As a woman, I know firsthand the financial burden of purchasing feminine hygiene products. It costs approximately $10 for a box of pads or tampons. If we consider one box per period, with 12 periods in a year over the course of 50 years, that's an astounding $6,000 spent on menstrual necessities alone. This doesn't even account for irregular cycles or heavy bleeders who may need more supplies.

The issue extends beyond just my personal experience. Millions of women across the country face this same financial strain every month simply to manage their natural bodily functions. Meanwhile, non-essential medications like Viagra are often provided at little to no cost through insurance coverage.

This disparity is not only unfair but also contributes to gender inequality by imposing an unnecessary financial burden on women and girls. According to a study conducted by the American Journal of Public Health (2019), nearly two-thirds of low-income women in a large U.S city could not afford menstrual hygiene products during the previous year.

We believe it's high time our society recognizes that feminine hygiene products are not luxury items but essential ones and should be made available free of charge just like other health necessities.

Please join us in calling upon policymakers and health insurance companies to make all feminine hygiene products free for all women regardless of their income level or social status. Sign this petition today!