Periods are a natural part of life for millions of women, yet they remain a persistent source of financial strain and social stigma, says Lissa Nelson, employee health manager at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital. Despite being a “perfectly normal” bodily function, Nelson says women live in a world where the health needs of those who menstruate are often overlooked or brushed awkwardly aside.

But the toll is real.

Menstrual products like tampons and pads are rising in cost and becoming more difficult to access. Meanwhile, gaps in education and a lingering cultural taboo leave many without must-have information or resources. These barriers fuel what experts call “period poverty.”

“It’s a pervasive problem,” Nelson said. “When you go to the bathroom, you expect to have toilet paper. This is part of your normal hygiene and care, but people who menstruate are expected to always have these products on hand, just in case.”

The issue took center stage at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital’s Menstrual Equity Forum on Feb. 8, where advocates called for greater awareness and access to menstrual products. The following statistics provide a deeper look into a problem that is both widespread and is gaining public attention.

11.9 million people

Recent research indicates that approximately 11.9 million menstruators in the United States struggle to access menstrual products, leading to adverse health outcomes and missed educational or work opportunities.

Much of it requires a paradigm shift in thinking, noted Renee Sanchez, director of the Magnet designation program and nursing quality at LIJ.

“It’s become a cultural norm to have rooms for breastfeeding mothers in organizations and workplaces,” she said. But despite strides in women’s health, when it comes to providing public amenities for something people with a uterus experience every month, there’s a noticeable “disconnect.” 

 

 

1 in 3 adults

In the U.S., one-third of adults who menstruate face challenges in affording period products, with a disproportionate impact on lower-income households and people of color.

“There are a lot of patients that we serve in the hospital who are underserved and will request menstrual products, especially young people,” said Sanchez, who has worked with Nelson to extend those resources not only to patients but also to staff members. “We took an assessment of our own building, and we noticed we didn’t have these products readily available to our team members,” said Nelson. “Talk about equity.”

 

 

20 states tax menstrual products

As of December 2024, 20 states continue to impose sales tax on menstrual products, with tax rates ranging from 4 percent to 7 percent in states like Indiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

“New York, thank God, is not one of these states,” said Sanchez. “These items are not cheap and if you think about it, if you have more than one bleeding cycle in a month, that’s expensive for someone who doesn’t have the means.”

 

 

476 percent support free products in schools

A 2024 poll revealed that over 76 percent of Americans believe menstrual products should be provided free of charge in public schools and universities, highlighting strong public support for addressing period poverty among students.

Adolescent teens and college students often face the tough choice of spending on menstrual products this month or covering other vital expenses like rent, Sanchez noted. “This population often doesn’t get looked at by research and they struggle to afford tampons on top of tuition, books, you name it.” 

 

 

79 percent of U.S. teens

A 2023 survey by Thinx, a feminine hygiene product company, and Period, a menstrual advocacy nonprofit, revealed that teens feel they lack proper education about menstrual health. Nelson says that for educators and stakeholders, it’s important to assess the existing knowledge and resource gaps and work to fill them. “Ask yourself: ‘Do you cringe when you have the conversation about periods?” said Nelson. “It’s OK if you do but at least be in there and start the conversation.”

Have an opinion on this article? Send an email to jlasso@liherald.com.