Millions of women and girls are unable to manage their menstrual cycle in a dignified, healthy way. The onset of menstruation (or periods as they can be known) is a new phase and can bring with it new risks to the lives of adolescent girls. Many girls face stigma, harassment and social exclusion during menstruation. Gender inequality, discrimination, social norms, cultural taboos, poverty and lack of basic services like toilets and sanitary products can all cause menstrual health and hygiene needs to go unmet. When this happens it restricts women and girls’ mobility and personal choices. It affects attendance in school and participation in community life. It also compromises their safety, causing additional stress and anxiety. These challenges are particularly acute in humanitarian crises.

Period poverty is the lack of access to menstrual hygiene information, products, and toilets- forcing women and girls to risk their health, and miss out on education and employment opportunities. Severe period poverty has spread and grown dramatically throughout the world as a result of several crises: the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic crisis resulting in inflation pushing up the cost of period products in many locations. The World Bank estimates at least 500 million women and girls globally lack access to the facilities they need to manage their periods.