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 just bought a new moon cup with free postage and a cleaning bag for £5 to replace the last one I had which lasted me 4 years (and is still fine really, just thought it’s probably time to replace).
I understand some don’t even have £5 to spare in one go, but yeah, overall reusables can be massively cheaper.

Yes, as a teenager I used loo roll as I had no money and my mother only bought her own. I used socks sometimes. It happens. I also, shamefully, stole pads from friends and relatives bathrooms when I got the chance.
I over compensate now with a cupboard full of them.
Never considered reusables, never heard of them other than mooncups which I don't want to rinse out in the office toilet sinks.

"I noticed alot of school aged girls experience period poverty, to young to work and no money to buy pads"
This is the case. Periods start in school -aged years, e.g. 12. No point giving school-aged girls washable reusable sanitary products if they live in an environment where they don't get provided with disposable sanitary products.
E.g. not having a mother, not having an engaged mother, being reliant on a parent e.g. father who won't buy their daughter sanitary products. Those girls need free sanitary products from somewhere easy to access. These girls won't be asking their non-engaged mother or embarrased father to wash used sanitary products.
They will be trying to shoplift disposable sanitary products in the chemist - ask me know I know - or using toilet paper, washing stains out of school uniform in the toilets etc.

I really genuinely didn't have £5 spare in one go. As I said on the other thread, I used to panic if there was a £1 each non uniform day.

I could've told you to the penny what money I had in my bank account, and had all the days my wages and benefits were paid with amounts marked out on a calendar.

@MsMandy also my experience.
A lot of period poverty is experienced by girls of school age without access to any sanitary products and without any money of their own to buy sanitary products. Reusable washable products are of no use them because their home environment makes any discussion of periods impossible.

DC uses modibodi and I appreciate they are on the more expensive side. However, for those in period poverty, I can imagine it hard to store the period pants for a few days until you can wash them. Then you need to find somewhere to air dry as they shouldn't be put into a dryer. They are hard to dry over winter and I use both the dehumidifier and the air cupboard.

I really don't think this is feasible for those without fairly good access to washing machine and drying facilities.

Quite happy to see this thread was derailed from its original intention of a big round of 'No, I don't know anyone who can't afford sanitary towels!'. It's very unlikely that you'd know this, even of women and girls you see every day.

Obviously it's a real thing, and as so many posters have said, females are deprived of these necessities not only because they don't have the money to buy their own but because they're not allowed access to what they need for myriad reasons. I wasn't given sufficient pads or guidance when I was a kid, and had to go to the school office to ask for sanitary towels because I was bleeding through my uniform and didn't have any money for the machine in the toilet. I had to promise I'd take 20p to the secretary the next day😣

HRTFT.

I've been in period poverty more than once. I've had to use toilet roll in place of a pad. An old flannel works quite well, although only when I'm at home just in case.

I spent my Christmas money on some modi bodi period pants. One of the pairs is great. The other, despite being the same cut and absorbency leak. I also bought some M&S ones. They are OK on my light days, but not so much the rest of the time.

And that's part of the issue for someone in 'poverty'. It's a lot of money to spend on something that may or may not work.

My work has also started having a supply in the ladies toilets which, for working women may not seem necessary but as PP's have said, some women experiencing financial abuse could make such a difference.
It's a shame these things are necessary. If it helps someone feel relieved and comfortable, I think it's a lovely thing to do.

This is another of the many examples of it being easy to save money when you have money to start with.

I think the government should heavily incentive use of reusable products for environmental purposes as well as freedom from period poverty, in Scotland products are everywhere for free and it's fantastic. Please remember it's not all about the cost of a product, young girls are often at the mercy of someone remembering and caring enough to supply them even if the adults in their life can afford it. No longer an issue in Scotland and I am so pleased for the young women who don't have to deal with the shame and stress of being undersupplied and struggling. Period products should be free to all and no luxury and the government has a chance to help sustainability while at it

When I was younger we had period poverty my mum “luckily” had a hysterectomy at 28 there were three teenage girls and honestly I used to hide the packets so I would get some or it was toilet roll in knickers.
me and teen DD use reusable partly for ethics and we find them better
I know at DDs school they have free supplies in the bathrooms so it must still
be a thing wish it was when I was at high school

I do have reusables. But I don't want to be carrying around a dirty sanitary towel.

I've tried the mooncup (was advised to try when I wasn't having a period) a few times and struggled putting it in and it staying in.

Menstrual cups are great, but not everyone can use them, and the initial cost is high for something that might not work and has a fairly steep learning curve.

