Period poverty

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Period poverty is a term used to describe a lack of access to proper menstrual products and the education needed to use them effectively.^[1] In total, there are around 500 million women and girls that cannot manage their periods safely due to lack of menstrual products and for fear of shame.^[2] The American Medical Women's Association defines period poverty as "the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and educations, including but not limited to sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management".^[3] The lack of access to menstrual hygiene products can cause physical health problems, such as infections and reproductive tract complications, and can have negative social and psychological consequences, including missed school or work days and stigma.^[4]

The causes of consequences of period poverty intersect issues of gender equality and economic justice, and there are diverse acts of legislation and perceptions of period poverty around the world. Moreover, social media, consciousness raising, awareness campaigns,^[5] and the arts provide avenues for modern day advocacy regarding period poverty.