How to Deal With the Lack of Tampons
In the months since the baby food shortage, it has become hard to find another health-related product: tampons. While the tampon shortage has been the topic of Reddit threads for months, it caught national attention following an article in Time that called the shortage “a supply chain issue no one talks about.”
Here’s a quick look at what’s behind the shortage and what you can do to get the food you need.
What causes tampon shortage?
As expected, there have been many accusations when it comes to blaming the lack of tampons. For example, Procter & Gamble (the maker of Tampax-brand tampons) recently pointed out that purchasing raw materials such as cotton and plastic was “expensive and highly volatile,” according to the New York Times .
Meanwhile, a P&G spokesperson told Time that Amy Schumer is to blame for her Tampax ad, which began airing in July 2020, became so popular that menstrual products disappeared from store shelves…after nearly two years. campaign.
In an article she wrote for Time, Alana Semuels argues that the tampon shortage needs more time to resolve the toilet paper and hand sanitizer shortage because, unlike these products, many purchasing decision makers and supply chain, do not use them. tampons.
Whatever the reason, the tampon shortage, combined with rapidly rising prices, up nearly 10% from last year, Bloomberg reports , has made menstruation products out of reach for many people.
What to do if you can’t find tampons
As with other shortages driven by shortages of workers and supply chain issues, the availability of tampons available for purchase depends on where you live, with some areas having more than others. So if you haven’t already checked the shelves of your regular tampon supplier, start there before you panic.
Those who are short on money can consider the following strategies:
Check out other stores in your area
When Elaine Benes (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus in “Seinfeld”) learned that her favorite form of birth control—her favorite sponge—was no longer available, she conducted “a targeted search in every pharmacy, general store, health store, and grocery store within 25 blocks.
Like Benes, don’t check just one pharmacy: if your regular CVS runs out of tampons, that doesn’t necessarily mean Walgreens and the independent drugstore are, too. And if price doesn’t matter, look for tampons at places like convenience stores at gas stations, which aren’t usually popular places for menstrual products and may still be in stock.
Try a new brand
In some regions , tampon shortages vary by brand, so while your favorite brand may not be available, other types of tampons are available. They may be from newer, smaller companies, but you may end up finding a new favorite.
Buy them in bulk
Buying anything in bulk, including tampons, requires funds to make a more expensive purchase, so we understand that this is not an option for everyone. One way to get around this is to get a few people together to share the cost of a single bulk order if you find a supplier who still has tampons in stock.
Check out stationery retailers like Staples , as well as others that don’t have an office. There are also wholesale companies that supply businesses with tampons and may also offer consumers the opportunity to purchase menstrual products in bulk, such as Aunt Flow .
Try other menstrual products.
Many people also have the opportunity to try a new type of menstrual product if tampons are not available. This may be easier said than done because some retailers are also reporting that other period care items like pads and menstrual cups are also selling out. Also, most menstruators use a certain product because after some trial and error they found it worked best for them, so it’s not like switching from Coke to Pepsi.
But for those who want (or should) try something different, tampon alternatives include:
pads
- Pros : Unlike other menstrual cycle products, no learning curve required.
- Cons : Because they are an obvious alternative to tampons and have some common supply chain issues, they can also be difficult to find. Also, some people don’t like the feeling of wearing a pad, or are unable to do so if it irritates their skin. And they are not ideal for swimming (and other activities).
Menstrual cups and discs
- Pros : Reusable (i.e. more environmentally friendly and economical than disposable menstrual products). More widely available and accessible now than even a few years ago.
- Cons : Higher initial investment than one-off period products. It’s often a trial and error process to find a brand and size that works for your figure. Some people need practice to insert the product. Not everyone manages to find a comfortable one.
Underwear
- Pros : reusable, becoming more accessible and accessible.
- Cons : Requires a higher initial investment (especially since you’ll want to have multiple pairs). Even when wearing the most absorbent underwear, moderate to heavy bleeding often requires the use of additional menstrual products.
Reusable pads
- Pros : cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
- Cons : Takes time and effort to wash every month. Unlike disposable pads, they are not designed to keep the fabric surface semi-dry.
When to be careful
Given the shortage, some people may be tempted to leave a tampon for longer than the recommended eight-hour limit. But doctors , as well as the leadership of the Food and Drug Administration , advise against doing this, as this can lead to a bacterial infection. (And yes, increase your risk of developing toxic shock syndrome —although cases of the already rare condition have dropped significantly over the past few decades.)
What to do with expired tampons? If you haven’t noticed yet, most of them have a shelf life of three to five years. But Dr. Barbara Wilkinson, an ob/gyn at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, told the New York Times that there is no scientific evidence to show tampons are unsafe solely on the basis that they have expired. .
So if you happen to stumble across an old pack of tampons, Wilkinson advises you to “check that the tampon packaging is intact and that the tampon looks like it’s still well protected.”