Period poverty: not just a non-Western phenomenon
What is it? Period poverty refers to a lack of access to menstrual care due to financial deprivation. Despite common stereotypes that those without access to this vital healthcare is women from developing countries fleeing danger, the truth is it is right on our doorstep. Period Poverty UK is a charity that highlights this and […]
By Amy Rawlings
31 May 2025

What is it?

Period poverty refers to a lack of access to menstrual care due to financial deprivation. Despite common stereotypes that those without access to this vital healthcare is women from developing countries fleeing danger, the truth is it is right on our doorstep.

Period Poverty UK is a charity that highlights this and supports homeless women in the UK and anyone struggling to access menstrual products.

Infographic: created by Amy Rawlings

The facts

According to multiple sources, 21% (1 in 5) of women in the UK cannot afford menstrual products, which has jumped up from 12% in the last year, and according to Period Matters, during the pandemic, 30% of women struggled to afford and access period products. This amounts to 2.8 million people.

A report on this by ActionAid disclosed that people in the UK are reusing disposable period products, which can be dangerous, and some were using cotton wool and other items of clothing. The majority of these are faced with choosing whether to eat or buy menstrual products, and it doesn’t end there…

Image: Kaboompics.com

Further than the facts

A large number of women miss work, and girls miss school because of these issues, and they do not take part in day-to-day activities out of fear and embarrassment.

Young girls are the ones facing the brunt of this, with many of them relying on free products from schools, and WaterAid wrote how 2 in 5 girls were concerned about adding to the financial burden of their parents.

However, this affects everyone. It is estimated that the yearly cost of days of work lost in the UK due to period inequity is £3.25 billion.

What can be done?

The statistics are staggering and the extent of the issue continues to rise but that doesn’t mean that nothing can be done. Trade To Aid curated a list of the different steps needed to improve the situation for women and girls impacted.

  1. Improve Menstrual Education
  2. Improve Sexual and Reproductive Health
  3. Improve Access to Products
  4. Support Brands That Care
  5. Listen to Women and Girls and Educate Yourself
  6. Go on Marches, Petition, Write to Your MP
  7. Discuss Period Poverty and Raise Awareness
  8. Donate Period Products for Those in Desperate Need

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