For roughly half the population, periods are a part of life. Yet globally—even within Australia—those who menstruate still face barriers to accessing period products, stigma around their symptoms, and limited freedom to choose how they manage menstrual health. These don’t just affect comfort—they impact education, work, dignity, and overall wellness.
Menstrual equity isn’t just about pads or tampons—it’s about fairness, access, and the freedom to make informed choices about your body.
What Is Menstrual Equity?
Menstrual equity refers to equal access to safe, affordable, and culturally appropriate menstrual care and education, regardless of a person’s socioeconomic status, location, or background. It also includes:
- Access to accurate information about menstruation and menstrual health
- Access to healthcare services that support menstrual disorders
- Freedom from stigma, shame, or workplace/school disadvantage during menstruation
While the conversation often focuses on period products, true menstrual equity means considering health literacy, economic barriers, and choice across a wide spectrum of menstrual experiences—from menarche to menopause.
Access: The Practical Barrier
In Australia, period poverty is more common than many realise. A 2021 report from the charity Share the Dignity found that 1 in 5 Australians who menstruate have had to improvise period care due to cost, and more than 40% have missed work or school because they didn’t have access to products.
People in rural and remote communities, Indigenous communities, schools, prisons, and those experiencing homelessness face the greatest challenges. That’s why free pad and tampon programs in schools and workplaces are more than symbolic—they can change lives.
But there are encouraging signs:
- Since 2023, the NSW Department of Education has rolled out a statewide Menstrual Hygiene Program, providing free pads, tampons, and even period underwear in over 4,600 dispensers across all public schools. Approximately 65,400 pairs of period underwear and well over 1.9 million pads and tampons have been distributed to students since the program’s inception.
- The same program also co-funds “PPEP Talk”, an educational initiative delivered in select schools to teach respectful, evidence-based menstrual and endometriosis awareness to both male and female students.
- Beyond schools, Inner West Council has piloted free menstrual dispensers in libraries, aquatic centres, and youth centres—creating access points in public spaces outside the school setting.
These are just some of the efforts being made to help remove practical barriers that prevent young people from fully engaging in education and life.
Stigma: The Hidden Barrier
Even with products available, silence around menstruation remains powerful. Many report shame when accessing free products or fear of being judged. Studies have found that stigma can:
- Prevent people from seeking help for heavy or painful periods
- Delay diagnosis of conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, or fibroids
- Impact mental health and self-esteem
By talking openly, offering education, and removing discomfort, we challenge these outdated taboos and support earlier intervention and compassionate care.
Choice: Because Periods Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All
Pads, tampons, menstrual cups, reusable pads, period undies, hormonal treatments, non-hormonal options—there is no universal best choice, only the one that works best for each individual.
Healthcare providers play a key role in:
- Offering evidence-based information on all options (not just the most popular)
- Recognising that people have different values and circumstances
- Supporting people who want to opt out of periods altogether (yes, that’s medically safe for many and entirely valid!)
Access to contraception, medical management for period pain, or even surgical options for conditions like adenomyosis or fibroids should be part of the menstrual equity conversation too.
Why It Matters
Menstrual health is a public health issue, an education issue, a workplace issue, and a human rights issue. When someone can’t afford to manage their period, they’re at risk of isolation, infection, missed opportunities, and poorer long-term health outcomes.
We must move beyond the idea that periods are “private” and instead treat them as a normal and supported part of health care. That means policy change, product access, education reform, and open dialogue—led by people with lived experience.
How You Can Help
- Support local and national charities like Share the Dignity, Days for Girls, or The Period Project
- Encourage your school or workplace to provide free period products
- Talk openly with your children, colleagues, and community about menstrual health
- Advocate for inclusive, evidence-based menstrual health education
- See your GP or gynaecologist if your periods are interfering with your quality of life—painful or heavy periods aren’t something you have to just put up with.
Final Word
Periods shouldn’t be a barrier. Access, education, choice, and respect are fundamental to wellbeing. Menstrual equity is not a privilege—it’s a right. Together, we can make equitable change tangible in our communities.
If your periods are holding you back or causing pain, we’re here to help—with evidence-based and compassionate care.