Period Poverty: A Barrier to Women’s Economic Empowerment

Written by Jillian Levovitz, MBA, Chief Strategy Officer, FemHealth Insights

Menstruation is a vital aspect of women's health and well-being, affecting 300 million females worldwide on a daily basis. However, despite its universal impact, menstruation continues to be plagued by stigma, misinformation, and insufficient support. Countless women across the globe struggle with menstrual poverty, and a staggering 500 million females lack access to essential menstrual products. These factors collectively contribute to subpar menstrual hygiene, which significantly undermines girls' and women’s health, quality of life, and opportunities for economic and educational advancement. 

Women typically experience around 500 periods in their lifetime, requiring the use of between 11,000 and 17,000 menstrual products. The global menstrual hygiene market is projected to reach $54 billion by 2028 and in the US alone, menstrual products cost an estimated $2 billion every year. 

Menstrual Hygiene and Period Poverty

The high cost of essential menstrual products poses a considerable financial burden on women. In the United States,  64% of low income women report facing financial challenges when purchasing menstrual products and in the UK  32% of women are concerned about their ability to afford period products in the future. The situation is even more critical in Kenya where 65% of women are currently unable to afford menstrual products. 

Despite the substantial economic burden of menstrual products on women, many countries throughout the world, including the majority of US states, continue to impose an additional tax on menstrual products. By classifying these products as luxury items instead of healthcare necessities, they further exacerbate the financial strain imposed. Compounding the issue, in the US, government assistance programs such as food stamps, SNAP, and WIC also do not cover the cost of menstrual products.  

But the pressing issue of affordability and access to menstrual hygiene products is only half the story, many females also experience isolation, shaming, bullying, and gender-based bias during their menstrual cycles, primarily due to a lack of information and the enduring stigma associated with menstruation. 

Furthermore, during their menstrual cycles, many females lack the necessary services and facilities for safe and private menstrual hygiene management. According to the world bank, only half of the schools in low-income countries have adequate access to sanitation facilities and water to enable students and teachers hygienic menstruation management. 

Impact on School Participation

The impact of menstrual hygiene challenges and period poverty on young girls is immense. According to a report conducted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, approximately 10% of girls worldwide miss school due to menstruation. Another study researching females in Kenya found 95% of menstruating girls miss one to three school days. In India every year, 23 million girls drop out of school due to a lack of proper menstrual hygiene management facilities. In the UK, 50% of girls have reported missing school during their periods and a survey revealed that one in six girls experience teasing or bullying at school due to their menstrual cycles. Unfortunately, there is no concrete data that can be used to quantify the long-term impact of missed school on these girls' lives. 

Anecdotally though, we do know that the consequences of missed school for girls extends well beyond immediate educational setbacks. Education plays a crucial role in enabling greater economic mobility and providing better livelihood opportunities. When girls are unable to attend school regularly due to menstruation, their overall educational attainment and long-term prospects can be significantly affected. It perpetuates a cycle of inequality, limiting their potential for personal and professional growth. 

Addressing menstrual hygiene challenges and period poverty is not only a matter of health and well-being but also a vital step towards achieving gender equality, economic independence, and empowering young girls to follow whatever career path they choose.

Impact on Productivity

Unfortunately, when we try to quantify the impact and broader societal implications of menstrual poverty, it again becomes apparent that there is a scarcity of in-depth analysis regarding this issue affecting 500 million women worldwide. The prevailing notion that menstruation should be kept private and, in many cultures, is considered a source of shame has contributed to a significant lack of open communication and comprehensive research on the overall effect of menstruation, including period poverty and challenges related to menstrual hygiene. This lack of attention perpetuates the marginalization of women's experiences and hinders progress in addressing the pressing issues surrounding menstrual health.

One study conducted by St. Louis University on period poverty found that 36% of the low-income females surveyed had to miss one or more days of work a month because of a lack of menstrual products. But, again, there is a notable absence of data concerning the economic consequences of this lost productivity and a complete lack of information on missed work due to menstruation across the general population. 