And cloth pads and period pads are also expensive and the cost and space required to use them are pretty high. If you are in a shared house, or trying to minimize laundry costs, they aren't great. And I love my period pants, but mine turned into rags after a couple of years.

Free reusables are available along with other types in Scotland in libraries, community centres, and other public places without having to ask

In 2008 we had the banking crash, we personally also had my health crash.
We were living in a house we had bought on my wages, which were no more - waiting over a year for any benefits...due to being homeowners and having a DH who earned £250 over any allowances at the time.

Our mortgage was £750 (interest only) and we had £350 to pay every other bill with. We couldn't sell as we were £100,000 in negative equity.

We had nice clothes, a nice house, nice things..., even DH with his £16,500 a year job had a company car so to look in from the outside we looked comfortable. If you came inside you'd find put there was no heat, no food except strictly monitored meals and no TV as the only way to get it in our area (due to mountains) was through sky which we couldn't afford.

But £12 p/w for food and toiletries (big shout out to the old style forum on Martins money tips website)

There were many many months I couldn't afford period products, I used to go to the loo in tesco and shove as much toilet paper in my handbag as I could get away with.

I remember going to a friends and she had tampax pearl, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I asked to borrow a few because genuinely my period had just started at her house - but I pretended I was completely surprised this had happened.

Eventually the benefits arrived and things eased, and DH worked his ass off to get a better job
(Our life plan was that I would work when we had small DC and he would study for professional qualifications)
Instead he did this with no DC so we didn't bring kids into our miserable world, and could afford them.

Then I LOVED my tampax pearl until I realised/felt very guilty about the plastic impact so now use non applicator tampons and cheap thick towels (I have developed VERY heavy periods and these are the type I feel most comfortable in - also spasms in labia anyone? These seem to help)

Luckily back in the period poverty days my flow was quite light.....I really feel for women who can't afford the proper protection and have a heavy flow it must be so demoralising and isolating. If I had the flow I do now back in 2008/9 there is no way I could have left the house.

I definitely think its more common than most of us realise. I was happy to see when I visited my old high school recently that there were bags on the back of every cubicle door in the toilets with lots of types of sanitary protection.

I dont know what the answer is to the issue - vouchers maybe? but who gets them, where is the line drawn, would women of religious backgrounds feel able to use them in public, how do you prove you are needy enough for them?

Obviously if we were men they'd be free and delivered to our doors with a bottle of wine and some biscuits.

Period poverty is very , very real OP.
You are definitely coming accross as 'privileged' I'm afraid.

Thankfully period products (as well as condoms) are provided free of charge by every GP/ community building etc in Scotland, so at least everyone can access these things freely without having to tell anyone they can't afford to buy them. It's about time England did the same (as well as scrapping all prescription charges as Scotland has !)

HRTWT however as much as the SNP gets a flogging on MN let’s not forget that they made sanitary products free for all females a few years ago in Scotland. They are available in all schools/ unis and you can pick them up from GP / libraries etc.

Didn’t even read the message before me🥴

Havent read full thread but wanted to add public libraries in England provide free period products. Agree our local foodbank always asks for period protection as top needed item

Was reading about period poverty in developing countries some time ago and came across articles like this one https://time.com/4694568/meghan-markle-period-stigma/ It really is a dire problem in the poorest areas.

I agree that as a minimum governments should consider issuing a one off pack of re-useable menstrual cups to females.

Yes, period poverty is sometimes due to stigma, and as such it is just as likely to be encountered in well-off and/or well-educated households. Neglect of young women by parents/guardians/family members on whom they are dependent is not just related to household income.
Regardless of household income. period poverty is still a money-related issue when the women themselves don't have money of their own to buy sanitary products. So those women are in period poverty, despite not living in an obviously poor household. This applies particularly to school-age women, but not just to them.
As mentioned in other posts, free access to sanitary products (including disposable) in schools, libraries and community centres, as well as e.g. Morrisons do a scheme, is vital. It also greatly helps if the (young) women don't have to specifically ask out loud or feel conspicuous.

This is the thing, the OP is adamant that she and many others were in the dark about this.

Are they really people out there who assume EVERYONE has access to the same facilities/conveniences as them?

If so it's a terrifying thought

I remember not being able to afford them in the early 90s and just using loo roll.

I work in a school nad period poverty is very real unfortunately. We give out huge amounts of pads and tampons. I also use a fair chunk of the budget on reusable pants but they are viewed with suspicion by lots of the girls. Their lives are tough enough without pushing the issue. I'm just glad they cm come get what they need without worrying.