Millions of women in the United States are unable to afford proper menstrual care products during at least one menstrual period of their lives. This issue, known as period poverty, is the limited or nonexistent access to menstrual hygiene products because of financial constraints. Consequences extend beyond inconvenience and affect daily life, work and mental health.
On college campuses, where students face rising tuition and necessities costs, access to menstrual products can be a challenge. A 2021 study of U.S. college students found that 14.2% could not afford menstrual products at some point in the past year, and 10% could not afford them every month. Period poverty is also more common among historically marginalized students, such as students of color, immigrants and first-generation students.
Period poverty at Tulane
Baleigh Evans, assistant director of health promotion, said that as the Tulane University student population increases, demand for period products has also increased.
“Period poverty is a global public health concern that impacts all communities, including the campus community,” Evans said.
To combat this issue, Louisiana law requires public schools to provide free menstrual products in student restrooms. While the law only applies to public K-12 schools, some Louisiana colleges, including Tulane, have independently instituted similar programs.
Three Tulane students have taken the lead on this issue. Eudora Ezirike, Sivaani Anandkumar and Roma Kolluru are leading an initiative to install menstrual product dispensers in campus bathrooms.
The project has been in development for two years, but the group recently coordinated with the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life and its executive director, Heather Seamen, to install the dispensers in LBC bathrooms. The group plans to expand dispensers to the Newcomb Institute as well.
“Access to menstrual products involves both health and equity,” Ezirike said. “Our goal is for every single student on our campus to have equal access to the products that they need to focus on their education and overall well-being.”
The Tulane University Peer Health Educators, also known as TUPHE, and the Well for Health Promotion supply free menstrual products to 25 locations on campus. This is expanded from 19 locations last semester, with thousands of period products distributed in fall 2025, according to Evans.
Last semester, TUPHE distributed 2,919 tampons, 3,085 pads and 1,477 liners, representing a 66.39% increase from last year.
National trends
A 2025 national survey by Dignity Grows, a nonprofit focused on ending period poverty, found that 42% of women had experienced period poverty at some point in their lives. In low-income areas, this number may rise to 64%.
The survey found that for women who frequently experienced period poverty, at least one aspect of their daily life was impacted, such as personal and sexual relationships and mental health. Among women who experienced period poverty, more than half reported their work performance was affected, and one in five reported their work retention was affected. Young women were most affected by period poverty, with two-thirds of women under 25 reporting that they had experienced period poverty.
Legislation surrounding the pricing of menstrual products exacerbates the problem. The tampon tax, a “luxury” taxation on menstrual products, is legal in 19 states. Luxury taxes are taxes on items considered nonessential, and make it harder to afford menstrual products.
In recent years, period poverty activists have pushed to make menstrual products free in schools and jails and tax-free in stores. In Louisiana, period products became tax-exempt in 2022, a law many states have also implemented.
Isabella Landry contributed to the reporting of this article.