Period Poverty Awareness

Menstrual health is a fundamental component of well-being, yet it continues to be absent from public health policy. Period poverty is the inability to afford appropriate products to manage menstruation in a dignified and sanitary way. Gaps in access to affordable menstrual health products put menstruating individuals at risk for losses in education, income, and dignity. Environmental factors can influence the pricing of products, which can make them harder to access. The United States lacks unified menstrual health policies to support equity for menstruating individuals in schools, shelters, and prison settings. Nurses have direct contact with individuals impacted by period poverty and should be aware of policies at the state and federal level. The purpose of this article is to define period poverty and examine federal, state, and local policies addressing menstrual equity.