No girl should have to choose between her education and her dignity.
What Is Period Poverty?
Period poverty remains a significant issue in the U.S. in 2025, with nearly 1 in 4 teens struggling to afford products, leading many to improvise or miss school, though product access in schools is improving.
Key statistics show >>1 in 3 teens missed class due to lack of access, while nearly 1 in 4 students couldn't afford products, a number unchanged from 2023. Economic pressure and stigma persist, impacting lower-income and minority teens disproportionately, with almost half experiencing negative menstrual associations or resorting to makeshift products.
84%
of teens have missed a class
or know someone who missed it because they don't have access to menstrual products. 66% stated they don't want to be in school during their period.
14.2%
of women
have experienced period poverty in the past year.
16.9
million menstruators
in the U.S. are affected by period poverty and cannot afford period products...1 in 4 students have struggled to afford period products.
*Sources: Thinx and PERIOD, State of the Period (2023), National Library of Medicine (2023)
*Sources: Dignity Grows & Period Movement
