Period poverty and not being able to afford sanitary products

[youdothebestvoices]

I recently saw something somewhere about the tax that is on feminine hygiene products (tampons, pads) and although the tax has been scrapped, this was never reflected in the cost of the products, and therefore the companies are just making more money without benefits being passed on to the consumer. This is unfair, of course.

This prompted a wider discussion around period poverty, and I suggested people try to switch to reusables if possible. Better for the environment, better for your pocket long term. I've been using them for about a year and I've probably saved around £70 this year and they're all going strong, no staining, I'll probably have them for several years before I need to think about replacing. I got a bit of stick for this saying how are people meant to be able to afford reusables if they can't afford disposables.
I think a starter pack of reusable pads will cost around £30 - £40, which includes everything you generally need for one full period, and individuals will cost somewhere in the region of between £3 - £7. There is also the option of making your own. A box of disposables will be somewhere between £1 - £7 depending on the brand you choose.
A reusable cup is circa £20 and there are other options too.

I really don't care if somebody chooses to use disposables, I opted for reusables once I realised how much I'd save long term, that I could get them customised for my flow (meaning I use three times less pads per day), better for the environment, less likely to give you thrush. Regardless of this, they aren't for everyone, that is fine.

But here is a serious question, and I am sorry if this comes from a place of privilege. Has anyone ever met anyone (in the uk) that cannot afford sanitary products? I am sure that there are people that can't, but how common is period poverty?

I can't say that I have met anyone who struggles to afford them. We are a working class household, I know several people that are on UC and receive other benefits, but none of them have ever said they struggle to buy sanitary products (this does include households with multiple women in), several of them have also opted for using period pants, cups, or similar, because they feel the initial cost is worth it longer term. Some that use disposables have just said they buy extra when they are on offer.

I'm really sorry if this is a thoughtless post and I also know that not everyone will chat to people about how easy they find it to purchase feminine hygiene products but I genuinely want to know how common this is, because I don't think I actually do know.
If you are somebody who has struggled to purchase these in the past, or now, I don't want this post to cause any offence as I genuinely want to understand if this is a common issue.

If you want to vote:
YABU - period poverty is really common
YANBU - I don't think I have met somebody who struggles with purchasing these

I'll add that I'm not saying those that struggle to buy things should find the money for reusables, just sharing my experience of reusables but wondering how common it is that people find it hard to buy the amount of disposable products that they need each month

Why would they tell you if they were struggling?

For me, my period is shit enough. I don’t need it moralised into an environmental issue.

I'm really sorry if this is a thoughtless post and I also know that not everyone will chat to people about how easy they find it to purchase feminine hygiene products but I genuinely want to know how common this is, because I don't think I actually do know.

Why do you need to know?

For what it's worth, I think it's likely that most women wouldn't choose to chat about such things, not just a small minority. So your study of 'people you know' is just about meaningless.

You are right you are coming from a place of privilege.

Some people scrap together enough to buy a cheap box of aldi tampons for £1. They would never in a million years have enough to spend 30+ for reusable products. They also may not have easy access to a washing machine to wash reusable.

If you have worked in a school, college, uni or any medical setting or food bank you would see girls and women day in and day out who can't afford period products.

Would these not last a cycle? With pads for overnight?

I'm sure there are some females who can't afford anything in life, including sanitary products. However there are an awful lot of working class women getting their nails and lashes done etc.... so not widespread imo.

https://groceries.asda.com/product/tampax-tampons/tampax-compak-regular-tampons-applicator/1000017779678?&cmpid=ppcghsgooglegle----dskwid--dm&skwcid=AL!11432!3!!!!x!!&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwpayjBhAnEiwA-7ena5wA8CuKDxaWfnQdOdpc7QBfsGmngy3PftLO9aNYcwXYI4rx4FaO7xoCnEYQAvDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I volunteer for a hygiene bank so yes I've met 100s of people. It's a stigmatised problem. You may not realise or intend this but you are coming across like you think people are making it up.

Has anyone ever met anyone (in the uk) that cannot afford sanitary products?

Hi. You've finally met one. Its been a while since that time but I definitely had to eke out usage instead of changing. Had to use toilet paper instead of a pad for a day when at home.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=thehygienebank.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Hygiene_Poverty_2022_Summary_Report-1.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwit-6HZ6Yj_AhXQEsAKHYIhAfEQFnoECAwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1qQhETUnCOMowNa4D1_nvu

Why on earth would you expect people to tell you that?

