Menstrual poverty refers to the difficulty or inability, whether occasional or recurrent, to access adequate hygiene products—such as menstrual protection, pain-relief medication, and appropriate underwear—as well as safe sanitary facilities and reliable, appropriate information needed to manage menstruation with dignity. It is a public health issue closely linked to socioeconomic and gender inequalities and disproportionately affects people who are already marginalized.
A public opinion survey conducted in 2023 by Environics Research for Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) revealed that menstrual poverty remains a significant reality in Canada: one in six menstruating people (17%) report having personally experienced menstrual poverty. This figure rises to one in four (25%) among those whose household annual income is below $40,000.
One in five menstruating people (20%) state that it is possible they may not be able to afford menstrual products within the next 12 months, and 7% consider this situation to be very likely. Among those affected, six in ten identify inflation as a factor that has increased their financial vulnerability when purchasing menstrual products. Over the course of a lifetime, a menstruating person may spend up to $6,000 on menstrual products. This amount does not include pain relief remedies, the purchase of new underwear, or any other additional products.
This article aims to equip professionals working in postsecondary and community settings with a better understanding of the links between sexual ang gender-based violence (SGBV), living conditions, and menstrual health. The associated resources are designed to strengthen prevention, identification, and intervention practices, while promoting a holistic, feminist, and intersectional approach.
Gender-Based Violence and Menstrual Poverty
Economic violence, by restricting access to essential financial and material resources, can create increased dependence on a partner. When access to money or basic necessities is controlled, withdrawn, or nonexistent, menstrual management becomes conditional on another person’s approval. Following consultations conducted in 2023, a report by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) highlights that this economic violence is intertwined with other interconnected forms of violence, including control over the body, shame and guilt (psychological violence), menstrual stigma and taboo (social and institutional violence), and fear of seeking help. Together, these mechanisms limit the ability to manage menstruation with dignity. They contribute to reinforcing silence, the invisibility of menstrual needs, and social isolation. Fear of not being believed, of being judged, or of being sanctioned further exacerbates the social, economic, and health impacts of menstrual poverty.
According to Plan International, among children and adolescents, the onset of puberty is accompanied by increased vulnerability, particularly in socioeconomically and culturally precarious contexts. Rigid gender norms—understood as prescriptive social expectations that define behaviours and roles associated with gender—contribute to the construction and reproduction of menstrual taboo. By associating menstruation with shame or indecency, these norms reinforce stigma and discourage open discussions about menstrual health.
Combined with a lack of supportive and compassionate communication in school, family, and healthcare settings, these systemic forms of violence limit access to reliable knowledge about menstrual health.
Socioeconomic Impacts and Exclusion
Menstrual poverty leads to school absenteeism, social isolation, and sometimes school dropout. Through its Le Fil Rouge project, the Quebec Network for Women’s Health Action highlights in its Menstrual Survey 2023 that seven out of ten people reported being absent from work, school, or a planned activity due to menstrual pain, and one in ten was prevented from participating socially because of a lack of available hygiene products.
According to Environics Research, in 2023, three out of four people in Canada (77%) state that menstruation can prevent a person from carrying out daily activities such as going to school, work, or caring for loved ones. When financial resources are limited, menstrual products become a difficult and non-priority expense, which can lead to the use of inadequate alternatives.
The Canadian Menstrual Equity Fund aims to achieve menstrual equity—that is, ensuring that everyone has what they need to manage their menstruation with dignity. Since 2023, it has enabled the distribution of more than 74.5 million menstrual products to over 3.5 million people through community organizations, demonstrating the tangible impact of these targeted investments.
On the island of Montréal, the organization Dignité mensuelle, founded by students from McGill University, works to improve access to menstrual products by distributing them free of charge to community organizations and women’s centres.
A Reality Amplified by Intersectional Inequalities
Menstrual poverty does not affect everyone in the same way. It is exacerbated by intersectional factors, including belonging to marginalized, Indigenous, racialized, migrant communities, or living in conditions of economic insecurity.
In Canada, menstrual products represent a regular and unavoidable expense. One in five menstruating people report that they may not be able to afford them over the next year. This proportion is even higher among those living below the low-income threshold or experiencing social exclusion.
Indigenous women, immigrant and refugee populations, as well as people experiencing homelessness or exposed to violence, face additional barriers related to systemic racism, housing insecurity, and limited access to services. Despite these realities, menstrual poverty remains a largely under-documented issue, particularly regarding the specific experiences of marginalized communities, which can hinder the development of fully appropriate policies and interventions.
Conclusion
Addressing menstrual poverty through a sexual violence and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention lens is a crucial lever for change. Integrating menstruation into awareness-raising initiatives helps break taboos, foster safe spaces, and strengthen the empowerment of young people.
References
Femmes et Égalité des genres Canada (2023). Égalité des genres. Consultations pour le Fond d’équité menstruelle
- Femmes et Égalité des genres Canada (2025). Égalité des genres. Équité menstruelle.
- Plan International (2024). Santé sexuelle et reproductive: Causes et Conséquences de la précarité menstruelle.
Réseau québécois d’action pour la santé des femmes (2025). Précarité menstruelle. Le fil rouge : Comprendre la précarité menstruelle.
