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’ve been that person. I’ve also used the pill continuously so I didn’t have to buy sanitary towels. I was in a financially abusive relationship for what it’s worth. So on the surface earning a decent wage. There’s no way I’d admit it.

I work in the criminal justice system, I've met hundreds if not thousands of women who don't have somewhere to sleep and are selling their bodies to try and make ends meet or to have a bed for the night (punter pays for a hotel room), or to buy the next rock so they can block out everything that's happened to them, so yes they would struggle to buy period pants. There are teenage girls without access to toiletries let alone sanitary products.
What about those in abusive relationships without financial control whose partners deem it an unnecessary cost? Women diffusing to feed their children and going without food themselves, using tissue from public toilets . None of this is rare in my line of work, it's why so many agencies are starting to give out packs with bare essential hygiene products.

People don't have to tell me they can't afford things. It's none of my business and it isn't something people would want to share. That is the point, I don't know how common this issue is, and I want to understand it more because I don't.

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

That's fine for you. I have shared my experience of why I opt to use them, I have also said I don't care if people use disposables, it is a personal choice we are all entitled to make.

Ohhhh is this the same person as they should be phased out?

I think they’ve just discovered reusables and are marvelling at why not everyone uses them

Yes, me. I’ve had times when I was in my late teens early 20’s where I was not able to leave the house as I’ve had very heavy periods and only been able to manage for 20-30 mins before toilet breaks with some wadded up loo paper or cloths as couldn’t afford tampons.
Also when I worked in a school there were several young girls (and even some staff) who has to use the free period products from the office cupboard.

I’ve been that person. I’ve also used the pill continuously so I didn’t have to buy sanitary towels. I was in a financially abusive relationship for what it’s worth. So on the surface earning a decent wage. There’s no way I’d admit it.

I'm really sorry you were in this situation and I hope that things are better for you now.

But the question is why you want to understand it? Because it really is a bit of a weird obsession...

Disposables are bought as you need them. At a couple of quid a time. Reusables are a much larger out lay.

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

I don't think I have ever had a discussion about periods on mumsnet before. I wanted to try and understand more about period poverty, a largely female platform seemed like a good place to ask.

Hmm all the posts about reusable sanitary products. You would think someone was trying to advertise them.

£40 is what some people spend on a weeks shopping for a family.

Period poverty is just poverty. There are women and girls who wouldn't have the 50p for a pack of pads as they need that for a loaf of bread instead.

I use reusables but they are not a particularly cheap option. Mine were about £2 each but a disposable is 4p.

This post is embarrassing for you. Yes of course it’s all made up 🙄
It doesn’t need a vote on Mumsnet.
If you can’t conceive that in a country with food banks, some women can’t afford sanpro then frankly you need to get your head out of your arse.
Why do you need my personal testimony of the times I went withhold?

I can afford reusable but would never use them Just
like I would never use reusable nappies.

But the question is why you want to understand it? Because it really is a bit of a weird obsession...

How am I obsessed with understanding period poverty if I have made one thread about it to discuss it for the very first time? God forbid I try and learn more about something I have shared that I do not know a lot about.

You nailed it. Women in this situation would be unlikely to admit it . No one should be ashamed but I've been poor and I felt a lot of shame over it. I would pretend I was sick or something to get out of seeing friends for coffee when I couldn't even afford to eat properly or pay my bills.

People are not going to shout out hey I can’t afford sanitary items once a month, so your post is pointless.

also don’t forget the cost of washing your reusable especially pads that will need a hot wash,

In the school I work at the girls who need access to free sanitary products I would say are victims of neglect in many ways.
they are usually the ones who’s clothes are not cleaned and have body odour. If the parent is not providing it can’t afford to provide soap, deodorant and clean clothes they are not providing them with adequate sanitary protection abs certainly can’t/won’t spend £20/30 on reusable products.

I think for the girls I’m thinking of who currently use the school supplies the thought of only having reusable products that need washing would be horrific for them.

i work full time and have a partner who works full time and have a teen daughter who needs products and some weeks that really adds to the food shop. If I was short on money I would have to be cutting back on meat or fresh fruit and vegetables in order to afford it.

As I don't have a cycle due to a condition I have I can only imagine what it must be like to have periods and not be able to afford to buy protection. It must be horrific.

Yes, I did a masters degree as a mature student recently and there were women on my course who had to go to the students Union for supplies.

31 years ago when I gave birth to my first DC, I was on a ward with a woman who I had mentally assumed was reasonably well off, well dressed, well spoken, etc. She was being financially abused and was trying to avoid changing her pads. She became very ill when her stitches became infected.

A friend of mine recently told me about her abusive ex and his refusal to pay for her to use more than one pad per day, and when she was flooding during menopause told her to use newspaper and cut up tablecloth.

But why? What's your goal? Do you work for the government and can action a policy to directly help women and girls in period poverty? Are you and activist organising a campaign?

Or do you just want to lord your environmental awareness superiority over them?

”wanted to try and understand more about period poverty”

What do you want to understand more through?
What is there to understand?
Some people are living in poverty.
That pretty bloody obviously extends to sanpro - of any kind.
You’d have to be a bit dim not to “understand” that.

every few hours?
Wow. Yes you are privileged.
There are people out there who have gynae issues who would love to last that long.
Would you like to know what it’s like to need more than the 12 pack to last a day?
The extra washing from the leakage?
Having to double up with adult nappies and pads to pop to the shop?

I never told anyone how much I struggled financially. Who would really want to have a chat about pissing blood and how much it’s costs physically, mentally and financially with only a few days break a month?

And bollocks would I invest in reusables. Dealing with the bedding, clothing and bathroom clean up was bad enough.

Is this the same poster who wanted period products phasing out so only reusable were available?

If so, there were many many useful posts in that thread so unsure why this has now cropped up.

Unless there are period trolls now doing the rounds on mumsnet.

Very few people will admit they can't afford sanitary products but there's a reason food banks ask for them. Reusables are great, use them myself but if your parents can't provide a clean uniform or pe kit then reusable products is a no go. Currently I know our high school washes kids pe kits and uniforms for them as parents are not able or won't.

Approximately 2.99 million people used a food bank in the last year. Some of them will have been women or parents of girls who are the right age to have periods. If they cant afford food they probably cant afford sanitary products either. Seems fairly obvious