Menstrual equity

No one should have to choose between paying for food, housing, or managing their period. While menstrual health needs directly impact some individuals, the consequences of leaving them unmet – including economic and social costs, are felt across society.

What is menstrual equity

Menstrual equity refers to equal and comprehensive access to menstrual products, as well as access to education regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights. Period poverty refers to the inability to afford or access menstrual products, access education, hygiene facilities, waste management, or a combination of these, to manage menstrual health and hygiene.

Many people face barriers to accessing menstrual products or educational materials because of financial limitations and/or harmful social norms and attitudes surrounding menstruation.

Lack of access to menstrual products is closely linked to poverty and disproportionately impacts youth, single mothers, Indigenous peoples, Black and other racialized communities, immigrants, people experiencing homelessness, people living with disabilities, gender diverse individuals, and those who live in remote areas.

Facts and statistics

A 2023 public opinion research survey conducted by Environics Research on behalf of Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) found that:

• One in six (17%) Canadians who menstruate have personally experienced period poverty; this rises to one in four (25%) if their household earns less than $40,000 a year
• One in five (20%) who menstruate say they may not afford period products at some point in the next 12 months, and 7% say this is very likely. Six in ten of the first group agree that inflation has increased the likelihood of not affording period products
• Three in four (77%) Canadians agree that menstruating can affect people's ability to carry out daily tasks like going to school or work or taking care of their families
• One in four Canadians agree periods are dirty and unclean, and about one in five agree menstruation should not be publicly discussed (22%) and menstrual products should be kept out of sight (22%)

Government of Canada’s actions

Menstrual Equity Fund pilot project

In 2023, the Government of Canada launched a national Menstrual Equity Fund (MEF) pilot project  to address barriers to accessing menstrual products and reduce stigma through education and awareness activities. Since its implementation, the Government of Canada has allocated over $29.8 million to the MEF pilot.

Other federal initiatives

In November 2023, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women released a report entitled Let’s Talk About it, Period: Achieving Menstrual Equity in Canada.

Read the government response tabled March 1, 2024, addressing issues such as access to products, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and clean water.

The MEF pilot builds on ongoing work at the federal and international levels to advance menstrual equity, including:

• An initiative led by Indigenous Services Canada to provide funding for free menstrual products in First Nations schools on reserves and in federal schools across Canada, and funding to Indigenous partners and the territorial and provincial governments for Northern schools
• An Employment and Social Development Canada-led project to ensure the provision of free menstrual products in federally regulated workplaces
• Eleven projects funded through Health Canada’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund to improve access to education regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights. This includes projects distributing information and education resources on menarche, menopause and endometriosis to underserved populations and their health care providers as well as resources focusing on sexuality education including a culturally safer approach to discussing menstruation
• Global Affairs Canada is advancing the health and rights of women and girls through the 10-Year Commitment to Global Health and Rights, increasing its global health investments to $1.4 billion in annual spending, of which $700 million is dedicated to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, including menstrual health and hygiene