Period products such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups are essential for the health, comfort, and dignity of millions of women who menstruate in the United States. Yet, current SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits do not cover the cost of these necessary items. This gap in coverage places undue financial burdens on low-income families and women that prevents them from fully participating in work and school.

In the US, 16.9 million women live in poverty which inhibits them from accessing menstrual products. On average, women spend $22 per month on period products and $18,000 in total throughout their lifetime. Women with lower incomes struggle to purchase adequate amounts and/or quality menstrual products. These unavoidable expenses force women to sacrifice menstrual health for food, bills, or supporting their children. Menstrual products are not a luxury; they are a necessity, just like food and water.

According to a recent study, nearly one in five girls in the U.S. have either left school early or missed school entirely because they didn't have access to period products, underscoring the acute need for these items to be accessible. 

Expanding SNAP benefits to include period products would help millions of women and girls from low-income households and increase their ability to attend school and work.

Let's work together to make this crucial change!