How Periods Impact Our Lives

Every day, on average, 800 million people are menstruating at the same time. I guess you could say, our cycles are in sync - period pals.

It sucks - it's painful, it's uncomfortable, it messes with our mood, and frankly, we just don't have time for it, right? Well, it's time we start getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. This week's objective is to normalize talking about our periods, uncover some of the problems women face across the world, and how we can band together to make things better.

Because I don't know about you, but when we get our periods, we could use a little more money in our purses and a lot more girl power in the world.

Menstrual Cycle

If you're fortunate enough to have a regular cycle on average, periods will cramp your style for roughly 38 years of your life. That'll add up to a casual 456 periods throughout your lifetime and add up to bleeding for 6.25 years. Cool.

So whether we like it or not, that period is going to come around once a month. Just like that ex who can't seem to lose your number. So what does that mean for your bank account? Are you consciously accounting for all that cash you're going to shell out for tampons, ice cream, cute new sandals, or even new underwear?

In the next few days, we'll dig deeper into the unexpected costs incurred during your time of the month, but first, let's start with the hard facts.

Financial Impact

Women in the U.S. women spend over $2 billion on sanitary products each year. This means you'll probably spend somewhere in the ballpark of $6,360 on tampons and pads throughout your life.

Are you consciously building these expenses into your budget?

Keep in mind the $2 billion only covers tampons and pads required for managing your period. What about that cute cheetah print skirt you purchased mid-cycle?

Wait what… That's right; even though we're already $6k in the hole, we don't stop there.

Research shows women are more susceptible to purchasing "appearance-enhancing" products during the early days of our period. The fluctuation in our hormones creates an urge to buy beauty products. This stems from our biological need to attract an eligible mating partner. And not because we're strong independent women that deserve all the nice things.

Now that we know, make sure you're cognizant next time you run out to the store to purchase a new mascara during that time of the month. Do you really need that mascara that promises to make your lashes look 10x longer? Or does your period have you in the feels again?

Taxes on Tampons & Pads

Okay, we're spending an outrageous amount of money on disposable cotton, lipstick, and tassel earrings. Got it. But did you know a portion of that money we're forking over for sanitary products goes to the government?

Yup, we're paying taxes on tampons and pads. And while that might not seem like a big deal initially, what if I told you some goods are tax-exempt because they're considered essential (in the United States)? Essential items that make the shortlist include - chapstick and Viagra. But tampons and pads... nah, those are luxury goods.

Pass on Your Period

Some of you might be thinking, so what? 'This is an unavoidable cost, right?' Well, actually, getting your period might be entirely unnecessary for some.

Did you know if you're taking a hormonal birth control pill as your choice of contraceptive, there is no medical necessity for you to have your period?

Yup, that's right, you heard me. If you're taking the pill, you can safely opt-out of getting your period without any medical concerns. But definitely consult with your doctor first. She'll want to be in the know before you go period-free.

Environmental Impact

In addition to all the money we're bleeding on sanitary products, we're also severely impacting the environment. Each year in the United States, 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons are discarded. By opting to purchase disposable products for our periods, we're creating tons of waste every day. And the majority of that waste is made of plastic.

According to a research study completed by the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, tampons and pads production are directly contributing to global warming. Tampon applicators and sanitary pads are made with low-density polyethylene. To manufacture this type of plastic, manufacturers require a significant amount of energy created by fossil fuels. And we’re sure we don't need to remind you how long plastic takes to break down in the landfill (hint: 500 years).

So we’re burning more fossil fuels, to make plastic applicators, for products we don't even want to use. It's a vicious cycle, and we need to take significant steps towards breaking it immediately. So this week, we'll be covering all the ways you can make your period more eco-friendly and cost-effective.

Global Impact

So we may not be cognizant of our money decisions when it comes to our periods, and we may be getting our periods for no reason at all, but our problems don't stop there. This week we'll also take a close look at how menstruation impacts women all over the world.

Some of us in North America may view this recurring bodily function as an annoying inevitable part of life we have to deal with. But the bigger problem is the women around the world that menstruate but don’t have access to resources to manage their bleeding.

Many women experience period poverty. According to the American Medical Women's Association, period poverty is "the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and educations, including but not limited to sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management."

Lack of access to resources directly impacts women's education, wellbeing, and lives. This week we'll unpack how women are directly affected and how you can help.

Now is the time to break down the stigma and shame surrounding our periods. We need to arm ourselves with the knowledge about our periods and develop a better way to manage periods across the world. We're looking forward to spending a week with you and diving into the details!