Menstrual poverty and declining affordability of health products for women.

Period! No, not the endearing term millennials use in agreement with each other. We are talking about the other “period”, yes this one! the monthly gift that mother nature bestowed on her womb-bearing inhabitants. I know, who wants to talk about periods? Well for starters, women! Why? You’ll have to keep reading to find out! So let’s dive a little deeper into the world of period of povertythe accessibility and affordability of women’s health products and the economic stimulus women bring by providing in the United States $5.9 billion in sales of feminine products.

The true cost of a menstrual cycle

During her lifetime, a woman will spend on average $18,000 on feminine hygiene products, none of which are covered by insurance. There is an endless list of supplies needed at this time of the month, ranging from painkillers to new underwear and of course the tampons and pads themselves.

Many women have suffered a loss of wages due to the inability to work due to the pain caused by their cycles. Unfortunately, companies don’t care about the pain, stress and cost of menstruation, leaving many of them to face the reality of choosing between their financial livelihood or continuing to work in unbearable conditions. painful.

Oh, and let’s not forget to mention the most expensive of all, the price of humiliation. So let’s take a closer look at the distribution of the unavoidable costs of surveying. Remember that these dollar amounts do not take into account the cost of inflation lately.

Tampons, pads and menstrual discs and cups

Most women choose to protect their clothes and underwear during their “period of the month” using tampons, pads, or a combination of the two. Some women may also choose to use a menstrual disc or cup during their period of menstruation. Often when women are between periods or nearing completion, which usually consists of a lighter flux, panty liners are used to protect the lining of underwear from stains.

On average, most women will spend close to $7,000 throughout their life on pads, panty liners and tampons. This assumes prices remain current and does not take into consideration the differences in each woman’s cycle, which ranges from light to medium to heavy.

The seven thousand dollar price tag is quite modest, as many women have found organic pads to be a healthier (and more expensive) option, given that tampons can lead to toxic shock syndrome.

Women who choose to wear a menstrual disc or cup will on average spend close to $5,000 throughout their life. Menstrual discs and cups cost between $20-$40 with menstrual discs appearing on the more expensive side.

Painkillers and comfort care

Let’s face it, most if not all women experience some form of cramping during their period of the month. Some may even experience excruciating pain if their cycle is accompanied by underlying conditions such as endometriosis. Over-the-counter medications are the only option many women have to deal with the pain associated with their cycles.

Ibuprofen and Aleve are two of the most commonly used pain relievers to help relieve women of pain associated with their menstrual cycles, which can include, but are not limited to; cramps, back pain, abdominal pain and even rectal pain.

The average cost of a small bottle of Aleve is $7while ibuprofen costs around $10. Although the two pain relievers are the most commonly used, stronger medications may be needed depending on the woman’s pain tolerance.

Most women will spend or will have spent on average close to $1,300 on painkillers to help them through the pain of their cycle.

Poverty period

period of poverty is defined as “lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management and education” according to The Journal of World Health Reports. During the most recent covid-19 pandemic, many women faced the exhausting issue of limited, if any, access to menstrual products.

Unfortunately, menstrual cycles don’t care if the world is in the midst of a natural disaster, pandemic, or some other global issue.

Although the pandemic has contributed greatly to the inaccessibility of feminine products; the Cost of these products is one of the biggest contributors to the accessibility of feminine products.

Many women find it difficult to acquire the products, care and treatment needed for menstruation, knowing that 16.9 million menstruating women live in poverty in the United States

CVS Women’s Health Program

While these numbers may seem small in retrospect, these small costs add up over a lifetime, especially for women who do not have access to such funds on a monthly basis. With insurance that neglects menstrual care, women have to come out of pocket to foot the bill for their feminine needs.

SVC Health launched numerous initiatives to address global health issues; including one, one women’s health program to help women offset the cost of menstrual products, mental health assistance and other items associated with women’s care. The program offers vintage products at a reduced rate of twenty-five percent and tax-free.

The HVAC program also offers services specifically focused on menstrual issues and menopause so that women have access to affordable care and treatment.

Take away food

With new laws in place, specifically focused on women’s bodies, there seems to be no regulatory help to care for a woman’s body. Programs like SVC Health and similar programs that take initiatives to help and empower women are needed in these difficult times.

Women face enough difficulties to navigate life, one would assume that allowing yourself to have your period wouldn’t be one of them. But as the saying goes “This is America”.