As if physical discomfort during menstruation were not enough, we also have to dig deep into our wallets for disposable hygiene products. Because did you know that Menstruating women spend an average of around 21,700 euros on their period over the course of their lives ? That is a considerable sum that is collected. And that for something that is completely natural and that menstruating people cannot avoid. The money is put into tampons, sanitary pads, painkillers and menstrual cups. The menstrual cup, however, only makes up a small part of this. That is not surprising, because disposable hygiene products such as tampons are still the most popular for catching bleeding. In our article we want to draw your attention to what ' Period poverty ' means and how you can do your part to counteract it. We'll also give you tips on how to save money during your period.

You're probably wondering what exactly is meant by 'period poverty'. ' Period poverty ' or ' Period Poverty ' means that people do not have enough money to buy hygiene products for their period. These can be sanitary pads, tampons or menstrual cups. In addition to the Access to menstrual hygiene products The people also lack the appropriate Menstruation education For many people, menstruation can represent both a financial and psychological burden. 
The fact is: The Periods are expensive and period poverty exists , even if society likes to hushed up about it. Menstrual poverty is a serious issue and requires education within society - that's why we at Taynie want to talk about it today and do educational work.

Menstrual products are considered luxury items - at least for people who don't have the money to afford tampons, sanitary pads, etc. In this country, the maximum VAT rate of 19% was levied on menstrual products until 2020. A luxury tax that made period products unaffordable for many people. In Germany, period poverty primarily affects people without a permanent residence, students, and the unemployed. For example, young people often feel guilty about asking their parents for money for hygiene products when they don't earn much anyway. In many families, periods are still taboo - which makes it doubly unpleasant for young people.

But period poverty does not only exist in Germany; it is a global problem.In Kenya, for example, 63% of people live on less than one dollar a day - period poverty is therefore very widespread here. For example, 10 percent of girls under 15 years of age there said that they had accepted transactional sex in order to obtain period products - a situation that is nowdays should not be given under any circumstances.

Period poverty can lead to menstruating women using unhygienic alternatives or foregoing hygiene products altogether. Many menstruating women also take more time to change their hygiene products in order to keep the number of products used and thus the costs as low as possible. The consequences: infections of the genital and urinary tract and other health problems. 

Period poverty can also limit menstruating women's daily activities, school attendance, work, and participation in society. This can prevent menstruating women from reaching their full potential by missing out on opportunities that are important for their development because of their period. 

In addition, the topic of menstruation is still very shameful. A person's basic belief of shame often has its roots in childhood. It arises, for example, when their parents tell them that periods should not be discussed in public. Many people find it uncomfortable to talk about menstruation and some even see it as something repulsive. Menstruating women are ashamed of a biological process in their body that is so natural. The shame about the bleeding itself and the shame of not having enough money for the appropriate hygiene products often go hand in hand. The topic therefore also has negative psychological effects. But the opposite should be the case: menstruating women should be able to be proud of their fertility.

Almost a quarter of women in Germany who use disposable hygiene products said that the monthly expenditure on these products is a burden for them. In order to combat period poverty, price reductions are first needed. Germany took a step in the right direction in 2020 by reducing the VAT on menstrual hygiene products to seven percent. However, these remain unaffordable. Activists, for example, are campaigning for hygiene products to be available free of charge or tax-free. In some countries, such as Ireland, India and Canada, the tax on period products has already been abolished. So there needs to be a rethink not only in society but also in politics.

We also need education to ensure that everyone has access to the necessary hygiene products. This was also shown by a representative survey by the children's rights organization Plan International Germany. It provided insights into how periods are dealt with in Germany. 79 percent of the female and 60 percent of the male respondents said that they would like to be better informed about menstruation. 21 percent of menstruating women also felt helpless and overwhelmed when they got their period for the first time. These examples illustrate:  We need to talk openly and without shame about periods and explain from the beginning what is needed.Above all, schools should also see it as their duty to provide better menstruation education. 

We at Taynie speak openly about menstruation and provide information on various topics that concern menstruating women. These are often topics that are still not openly discussed in our society. We are particularly proud of our collaboration with pro familia and women's shelters, with teachers, midwives and menstrual hygiene advisors. Only together can we take the subject of periods out of the taboo zone and ensure that society sees them as what they really are: something completely normal and natural.

Even though tampons are still used by most menstruating women, reusable period panties or washable sanitary pads have also proven to be a good option. No wonder! Because these are not only better for your wallet, but also for your body and the environment.

Did you know that a menstruating person uses around 17,000 tampons and pads in their lifetime? That's a lot of waste. And that's twice as much: from the product itself and its packaging. We at Taynie are doing our part by offering sustainable period underwear. This way you can do the environment a favor and counteract the high level of waste consumption.