Why Your Preferred Tampons May Be Hard to Find, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/13/well/live/tampon-shortage.html, It can be the result of rising consumer demand. Every expert interviewed for this story noted that finding the right menstrual cup can take some trial and error, and that there may be a learning curve with insertion. After all, theres the shortage of tampons, and formula, and, in the UK, a shortage of HRT, a drug thats used to treat the symptoms of menopause. Inflation can be especially hard to shoulder for poor households because they spend a bigger chunk of their budgets on necessitieslike food, housing and gas. Though Redditors have noted the tampon shortage for months, the issue flew largely under the radar until Time first wrote about the great tampon shortage earlier in June. Is inflation bad? Amanda researches, tests and reports on products in the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, ranging from clothing, accessories and footwear to bedding, towels and other home furnishings. In the last few months, Ive visited stores in New York, Massachusetts, and Californiano tampons. Inflation is also making other popular menstrual products more expensive. In its bid to lure workers to one of the countrys most important tampon plants, the company has been raising wages for months. I would say if youre digging back into an old stash of tampons, just check to make sure the tampon wrapper is intact, and that the tampon looks like it is still well protected, she said. Rapidinflation typically spells trouble for stocks. Even before the pandemic, she would go to meetings and ask male leaders whether they were carrying a tampon in their sleeve or if they had ever missed a meeting because they couldnt find feminine products. Which made me wonder why products that women need were getting so hard hit by supply chain issues. You place the menstrual cup over your cervix, and it collects menstrual blood for about 12 hours, said Dr. Streicher. Insight and analysis of top stories from our award winning magazine "Bloomberg Businessweek". Some products, like tampons, are necessities, and to the more than 800 million people who menstruate on any given day, life can't really move on without them. When he returned with a totally different product than I had asked for, I chalked it up to him not looking hard enough but he actually did try to find the right tampons. The risk, although low, is higher if you wear a tampon longer than 8 hours or use higher-absorbency tampons. Representatives for CVS and Walgreens also confirmed that the retailers had experienced shortages in recent weeks. Coder shared, "The scrutiny is very different" in regard to the regulation of the two products. I challenge you to go to a business that doesnt have hand sanitizer, she says. Research suggests leakage with menstrual cups is similar to or lower than what women experience with pads or tampons. I checked 8 different stores! wrote one Reddit user, who instead ordered tampons online at a noticeable markup.. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Just like any product, there are differences with different shapes or brands. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Thats even though pharmacy staff began reporting supply shortages even before the pandemic. 105+ Amazing Gifts for Any Man In Your Life, How to Read the 'Virgin River' Books in Order. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The only Tampax factory in the US continues to struggle with labor shortages despite raising its starting salary from $47,000 to $60,800 a year, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. Sign up for our newsletter to receive our top stories based on your reading preferences delivered daily to your inbox. Nonprofits and local government agencies began warning of infant formula shortages in November of 2021. But after shutting down Abbotts formula plant in February 2022, the FDA did not announce it was taking steps to improve the supply of formula until May. P&G posted its biggest sales gain in decades in the most recent quarter, and the amount of money it made from sales in its feminine care division was up 10%. The brand claims that inventory has been negatively impacted as a result. Sometimes when I am grocery shopping, even if I am there just for broccoli, Ill swing by the aisle where they stock feminine products. Products made of cotton have not experienced as steep a price growth. Why isnt anyone speaking up about this? Diamond Cotton, a 32-year-old mother of two girls, told me. For the first six months of this year, Marlowes group received just 213,075 tampons, half as many as during the same time last year and 61% fewer than 2020. The drugstore chains Walgreens and CVS reported temporary scarcities of some varieties of tampons but didnt specify which brands. Ahead of a February 2021 job fair, the company advertised a starting hourly rate of $17.91 at the plant in Auburn, Maine. And by January, it hit $25.41, topping the national average for manufacturing workers by almost 50 cents. Fast price increases spell trouble, but moderate price gainscan lead