More women are experiencing a unique challenge each month due to elevated inflation that men don’t face: affording their monthly menstrual cycle.

Prices on tampons, pads, and sanitary materials are surging. Women—especially at the lower end of the economic ladder—are forced to make tough choices to purchase menstrual products.

Based on data reported by the Wall Street Journal from 2019 to 2024: 

  • The average price of a pack of sanitary pads is up 41% to $6.50.
  • The price for a package of tampons has jumped 36% to $8.29.

The prices of these menstrual products are rising faster than food and many other essentials. 

Unlike other discretionary spending that occurs annually or periodically, purchasing menstrual products is a monthly necessity for millions of women. 

Unlike other categories of personal care and other household items, there are just a few brand names to choose from, one or two—if any—generic store brands on the shelves that offer lower prices, and few alternatives to tampons and pads. 

For working-class and low-income women, these rising prices are increasingly forcing them to make their menstrual products last longer, and that could include unhealthy and unsafe practices. According to the National Institute for Health, an estimated 16.9 million women who menstruate in the United States live in poverty. Two-thirds of those women cannot afford basic menstrual products such as pads, tampons, and menstrual products. A woman need not live in poverty to struggle with period affordability.

Take Erin Brown, for instance. The 31-year-old vintage clothing reseller in Lansing, MI, reportedly spends $22 each month on menstrual products, which represents more than 10% of her $200 grocery budget.

I have to do a lot of mental budgeting when I know my period is about to come. I get so angry at checkout because the bleeding is something I literally cannot control.

Some women may use their tampons for longer than they should, which can pose health risks. Others are turning to homemade solutions such as cut-up diapers that may be unsanitary.

It’s unusual that a product, which should be highly price inelastic (meaning consumers will buy it even as prices rise because it’s a necessity like food and gas), is seeing falling sales. Since 2020, higher prices have led to a drop in annual sales of pads and tampons, by 12% and 16%, respectively, according to consumer research firm NielsenIQ. 

If women are cutting back on their menstrual product purchases, we are left to ponder how they are managing their cycles.

How the government blocks period innovation

Currently, there is a virtual monopoly of menstrual product producers, which reduces competition and lowers prices. Procter & Gamble (P&G) is the dominant player in the $3.5 billion industry. As the producer of Tampax tampons and Always pads, P&G represents nearly 60% of sales in both categories. 

Women who shop the hygiene aisle are also familiar with U by Kotex pads and tampons produced by Kimberly-Clark, as well as Carefree pads and Playtex tampons made by Edgewell Personal Care. There are a few other alternatives to pads and tampons, such as period panties (or reusable period underwear) largely led by the company Thinx and menstrual cups.

The industry of menstrual products is ripe for innovation and disruption. The challenge for newcomers is breaking through government roadblocks. Understandably, products designed to be inserted or adjacent to a woman’s most intimate body parts must be highly safe and effective. However, Sequel, a tampon startup that designed an applicator with spiral grooves to improve absorption efficiency, found the regulatory process steep. According to comments from Greta Meyer, co-founder and CEO at Sequel.

The FDA clearance has been a long process for us, and we know that this is one of the largest barriers to entry for new products in this category. 

However, we understand the importance of these devices being held to the highest standards of safety and quality. We are proud of the work our team has done to reach this milestone for Sequel.

Sequel recently received FDA approval, the latest design to get approved in 90 years. Most designs that have had patents are from the top makers in the industry.

Bottom Line

High inflation is affecting virtually every household in America, prompting some to make tough decisions. Women are keenly aware of the impact of three years of high inflation on their household budgets as they make many of the shopping decisions. 

Rapidly rising costs on menstrual products don’t seem to be abating even as we are experiencing lower inflation rates on other goods. Women need solutions to bring down these costs. This is an area for Washington to reign in the regulations that stifle competition and they can likely do so without sacrificing women’s health.