Menstrual Poverty: A Reality in the 21st Century
- In some places like Nepal, menstruating women are considered impure.
- In vast areas of Africa and Latin America, girls skip school during menstruation due to teasing and lack of facilities.
- According to India’s health ministry, only 12% of women have access to safe menstrual products, putting 88% at risk of infections and limiting their normal life several days a month.
- Menstrual hygiene products are taxed as luxury goods in some countries, hindering access for the poorest. For example, Hungary taxes them at 27%, Croatia, Sweden, and Denmark at 25%, and Argentina at 21%.
Dytas’ Contribution to Fighting Menstrual Poverty
As manufacturers of menstrual cups, at Dytas we contribute to fighting menstrual poverty with a low-cost, long-lasting product.
The retail price is 9 euros in Spanish supermarkets, with a 10-year lifespan when cared for properly.
Additionally, the product is responsibly made, respecting the environment.
To empower women, it can be used up to 12 hours due to its high-quality material. Afterwards, it only needs to be emptied and cleaned properly for safe continued use.
Contributing to the fight against menstrual poverty is one of our priorities, as it is a topic that deeply concerns us at Dytas. It is key to female health, gender equality, and achieving a more dignified and secure way of life for girls and women. That is why it is an issue that, as specialists in feminine hygiene, we care about and are committed to.
Menstrual Poverty: A 21st-Century Reality That Was Barely Discussed Until Recently
Did you know that in Spain 2 out of 10 women suffer from menstrual poverty? And according to UN data, 500 million women worldwide suffer from it?
It is unheard of that in the 21st century such a problem exists affecting such a large population. Fortunately, it is no longer a taboo topic that is ignored or unknown. Bringing it to the spotlight is the first step towards combating it and finding effective solutions.
For the UN and international NGOs fighting for equality, human rights, and women’s rights, it has become a priority on their agenda. This visibility and the actions from influential bodies allow for significant progress, though much remains to be done.
First, it is important to explain and raise awareness about it.
What Is Menstrual Poverty?
It refers to the inability to access safe menstrual hygiene products, mainly due to cost, and in some places due to accessibility issues. It also includes lack of access to hygienic facilities during menstruation, as well as access to water and waste management.
Menstrual poverty also encompasses lack of education on biology and menstruation, the changes in the body, how to maintain hygiene to prevent infections and health problems, and all related information.
In developing countries, millions of girls experience their first menstruation without education on what it is, its significance, and bodily changes. Without access to safe hygiene products, they must resort to unsanitary alternatives that put them at risk and change their habits, excluding them from activities.
Other women must sacrifice a significant part of their economy just to access hygienic solutions, preventing a normal biological process from becoming a health issue.
Menstrual Poverty Statistics in Spain and Worldwide
According to the study ‘Equality and Menstrual Health’ developed by the research team at Jordi Gol University Institute, 22,823 women participated, and 22.2% had at some point lacked access to menstrual hygiene products due to economic reasons. Additionally, 39.9% could not always choose their preferred menstrual product for the same reasons.
But the problem is not only access. 3 out of 4 women reported having to overuse a menstrual product due to lack of appropriate facilities to change.
And how about worldwide?
According to UNICEF, only 27% of women globally have access to facilities with running water. Thus, nearly 3 out of 4 women lack hygienic facilities to manage their periods safely and with dignity.
In some societies, menstruation worsens inequality further by stigmatization, preventing empowerment, and pushing girls and women into poverty and social exclusion.
- In some places like Nepal, menstruating women are considered impure.
- In vast areas of Africa and Latin America, girls skip school during menstruation due to teasing and lack of facilities.
- According to India’s health ministry, only 12% of women have access to safe menstrual products, putting 88% at risk of infections and limiting their normal life several days a month.
- Menstrual hygiene products are taxed as luxury goods in some countries, hindering access for the poorest. For example, Hungary taxes them at 27%, Croatia, Sweden, and Denmark at 25%, and Argentina at 21%.
Dytas’ Contribution to Fighting Menstrual Poverty
As manufacturers of menstrual cups, at Dytas we contribute to fighting menstrual poverty with a low-cost, long-lasting product.
The retail price is 9 euros in Spanish supermarkets, with a 10-year lifespan when cared for properly.
Additionally, the product is responsibly made, respecting the environment.
To empower women, it can be used up to 12 hours due to its high-quality material. Afterwards, it only needs to be emptied and cleaned properly for safe continued use.