold water. Do not take it anywhere near water that isn't cold until the stain is fully removed.