More than three in four university and TAFE students have struggled to afford period products, according to new data.
Not-for-profit organisationcollected data from nearly 154,000 people who menstruate from March to May 2024.
Overall, it found over 60% of respondents had been unable to afford period products.
Almost 99% of respondents identified as women, with the remaining respondents identifying as “gender fluid, non-binary, and/or trans”.
Findings
of people who menstruate have experienced difficulties
This proportion increases for:
people who live with a disability or chronic condition (78%)
First Nations people (83%).
of respondents who have been diagnosed with low iron or iron deficiency. Of these,reported feeling tired due to low iron levels.
Education
of respondents said they missed out onbecause of their period.
said they either didn’t have any education on menstruation or wish they received more.
of respondents started menstruating from the ages of eight to 10. However, the Australian curriculum begins puberty education from 10 to 12 years of age.
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Work
of respondents have missed work because of their period.
of respondents said they missed work because they feared leaking.
of respondents have missed out on work because of period pain.
Cost
The estimated cost to the Australian economy as a result of days taken off work due to menstruation.
The median monthly cost of period products.
To reduce spending on menstrual products,of respondents wore a tampon or pad for more than four hours.
Demographics
Tasmania faces the highest rates of period poverty in Australia.
of tertiary students found it hard to afford period products.
South and/or East Asian respondents weren’t educated before they got their period.
people out of 153,600 respondents reported having a medical condition relating to their period (including endometriosis). That’s nearlyof respondents.