to, Inflation can be especially hard to shoulder for poor households because they, Rapidinflation typically spells trouble for stocks. During the global pandemic, supply chain issues have impacted the production and delivery of all sorts of products, but not all products are created equal. But she did provide some insight as to why tampons could be impacted to a greater extent than pads both tampons and pads are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, but in the US, tampons are considered to be Class II Medical Devices, while pads are not. Many of the people making those decisions for feminine care products do not themselves use them. But inflation can also rise and fall based on developments that have little to do with economic conditions, such as, It depends on the circumstances. Who watches commercials anymore? Its why we need to bring men into the conversation, because in many places, theyre still the decision-makers, and this wasnt on their radar. (She and co-founder Denielle Finkelstein recently ran a 10K dressed as tampons to call attention to period poverty.). And our Textiles Lab analysts have tested period products of all kinds from organic tampons to menstrual cups to period underwear and swimwear and have shared some tampon product alternatives in case your store shelves are empty. Are bad decisions being made at companies run by men that are affecting the supply of products for women? That was up to $23.41 in July. Procter & Gamble spokesperson Cheri McMaster recently told Time that the reason there is low supply of tampons from the company's popular brand Tampax is the fact that they started working with comedian Amy Schumer for their ad campaigns in 2020, which has caused demand for Tampax tampon products to boom. Experts at Good Housekeeping Institute have reached out to representatives at tampon brands for insight as to what the tampon shortage is all about. Procter & Gamble told Good Housekeeping, "We can assure you [the tampon shortage] is a temporary situation," and added that it is currently producing tampons 24/7 in its manufacturing facilities in an attempt to meet consumer demand. No one wants to work! One in four women now experience period poverty, meaning they dont have access to menstrual products, up from one in five before the pandemic. Just because one menstrual cup doesnt work for you, doesnt mean all wont, said Dr. John Horton, an assistant professor in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine. On June 13, Senator Maggie Hassan, a Democrat from New Hampshire, wrote a letter to the CEO of Procter & Gamble (P&G) urging the company to take quick action to address the tampon shortage that people are facing around the country.. Its become a strange fascination of mine, to see the large gap on the shelf, like a missing front tooth, where tampons are supposed to be. (All of P&Gs tampons are made in one factory in Maine; all of the tampons of Edgewell Personal Care, which makes the brands Playtex and o.b., are made in a factory in Dover, Delaware.). If you have expired tampons sitting in the back of your cabinet, they are still safe to use as long as they are wrapped, in a box, and have been stored under normal conditions. Demand is up 7.7% over the past two years, and the company is running its Auburn, Maine Tampax factory 24/7 to meet demand. Last year, the Tampax factory located in Auburn, Maine raised its hourly wages from $17.91 in February to $23.41 in July, employee Facebook posts show. Procter & Gamble said in April 2021 that it would increase prices on baby care, feminine care, and adult incontinence products. A Legal Showdown Over Section 8 Discrimination Is Brewing in Dallas Suburb, FDICs Message to Crypto Investors: Digital Assets Arent Insured, Troubled Crypto Lender Babel Lost Big While Trading Client Funds, Ex-Voyager Executive Explores Competing Restructuring Plan for Crypto Lender. But then there was that massive shortage of baby formula that left children hospitalized and mothers raging, and the (male) head of the FDA admitted that the agencys reaction was too slow. Many women speculated that if men had to breastfeed, there would be no formula shortage. Procter & Gamble the company that owns Tampax currently lists five full-time positions open at the Maine plant. What causes inflation? That happened overnight. But, she says, there has been no such push by businesses or the government to solve the tampon shortage. Menstrual cups and discs flexible, reusable devices made from medical-grade silicone or latex and inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual blood have exploded in popularity in recent years. Ultimate Fighting Championship has long dominated the world of mixed martial arts. Its a little taboo, she says. In the UK, hormone replacement therapy products for women are being rationed. Time reported that Procter & Gamble, owner of popular period product brands Tampax, Always and L., is struggling to source the raw materials needed to produce tampons, and that the company is having a hard time transporting the raw materials to production facilities and then transporting the final products to