Concerning reports from charities and food banks in recent weeks show women are being forced to choose between food and buying period products.

Amanda Quinn, finance administrator with the Quarryvale Family Resource Centre in Clondalkin, Dublin spoke to RTÉ earlier this month about the growing financial pressure people are facing in this regard.

"It's not a luxury product. It's an essential item, but it's not the priority unfortunately. The priority is food, heating the house and electricity, and of course as we know with the cost of both increasing, period poverty is real. We're experiencing it here in our food banks," she said. 

Ms Quinn also said the embarrassment factor in requesting such products from the centre can be particularly difficult to see and called on Government to do more.

"I'm signing up women and they're almost embarrassed to ask 'do you have sanitary pads? Do you provide tampons?' and of course we do. There is such a demand. Period poverty is so real,” she said.

Charities have warned that the cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated period poverty, as the demand for menstrual products distributed by charities has increased.

Data from Bloody Good Period, a charity that provides period products to those unable to buy them otherwise in the UK, found that there was a 78% increase in demand for their products during the first quarter of 2022, compared to the same period in 2020.

 The charity also says it expects this increase in demand to continue to rise as a greater number of people have limited disposable income as essential items, such as electricity, gas, and fuel, take up a larger proportion of their budgets.

The RTÉ article cited further concerning figures stating 60% of young girls have missed days at school due to their periods.

Fórsa has been calling for all employers to do more and take real action on the matter, including in schools that are meant to be the centre of learning and progression.

The union is seeking discussions with the Department of Education to seek the introduction of menstrual welfare policies.

Fórsa says schools and education, should be to the forefront in putting menstrual health policies into place for female employees.

“Doing so would set a clear example to all regarding the importance of menstrual health and would allow schools lead and educate by setting example,” according to Fórsa.

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