US facing "tampon" crisis as supply deplete across country

As per consumers and campaigners, the United States is experiencing a tampon crisis, leaving users with fewer menstrual product options as supplies deplete across the country.

The shortage has arrived at an inopportune time, given the price of menstruation products has lately risen, according to campaigners.

In an email, Laurie Rovin, interim CEO of The Period Project, an organization that provides menstrual products to those in need, said, "I can share that our organization has distributed over 2 million period care products during 2021 and access to products has increasingly worsened over the past year. We're having trouble ordering in bulk, and when we try to order retail, we're only allowed to get five boxes each order."

When Rovin took over as interim leader of The Period Project in August 2021, the organization's cost per "period pack" was $5.86. The bundle, which includes tampons, pads, liners, and wipes, is currently $10 and "rapidly rising," according to Rovin.

The tampon scarcity is the second time in a few months that many women and other people with uteruses have been unable to obtain another basic necessity from shop shelves: infant formula is currently in limited supply.

Furthermore, the tampon scarcity is unfolding as many Americans prepare for restrictions on abortion and a slew of other reproductive health services if the US Supreme Court, as expected, overturns Roe v Wade this summer.

The impact of the shortfall on smaller and independent retailers is unknown. Several member pharmacies, according to a spokeswoman for the National Community Pharmacists Association, have not had supply concerns or issues with their distributors.

In an email, Lysne Tait, executive director of the non-profit Helping Women Period, which offers no-cost menstruation products to people in need, said, "We have definitely observed a reduction in the amount of tampon donations over the last few months.I've heard from some of the customers we distribute to that they're having trouble getting specific brands they're used to." Particularly non-applicator tampons such as o.b."

Elise Joy, executive director and co-founder of Girls Helping Girls. Period., an organization that donates menstruation products to community organizations like food pantries, has witnessed the shortage firsthand.

"For the first time, many groups who do what I do are coming out to see if I can help them cover their clients, and I've also had new agencies reach out to me asking for help because their resources have dried up

Joy explained.