their retail locations. There are many reusable brands on the market, most of which indicate their capacity by how many tampons worth of menstrual blood they can hold, she explained. One of the most important tampon factories in the US can't hire enough workers. If you're unable to find your usual tampons at the store, there are a few other products you can consider. Now Kids Are Getting It, Too. Though many women have been affected by the low supplies, theres such a lack of information about what is in stock at local stores that theres no way to put a number on the severity of the national shortage. Grocery technology company Instacart shared with Good Housekeeping that week after week, the Instacart team is continuing to see decreases in their "found rate" for tampons, which means that their shoppers are unable to find tampons in store when customers order them using the Instacart platform. The director of operations for feminine care for Edgewell said that although there were lower levels of output and inventory earlier this year, at this point we are maxed out running 24/7 and our inventory is building, according to The Wall Street Journal. Here is what you need to know about finding tampons right now, and what alternatives are available. Andre Schulten, the chief financial officer of Procter & Gamble which manufactures Tampax, the tampon giant that sells 4.5 billion boxes globally each year said on a recent earnings call that it had been costly and highly volatile to acquire the raw materials needed for production, such as cotton and plastic. After all, shortages of toilet paper, cleaning products, and even masks and gloves did not last very long at the beginning of the pandemic. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Prices for sexual health products were up just 4.1%, and prices for oral hygiene goods rose 4.3%. Tampon shortages are the result of a conglomerate of issues happening throughout the supply chain. I recently sent my husband to our local CVS to buy a box, and even equipped him with pictures of the specific type I wanted. Rayon is a by-product of cotton, a finicky crop, and this is the third straight year that demand for cotton has exceeded production, says Sheng Lu, a professor in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware. Bloomberg reported that the average price for a package of menstrual pads increased by just over 8 percent from the start of this year through the end of May, while the price of tampons increased by nearly 10 percent. But Dr. Wilkinson also noted that period underwear can be cost prohibitive (some popular bands are $30 to $40 per pair) and cannot be put in the dryer. This content is imported from YouTube. People should be assured that they have agency in these decisions, she said, noting, for example, the possibility of switching from tampons to reusable options for environmental reasons. The government wants to put a strain on women having abortions, but they dont know what a woman has to get through.. And these days, there are more alternatives to tampons available than ever. Cups and discs tend to fall in the $25 to $35 range. Overall, the price of feminine care products in the U.S. has risen 10.8% from a year ago, according to scanner data from Nielsen IQ, which tracks the prices from point-of-sale systems. The Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion on June 24, 2022; abortion access is based on state law. Supply chain issues have hit tampons, and inflation has driven up prices. Dont let fear stop you from cooling off in the ocean this summer. Ask Procter & Gamble why it is so hard to find tampons right now, and the company will blame Amy Schumer. review process. While the plant's hiring challenges are far from unique in today's tight labor market, it comes as brand-specific tampon shortages hit certain regions across the country. All Rights Reserved. In 2020, its products were used by an estimated 18.3 million women in the US, according to data from Statista. Of course, tampons are not the only commodity in short supply. Everyday Health is among the federally registered trademarks of Everyday Health, Inc. and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Since then, retail sales growth has exploded, spokeswoman Cheri McMaster says. Even if youre having a hard time finding enough of your preferred brand of tampons to manage your monthly period, its important to follow safety guidelines. So what can you do if your favorite tampons are nowhere to be found? The shortage is now expected to last through the summer. Heres why theres a shortage and what you can do if you run out. Tampons are manufactured pieces of fabric that about 40% of women in the U.S. use to absorb the blood.]