As a woman, have you ever been inconvenienced with your period in a public area or even at home in need of a pad? What would you do if you suddenly got your period at school? No pads or tampons in sight. Sadly, this is a global problem that many women face every day. Women who have them all agree they’re not fun: cramps, breakouts, migraines, and bloating. On top of all those struggles, women still have to pay the high price of products today. Today, feminine products range from $10+ for just a menstrual week. Girls as young as eight shouldn’t have to worry about how their parents will afford pads in the next month, when they are already living paycheck to paycheck. According to A publication of the University Writing Program and the ISSA, the Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions, their studies have shown that women spend an average of $120-180 annually on menstrual products, and in a lifetime, it’s nearly $5000, not to mention something men don’t have to worry about. Aside from pads or tampons, women still have to pay for heating pads and medication to feel relief from these painful symptoms, like cramps and migraines. Period poverty is a bigger thing than many think. Many women in different countries lack access to period products and adequate sanitation. Every woman should have the right to period products, not because it’s a luxury, but a basic necessity.

Although many might not think period poverty is bad, women who don’t have access to products have to use washcloths, toilet paper, or even wear pads or tampons for an excessive amount of time. The School of Public Health at the University of Michigan conducted studies and found that women are at high risk of developing conditions such as bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and contact dermatitis. This causes many girls to be very quiet and scared to speak about their periods.

One DHS student stated, “It’s not accessible for everybody, and for many it seems to be a luxury to be able to buy products, and why should we have to pay and constantly be buying pads and tampons for something we naturally can’t control. If the government is so worried about women’s bodies and what they do to them, why can’t they contribute to women having access to products that can help us?” 

But what if the roles were reversed? What if it were the men who got their period? Would things have been different, and how so? Would men be able to get out of work because they had strong cramps and didn’t feel good? Or even the constant comment of “Are you on your period?” when you’re slightly mad or upset. Will they get told off for being dramatic if they complained or even murmured a single thing about their period? Yahoo! Life dived in on how men’s products are usually cheaper and more durable than women’s, which are often more expensive for the same product. Just because it’s a woman’s product, many of their products tend to be more reliable, and many aren’t even a necessity. Even if men were able to get a glimpse into this problem, they would never be able to truly understand or experience the feelings of Sisterhood with other girls when asked for a pad or when they check whether the bottom of their clothing is stained. It’s a universal feeling we all get, no matter where we come from or how we look, or even the feeling of waking up bloated with the worst acne you’ve had in your whole life, as symptoms of your current or upcoming menstrual cycle. For years, many have felt connected and have some sort of Sisterhood with each other through the bond of having a menstrual cycle and being there for each other for hacks and tricks and to help those who were just introduced to having a period. 

Women should have the support they need to navigate this natural function of being female.