To celebrate that I don’t buy period products anymore and wish that it was this way for all women!!

[Loveduppenguin]

I’ve just realised that I haven’t had to buy period products for well over a year! My workplace now provides them free in our toilets, so a surprise arrival in work is catered for. Lidl Ireland now provide free sanitary products once per month to each customer. It’s actually amazing and I feel like it’s a great change. AIBU to think this should be the case for all women!? Anyone else have them free at work? Long may it last/continue!

I can’t take hormones and I envy people who can take the pill to stop their periods! I used to look forward to the menopause until I learnt how much women can suffer with that too, we never win!

I switched to a cup years ago, best decision I ever made. Still have to buy period products though, for DD, as she didn't like period pants and doesn't want to try a cup yet (understandably at her age)

My workplace doesn't provide products but I suppose it'd be a bit weird if they did, I'm the only woman of a menstruating age there! (They do provide tea and coffee though, but I bring my own tea because I'm fussy about what tea I'll drink). Also occasionally provides sausages and beer so I'm not complaining

Our work ones are either individually boxed thick Kotex pads or a 3 box of tampax.

There are no bins in the loos (other than the sanitary ones) so there’s usually boxes of two tampax balanced on the sanitary bins. I wish they’d think things though. Being period inclusive is great, but the execution is a bit off.

We have free hot drink vending machines too. Plus there’s an onsite Starbucks. We used to have a Costa too, but that disappeared over Covid.

Wasn’t aware that Lidl provided free sanitary products once per month,

There's a women's network where I work and they use some of their budget (which is budget they're given by our employer) to put pads and tampons in the loos. They're intended for emergencies if you're caught unawares, though, not just to be used routinely.

We do get free hot drinks and, for some reason, fruit.

This, I happily 'pump myself with hormones' to stop the ridiculous amount of bleeding I was doing every month.
Have you ever worked in a male dominated environment and had to stand up knowing you were going to flood your pad but doing it anyway then running to the loo to clean up as best you can?
I was lucky, I was in my early 30's and worked with a brilliant bunch of men but when I was younger I found the situation horrific (especially at school!).
I say keep the hormones coming!

Maybe it’s on the Lidl app. I’m in the Uk but I seem to get a free brownie every month, free packet of veg and some other bits depending on spend. It might make them money if op does a shop in store whilst there or in order to qualify.

Another vote for a cup and period pants. Got caught out at work recently and used one of the free tampons and it was so much more uncomfortable than the cup. It took a bit of getting used to originally to get it in the right position to not feel it (deeper than I thought) but glad I persevered.

I bought a mooncup 15 years ago and it's still working.. splashed out on some period pants about 7 years ago for extra heavy days. Been brilliant.

Haven't had a period for 17 years. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, mini pill and mirena coil. Not planning on ever having another one

My work provide them ‘ for emergencies ‘ and tbh they’re cheap normal size pads so I prefer to buy my own Always , but yes they’re great in an emergency .
We aren’t meant to use them day in day out to save money , although people do of course .

I was in Manchester City Library this afternoon and went to the loo. On the cubicle door was a notice saying that if you need period products go to the lending section reception and ask for a package for Val and you will be handed a discreet package of products for free. Nice idea I thought.

Lidl Ireland do for sure, not sure about in the uk.

It's really not that uncommon, mine have been horrendous since they started and plenty of women suffer like that. I can't take hormonal contraception for various reasons and even surgical intervention hasn't worked. It's not rare at all.

What the heck?

The work one’s are meant to be for emergencies only, take just ONE when you’re caught short! They are not meant to supply all your needs!!
How fucking selfish and obtuse are you to use them throughout your period?
Jeez I’ve heard it all now.

ps I’ve had a coil for years, no hormones, no periods. Try that rather than stealing the entire stock of products!!

The ones at my work are not just for emergencies. And we were also given mooncups for free

Oh sorry, do you work at my workplace and have you read the email communications…?? I thought not…they are there to be used. They are not there “just for emergencies”. The same way they provide wipes and deodorant. They are there to be used.
so thank you for you input, but you have it all wrong.

No? My workplace is take as many as you need and use them, they emailed about it
They’re also there for customers too and there’s boxes and boxes of them, it’s not like there’s 1 pack of pads

I don’t know about random people and public funding. It was our students (many of whom are very cash strapped) who could request products to be posted to them when we were working remotely during the pandemic and they could not pick up items in the bathrooms. That no longer happens in my work since we are no longer working remotely. Perhaps my post wasn’t clear so apologies for that.