[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The supply chain is getting personal. Initially, as the pandemic began, it was all about toilet paper, then in the spring of 2022 supplies of
baby formula were decimated. Now it has affected tampon supply—grocery store shelves are bare of tampons, giving menstruating women serious pause. According to NielsenIQ, tampon inventory around the country been reduced to 60 percent, while inflation has caused a price increase of 10 percent in the last year.
Why is there a tampon shortage?
After months of online speculation about empty shelves, in June,
Time magazine declared “the great tampon shortage of 22.” But why the shortage? Theories abound. Increased demand, staffing shortages, raw material shortages all add to the perfect storm of conditions. One reason for the increase in demand is attributed to the comedian Amy Schumer. In July of 2020, P&G, which makes Tampax, America’s most popular tampon brand, launched a new ad campaign with Schumer. As a direct result, the company says, tampon demand went up almost 8 percent over the past two years.
In addition, the raw materials necessary for tampon production, like cotton and plastic, have become costlier and more finicky. In April, the raw price of cotton was 71 percent higher than it was the previous year.
Interestingly,
pads have not been affected, because while both tampons and pads are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, in the US, tampons are considered to be Class II Medical Devices, while pads are not. This translates into tampons requiring greater production scrutiny, hence more staff. The labor crunch has made itself felt in tampon plants, contributing to the supply chain disruption.
One potential silver lining of the shortage has been the collective pivot to tampon alternatives. While some women prefer to stick with the tried and true when it comes to
feminine hygiene, the supply chain hiccup has catalyzed a wide swath of women into rethinking their period game. Many are considering adopting more sustainable, reusable products. Here are three viable alternative options to conventional tampons.
Tampon alternatives to try
Period underwear
Period underwear, a complete replacement for pads and tampons, has built in layers engineered to absorb menstrual blood (about four or five tampon’s worth). A single pair usually runs between $20 and $40, and are designed to be reusable, are reusable (you can clean most brands in your washer).
Menstrual cups
Menstrual cups cost between $20 to $40 and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They can last for up to 10 years. They are flexible, made from medical-grade silicone or latex, and inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual blood. Note that finding the right menstrual cup can take some trial and error—the learning curve for figuring out how to insert the cup properly is real. Period underwear and menstrual cups are both dependable options that offer up to 12 hours of leak protection, reducing waste and saving you money over time.
Organic tampons
Some tampon brands are in more demand than others and are facing stronger shortages. But many organic tampon brands on the market have not been as affected by the shortage. These organic tampons, free of pesticide residues, problematic coatings, and artificial fragrances are still readily available (
Vitacost carries several organic tampon brands). These tampons do cost more, but for many women the peace of mind about what’s going inside their vagina is worth the extra price.
A note on period poverty
One in four women now experience
period poverty, meaning an inability to purchase menstrual products, up from one in five before the pandemic. That’s what has motivated some cities and states to mandate that schools provide free menstrual products (this may also be driving some of the demand for tampons). The shortage, alongside inflation, will likely exacerbate barriers to tampon (and other feminine products) access.
On a final note, if you are running out of tampons, do not be tempted to stretch your supply by wearing a tampon for longer stints of time. Toxic shock syndrome, albeit rare, is a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur when you leave a tampon in for
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