Big reusable fan here but I dont think period poverty is just about buying the products themselves but the ongoing maintenance, washing facilities etc.

Not many people will be in that situation but there are people in devastating poverty in the UK. Kids sleeping on bare mattresses on the floor with no bed frame, people worried about the cost of electric to hoover, skipping meals. I think to suggest people can find a £40 upfront, or even £5 for some reusable pants from primark for one day, when £5 will cover 2 entire periods or free products are given to these women is coming from a place of privilege. Sorry OP.

When we were poor I used to buy pads that cost less than a euro. They were like wearing cardboard but actually bought cheap ones recently and they were better. It’s sad people can’t afford necessities like this and everything should be done to help them without environmental judgement

Yes you are coming from a place of privilege. Of course an up front investment of £40 on sanitary products is going to be difficult for many, even if long term it evens out.

As if people who can't afford sanitary products would want to announce it?! Why would they want to tell you about it? "Hey, how are you?" "Yeah, I'm not so great as I came on my period today and can't afford pads, how are you?"

And as PP says, one thing is buying them. Another is the cost and access of washing them.

I was super interested in reusables in the early 2000s, but I never had enough money for the outlay. It's also hard to justify spending large amounts of money on something that may not work for you. There are way more options now, but it's going to cost a lot more to get a stock of reusables than a disposable brand you pay for monthly.

Pads and tampons can be really expensive, especially if bargain brands don't work for you or you have heavy periods. I think what these posts miss is that periods vary massively as do bodies and there is no one size fits all solution.

yes its real

whenever someone is a couple of pounds short on the shopping and has to put back items , that could be because they just had to spend a fiver on sanitary products,
and then you have to consider that some people have different flows , allergies and different shapes, which means they might have to spend more than the average woman on products

then there are women who are homeless, women who are financially abused and dont have access to any money, there are charities that will probably provide free sanitary products to desperate women but I can see how some women might be ashamed , or might not be able to travel to those services, especially if they are menstruating they will have to stay at home and make a cloth pad or something

I noticed alot of school aged girls experience period poverty, to young to work and no money to buy pads

in my perfect world, sanitary products would be free or at least prescribed to women who have medical issues and heavy periods ..

Has anyone ever met anyone (in the uk) that cannot afford sanitary products? I am sure that there are people that can't, but how common is period poverty?

Plenty. The other problem with it is women/girls with heavier flows generally need more products or the ones that can cope with heavy flows come in smaller pack sizes. There is a massive equity issue with menstrual management

Reusables (especially cups) don't suit all anatomies either especially if there are prolapses or birth injuries present, or vaginismus.

Our local food bank is always requesting sanitary products.

Plenty. The other problem with it is women/girls with heavier flows generally need more products or the ones that can cope with heavy flows come in smaller pack sizes. There is a massive equity issue with menstrual management

I totally understand how this could be a problem. If I do use disposables, I generally have to change them every few hours. I can easily go through a pack in two days and that can get really costly.

Why would anyone openly share that? And why does it matter. If food banks are saying they need sanitary products, surely that’s your evidence.

I don't know anyone who would feel comfortable discussing their money struggles with regard to such a personal thing!

Plus, you say it costs anything from £20-£40 to buy a starter pack of reusable products, whereas cheap pads/tampons are anything from £1 to about £4 per box. There are surely, in the midst of a CoL crisis, plenty of people who can spare £1-4 each month, but never have a spare £20-£40. It's not all about savings overall, it's about what someone has in their pocket or bank account that month.

Stop with the pushing reusables OP man. Wouldn't be me in a million years and I could afford it

Why would anyone tell you if they can't afford sanitary products. People telling you they're skint should tell you all that.

op are you advocating for something akin to a nappy library but for sanitary wear?

One of the food banks near us has opened a free laundry so people can wash their clothes. With rising electricity costs I can understand why some people need it.

OP, have you not seen the stories in the news about the rising use of food banks. Many people can’t afford basics like food so of course they can’t afford basics like sanitary products.

What's your obsession with women's/girls period's OP ?
I saw your other thread and now you're back for round 2 ....I find it weird 🙄