If we account for just one missed work day for 36% of the 58 million females of working reproductive age in the US, that would result in an estimated 270 million missed days per year. Unfortunately, due to the very sparse (or completely lacking) data on the number of women who miss work due to period poverty, menstrual stigma, and menstrual symptoms in the US, there is no way to determine the actual impact with any certainty.

Sourcing this data for analysis is crucial to shed light on the economic implications of menstrual hygiene and period poverty. It is well documented that women’s participation in the workforce directly impacts a country's gross domestic product (GDP) and recent studies have also found a correlation between the number of years a woman is in school with a nation’s GDP. When we combine this data with the demonstrated impact of menstruation on a company's bottom line, it becomes evident that poor menstrual hygiene and menstrual poverty have a substantial economic effect globally. Equipped with actionable intelligence, employers and governments can prioritize better access to free and subsidized menstrual products, flexible work schedules, and safe school and work environments for menstruating females. Additionally, monitoring the impact of these improvements becomes possible, allowing for informed decision-making regarding their effectiveness.

Solutions & Looking Forward

Despite these substantial challenges, there are various strategies and initiatives currently underway to improve the statistics surrounding menstrual hygiene and period poverty throughout the globe. The femtech community and global organizations are actively working towards these goals, striving for a world where menstrual products are accessible to everyone.

We have seen some positive steps taken in the United States with 17 states and Washington DC having eliminated the tax on period products and companies such as CVS subsidizing the costs of menstrual products in states where they are still taxed. There are also a number of states funding school systems to make menstrual products available to students free of charge.

Internationally, organizations such as UNICEF and the World Bank have launched initiatives aimed at expanding access to menstrual products, improving sanitation facilities, and implementing safety measures for girls in developing countries. These efforts have demonstrated measurable improvements in school attendance and overall well-being.

Furthermore, the rise of FemTech companies has brought innovative solutions to the forefront, such as gaming solutions aimed at reducing the stigma around menstruation in developing countries. These companies are actively working to expand access to menstrual products, donate them to those in need, and engage in advocacy and education to help reduce stigma, shame, and fear. Their contributions are instrumental in challenging the status quo and driving progress toward menstrual equity.

For generations of girls and women, poor menstrual health and hygiene has exacerbated social and economic inequalities and has negatively impacted their education, health, and safety. Recognizing the significance of addressing these issues, it is in all our best interest to support solutions and implement measures that ensure access to affordable and adequate menstrual products, comprehensive menstrual health education, and supportive policies. By doing so, we can empower individuals, promote gender equality, and create a more inclusive and prosperous future.

Companies to Watch

Bloody Good Period — We give period products to those who can’t afford them and provide reproductive health education to those less likely to access them.

Flo Code — Providing free menstrual products to those in need, ending the stigma of menstruation through service, and encouraging humans to reclaim their power.

Lulu Lab — Lulu Lab works to keep girls in school, by educating girls - and boys, about Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights.

601 for Period Equity — We are dedicated to ending period shame in the Black community and uplifting marginalized menstruators who typically get left out of the mainstream movement for period equity.

Days for Girls International — Days for Girls advances menstrual equity, health, dignity, and opportunity for all. We transform periods into pathways.

Femly — Femly provides sustainable menstrual products and easy-to-use hygiene vending machines to support student success!

Girls’ Pride — Provides menstrual hygiene management education and skills training to create reusable pads in The Gambia

Aunt Flo: — For every 10 tampons or pads sold, we donate one to an organization that supplies products to menstruators who need them

Sparkle — Sparkle uses a percentage of profits from every Sparkle pad purchase to provide sustainable pads and health education to menstruators in need.

About the Author:

Jillian Levovitz, MBA, is an experienced healthcare executive, the Founder, and CEO of OcciGuide, and Chief Strategy Officer at FemHealth Insights where she is responsible for consulting and research projects.