FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Period Poverty In The U.S. Is On The Rise, Worsening Education And Economic Outcomes
A new study from Dignity Grows and the Period Poverty Institute of America shows nearly half of U.S. women’s daily lives, careers, and learning opportunities are impacted by Period Poverty.
HARTFORD, CONN. – NOVEMBER 17, 2025 – Dignity Grows, the leading organization combating Period Poverty through direct product support and data-driven social policy change, released a new report that shows Period Poverty is on the rise in America, with significant and numerous impacts on women’s lives. The study found an astonishing 42 percent of women in the U.S. have experienced Period Poverty in their lifetime, compared to 35 percent in 2023, resulting in missed school days, job loss, and health issues.
The report examines the broader impacts of Period Poverty on women’s lives and prosperity beyond the effects on their physical and mental health. Dignity Grows defines Period Poverty as the lack of or uncertain access to basic menstrual hygiene products due to financial constraints. Not only does Period Poverty significantly impact the lives of women experiencing it, but the research from Dignity Grows also indicates there are detrimental impacts on the economy and the workforce.
A Staggering Economic Loss
“Our conservative estimate is that the U.S. economy loses at least $60 million per year from hourly wage earners experiencing Period Poverty,” said Jennifer Tolman, President and COO of Dignity Grows. “That figure doesn’t consider salaried workers or the countless women who are prevented from making educational and career advancements resulting from Period Poverty. We know the total economic loss to be much more staggering.”
Research shows that, of women experiencing Period Poverty within the last 24 months, more than half (56%) reported that their performance at work was affected, with 42% of women stating their ability to attend work was impacted. Similarly, school attendance was negatively impacted for 33% of respondents.
Period Poverty Expected to Skyrocket
This is a burgeoning problem: when women cannot access or afford menstrual products, their livelihoods and careers are impacted, further exacerbating the issue at hand. With rising prices and recent cuts to benefits such as SNAP, the number of women —and by extension, their households—experiencing Period Poverty will increase.
“There is an absolute and undeniable correlation between food insecurity and Period Poverty. The same exact conditions that cause a person to not know where their next meal is coming from also influence how and why women are unable to obtain menstrual products,” said Jason Jakubowski, Chair of Policy Engagement and Advocacy at Feeding America. “If people no longer have the funds to purchase food or menstrual products at grocery stores, we will be looking at a legitimate crisis. Without menstrual products, a woman can’t leave her home to get to work; missed work and wages solidify her family’s instability. In our business, this is a real-life nightmare scenario.”
Dignity Grows is working to end poverty with a three-pronged approach: research, such as this report; direct product support for more than 56,000 women per year; and advocacy for thoughtful policy change.
The full report is available online. To learn more about how Dignity Grows is working to understand and combat period poverty, visit their website at dignitygrows.org.
ABOUT DIGNITY GROWS
Dignity Grows is a national nonprofit movement that was founded in 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut, to address the hidden health crisis of Period Poverty. Its mission is to eliminate Period Poverty in America through direct support, research, and social policy change. The Dignity Grows model ensures direct hygiene support for 56,000 women and girls each year through its signature “Hope in a Bag” and “Hope in a Backpack” programs. The Dignity Grows network now includes more than 5,000 professionals, volunteers, partners, and supporters. Dignity Grows hosts the biennial National Summit on Period Poverty, uniting cross-sector changemakers to build actionable solutions to Period Poverty. In 2024, Dignity Grows launched the Period Poverty Institute of America to combat this public health crisis through data-driven systemic change, advocacy, and providing essential support to those in need. For more information, visit dignitygrows.org.
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