#United States #Portland #PERIOD. #Period Poverty #Thinx

Period Poverty Awareness in 2025: Insights from the State of the Period Survey

On October 7, 2025, global advocacy organization PERIOD. and reusable period underwear brand Thinx Inc. announced the results of the 2025 State of the Period Survey, created to shine a light on the continuing challenges surrounding period poverty in the United States. This announcement comes as the seventh annual Period Action Day approaches, scheduled for October 11, 2025.

The survey reveals that around 24% of teenagers still struggle to afford period products, an alarming statistic unchanged since the last survey in 2023. This persistent issue highlights the urgent need for ongoing efforts to enhance access to menstrual products for those in need. What’s more, a notable 59% of teens reported feeling personally affected by the negative stigma related to menstruation, which represents a 14-point increase from the previous year. These findings underscore the critical need for open discussions surrounding menstruation to combat such stigma.

Improvements in access to period products have been observed in schools and public facilities, with approximately 40% of teens stating that they rarely or never find period products in their school bathrooms. This marks a significant improvement of 14 percentage points from 2023 when the number was at 53%. Simultaneously, students have shown an increased comfort level in discussing periods at school, with 60% of respondents indicating their willingness to engage in conversations about menstruation. This feedback is encouraging and suggests progress in reducing stigma surrounding menstruation in academic environments.

Michela Bedard, the Executive Director of PERIOD., expressed optimism regarding these findings. She noted that the organization’s initiatives to promote policies designed to enhance access to period products and menstrual education are bearing fruit. "Schools are often the lifeline for students contending with economic hardship, not just for food, but also for period products," Bedard stated. She highlighted that so far, 27 states along with Washington D.C. have made strides in ensuring free period products are available in schools, pointing out that there are still 23 states that need to take action.

Further emphasizing the importance of this initiative, Nicole Pawlukowsky, VP of Marketing for Feminine Care at Kimberly-Clark North America, remarked that the State of the Period survey is a vital resource for comprehending the challenges and barriers that menstruating teens continue to face. Her company has contributed significantly, donating over 50 million menstrual products to organizations focusing on menstrual equity and improving the well-being of teenagers.

In conjunction with this survey release, PERIOD. will celebrate the seventh annual Period Action Day, created to galvanize global advocacy efforts. This year’s event, supported by companies like OUAI, Aerie Real Foundation, and Motrin, is poised to host educational events, panels, and drives for menstrual product donations with a goal of collecting one million period products in a single day. Resources for taking action will be made available at periodactionday.com, fostering a community commitment to tackling the often overlooked crisis of period poverty.

For those interested in delving deeper into the survey’s findings, the complete results of the 2025 State of the Period Survey can be accessed via period.org/publications.

About PERIOD.

PERIOD. is a youth-driven advocacy organization committed to eradicating period poverty and stigma through education, advocacy, and service. The organization is dedicated to pushing for laws and policies that make menstrual products affordable and accessible while also distributing millions of products annually.

About Thinx, Inc.

Thinx is on a mission to redefine menstruation and incontinence products for all stages of life, focusing on comfort and safety. With several product lines, Thinx is a pioneer in creating reusable menstruation solutions. Acquired by Kimberly-Clark Corporation in December 2023, Thinx continues to be at the forefront of menstrual innovation.