. Dr. Horton believes the tampon shortage is a reminder that menstrual hygiene is a broadly important topic. Experts say environmental toxins are the biggest health threat we face. Both TOP The Organic Project and Lola, which are both women-owned feminine products companies, said that there have been no shortages of their products since the pandemic began. In response to being blamed for the tampon shortage, the comedian joked on her social media, "Whoa I don't even have a uterus" (She had it removed because of her struggles with endometriosis). According to the Journal of Global Health Reports (JOGHR), many menstruating people have been experiencing period poverty, or a lack of access to affordable period products. However, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the factory continues to be short-staffed. Neither company has raised its prices, even though they face the same supply chain issues as everyone else. (The other category was deodorant.) Lettuce Shortage Forces KFC to Use Cabbage, Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean LifeBut We Can Fix It. (The CEO of Abbott Nutrition is a man, as is the UKs Health Secretary, whose department is responsible for getting HRT to women using the National Health Service. Why does it matter how long you wear a tampon? Fast price increases spell trouble, but moderate price gainscan lead to higher wagesand job growth. ", Walgreens told Insider in early June that it is "experiencing some temporary brand-specific shortages in certain geographies" of tampons. Increased demand, staffing shortages, raw material shortagesnone of these factors are unique to tampons. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. A healthcare attorney weighs in on what could be at risk for the LGBTQ+ community now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned. Target said it's working with tampon manufacturers to secure more inventory, and Walmart stated that they arent experiencing a tampon shortage. Tampax is the most popular tampon brand in the US. Normally, a shortage like this might not be that surprising. What Would a SCOTUS Decision Mean for Reproductive Health? Adding to the problem, about 10 to 15 percent of the companys workforce was out sick with COVID-19 back in December of 2021. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Tampons are regulated by the FDA as medical devices. 1996-2022 Everyday Health, Inc. 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Large manufacturers like Procter & Gamble and Edgwell produce both tampons and pads in their facilities, so if they're simultaneously struggling with supply chain issues impacting materials for tampon production and dealing with worker shortages, it's likely that pads are being impacted, as well. Women get their periods when the lining of their uterus breaks down every month. This article was updated on June 23rd to include information about the tampon shortage provided by additional sources. It can be the result of rising consumer demand. The shelves were nearly bare, and they haven't been in stock since thanks to the current tampon shortage. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Im seeing more and more women, especially my younger patients, really embracing this option, Dr. Wilkinson said. You have reached your limit of free articles. Tampons increase the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare, life-threatening complication of certain bacterial infections, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A representative for Procter & Gamble told The New York Times that the company knew how frustrating it was for consumers who could not find what they needed and said that it was working with retailers to maximize availability. The startup TOP The Organic Project makes tampons in Europe, and co-founder and CEO Thyme Sullivan says the cost of getting its tampons to the U.S. is up 300% from last year. Who the heck wants to talk about tampons?. The Tampax manufacturer in Maine recently raised its starting salary from $47,000 to $60,800 a year. Dana Marlowe, the founder of I Support the Girls, which provides bras and menstrual hygiene for people experiencing homelessness, told me that her organization has seen a big drop off in tampon donations. CVS said, in a statement, that it was working with suppliers to ensure that customers had access to these items, but was not able to provide any data about out-of-stocks. It is typically expressed as the annual change in prices for everyday goods and services such as food, furniture, apparel, transportation and toys. According to Senator Hassans letter, there have been concerning reports that instead of increasing supply, companies have increased tampon prices. She requested that the company respond within the week with its plan to meet the demand for tampons and to justify the price increases that have been observed over the past year. We can assure you this is a temporary situation, the manufacturer said, though it did not offer a more specific timeline. I would say its been like this for a solid six months.. Bloomberg shared that inflation has led to a 9.8% increase in price for a box of tampons and an 8.3% increase in price for a pack of pads in the last year. Organic Plant-Based Applicator Tampons. Given that tampons are a critical item that women use to manage their health, lawmakers have begun to take note of the problem and get involved. Feminine care was one of only two categories in Nielsens health and beauty data where prices were up 10% or more from a year ago for the past six months.