Menstruation is unpredictable. This is why, anyone who has periods can experience menstrual poverty at some point in their life. It can be described as:
- I can’t afford menstrual products because I lack money
- I use menstrual products longer than adviswes because I can’t afford new ones
- I can’t find a free menstrual product when I need it
- I don’t have a place to change my menstrual product in privacy (no access to a nearby toilet or bathroom when desired)
- I am not sufficiently informed about menstruation or the menstrual cycle
- I don’t have anyone around me to talk to freely or confide in about menstruation
In Canada, 3 out of 10 people have already experienced menstrual poverty (Plan International Canada, Menstruation in Canada – Views and Realities, 2022) and 500 million people are affected worldwide.
When we do not have access to menstrual products, we are sometimes forced to turn to solutions that are neither respectful of our health nor our dignity:
To help people close to us who go through from period poverty, here are some possible solutions:
- Keep one more disposable towel or tampon with us to give as needed
- Learn about periods to be more comfortable with yourself and promote self-acceptance
- Listen without judgment when a person shares their experience with menstruation
References
RQASF. Period poverty. Retrieved from https://rqasf.qc.ca/lefilrouge/precarite-menstruelle/