Rising prices for menstrual pads and intimate hygiene products in the UK have led to an increase in the number of women turning to charities. According to Boody Good Period, there are those who use unsuitable alternatives such as socks, rags and toilet paper due to access difficulties.
According to the institution, cited by a British newspaper IndependentThis year, monthly requests for sanitary pads have increased by 43%. During the first half of the year, more than 61 thousand orders were made.
Rachel Grocott, chief executive of Bloody Good Period, says more people than ever are suffering from period poverty due to the rising cost of living.
“We know people have to make impossible choices and for those who menstruate, products are essential. Menstruation does not stop because there is a cost of living crisis,” he said.
The facility’s executive director warned that some women, given the difficulty in obtaining menstrual pads and/or tampons, were using alternatives that were not suitable for intimate health, such as socks, rags or toilet paper.
“These are not things people should be thinking about in the UK in 2023. This is simply unacceptable,” Rachel Grocott said.
Due to increased demand for menstrual pads, 82 UK organizations have contacted Bloody Good Period for help with sanitary products.