Period poverty is when individuals struggle to afford or access period products. At different times in their lives and for a variety of reasons, many people can find it difficult to access or afford the period products they need.

​Lack of access to period products is not linked only to financial circumstances. Circumstances which make menstruation a difficult experience include homelessness, coercive, controlling and violent relationships and health conditions such as endometriosis (affecting 1 in 10 women) which can cause extremely painful and heavy periods in some cases. Some trans people may also experience difficulties in accessing sanitary products.

Monica welcomes input from campaigners regarding next steps and extends her thanks to grassroots activists, period poverty campaigners and her colleagues in the Scottish Parliament who have been persistent, encouraging and supportive throughout the campaign. 

Monica continues to campaign on this issue, engaging with schools, colleges, universities and other responsible bodies on how free period product schemes are working in practice, and how they can be improved. Some of the institutions who were early adopters of free period products provision ahead of the Bill being passed provide some of the greatest insights. Sharing that best practice with other organisations will help to ensure inclusion, accessibility and dignity underpin the operational delivery and full implementation of the Bill. One of the aspects Monica is most excited and optimistic about is the increased use of sustainable period products.