Every month, millions of people confront a biological reality that society still treats as optional: menstruation. Pads, tampons and other menstrual products aren’t optional supplies; they are essential health items. Yet for far too many, access to these products depends on income, circumstance or pure luck. It is long overdue for a change. Menstrual products need to be free, accessible and available in all public spaces, because health, dignity and education should never depend on someone’s income.
Many people have to face the unfortunate financial reality behind menstruation. According to the National Library of Medicine, a person uses more than 10,000 menstrual products in a lifetime. According to Northern Arizona University, the total lifetime cost of menstrual products is estimated at $18,000. For families already struggling to cover housing and food, this extra monthly expense forces difficult choices. Due to this, many individuals are pushed into period poverty, a condition where they simply can’t afford the products they need.
The consequences go far beyond simple inconvenience. According to the nlm.gov, when people cannot access proper period products, they often resort to makeshift substitutes. These practices increase the risk of infections and other health issues, turning a monthly cycle into a dangerous situation.
Students are especially hit the hardest by limited access to menstrual products. According to UN Women, one in four teens struggles to afford period products. As a result, many students may miss class or leave school early. When something as normal as menstruation keeps students out of classrooms, it becomes a barrier to equal education.
According to the nj.gov, multiple states, including New Jersey in 2023, have passed laws requiring public schools in grades 6 to 12 to provide free products in at least half of their bathrooms. While this is progress toward addressing period poverty in schools, students still have their complaints. “The products are rarely stocked, and when they are, often the dispensers don’t work and get jammed,” said WHS junior Liv Hergan.
The solution is simple: We must treat menstrual products like every other basic hygiene product, such as soap, toilet paper and paper towels. Schools and public spaces should restock them routinely, similarly to how they treat other products. Our school and all schools should keep them in bathrooms, easy to grab and use, so students don’t have to ask teachers or nurses, causing unnecessary delays, missed lessons or personal embarrassment.
Menstrual products aren’t luxuries. They are healthcare necessities. Providing free and easy access to these products is essential to ensuring that everyone can meet their basic health needs and should be considered a standard expectation of human rights.