How period poverty is forcing people to choose between menstrual products and food

Health & FitnessLifestyle
31 Mar 2026 • 7:22 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • A new survey reveals that over one in ten women and people who menstruate in the UK struggled to afford period products in the past year.
  • This financial difficulty has led to dangerous health practices, including wearing single-use products for longer than recommended and using unsuitable alternatives like newspaper.
  • Many individuals were forced to prioritise essential expenses such as food (64%) and energy (40%) over purchasing period products.
  • Almost a quarter (22%) of those affected by period poverty reported staying at home as a direct consequence, impacting their participation in public life.
  • ActionAid UK warns that the issue of period poverty risks becoming even further entrenched amid fears of a fresh cost of living crisis.

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