Period Poverty

Did you know that two in five people struggle to buy period products because of insufficient funds? And, at least 500 million women and girls lack access to the facilities that help manage their periods? This is called period poverty, and according to ‘Period Poverty’, it affects approximately 25% of women globally (they cannot afford to buy period products). For girls/women who don’t have access to the proper hygiene products, like pads or tampons, many resort to using dirty rags or leaves. This can cause health problems, like infections to occur. Furthermore, many girls try to prolong their periods by skipping meals or taking medicine, since they don’t have the proper products, leading to more health issues. Period poverty can also harm girls mentally, since not having the proper products and not being able to talk to anyone can lead to girls feeling isolated and depressed. Many may not even attend school as they fear bleeding through their clothes, causing girls to fall behind in their education.

So, what can we do? For starters, it’s important that girls are being educated from the start. Girls can start their periods before the age of 12, so education should also start then. The worst feeling is knowing something is going on in your body, but not being supported with the proper knowledge to answer the question, “why?”. Girls should feel sure with their bodies, and how to take care of them in a healthy way. They should be confident in asking questions and not feel alone or confused.

Another way to help is to donate to charities that buy products for girls who are unable to buy them. Period poverty is a very real issue, and by donating, we can help girls all around the world stay healthy and feel in control of their periods and bodies. Head to our donation page to donate: let’s end period poverty!

Sources:

“Effects of Period Poverty & Solution.” Period Poverty, 19 June 2023, ppoverty.org/period-poverty-problem/.

Initiative, The Beauty. “Period Poverty - Alliance for Period Supplies.” Alliance for Period Supplies - It’s That Time. *, 22 May 2023, allianceforperiodsupplies.org/period-poverty/.

Miller, Olivia. “How Does Period Poverty Have a Negative Effect on Teenage Girls?” UNICEF Global Development Commons, 2021, gdc.unicef.org/resource/how-does-period-poverty-have-negative-effect-teenage-girls.