{"id":49320,"date":"2022-06-13T22:18:04","date_gmt":"2022-06-13T22:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/is-there-a-tampon-shortage-what-you-need-to-know\/"},"modified":"2022-06-13T22:18:04","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T22:18:04","slug":"is-there-a-tampon-shortage-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/is-there-a-tampon-shortage-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Is There a Tampon Shortage?  What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">First, it was baby formula.  Now, the latest supply chain issue complicating daily life for women across America is a nationwide tampon shortage, set against a backdrop of rising consumer prices because of inflation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">For months, Reddit and Instagram users have swapped stories of bare shelves and increased prices.  &#8220;I checked 8 different stores!&#8221;  wrote one Reddit user, who instead ordered tampons online at a &#8220;noticeable markup.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Here is what you need to know about finding tampons right now, and what alternatives are available.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-1bxm55 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-240f716\">Why is there a tampon shortage?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Though Redditors have noted the tampon shortage for months, the issue flew largely under the radar until Time first wrote about the \u201cgreat tampon shortage\u201d earlier in June.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Andre Schulten, the chief financial officer of Procter &#038; Gamble &#8211; which manufactures Tampax, the tampon giant that sells 4.5 billion boxes globally each year &#8211; said on a recent earnings call that it had been &#8220;costly and highly volatile&#8221; to acquire the raw materials needed for production, such as cotton and plastic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Inflation is also making other popular menstrual products more expensive.  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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Manufacturers and major retailers say they are trying to remedy the shortage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">A representative for Procter &#038; 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.  \u201cWe can assure you this is a temporary situation,\u201d the manufacturer said, though it did not offer a more specific timeline.  Representatives for CVS and Walgreens also confirmed that the retailers had experienced shortages in recent weeks.<\/p>\n<div>\n<section role=\"complementary\" aria-labelledby=\"styln-toplinks-title\" class=\"css-1ksw8n\">\n<h2 id=\"styln-toplinks-title\" class=\"css-1qcwmls\">Understand the Supply Chain Crisis<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"css-1bxm55 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-2488e199\">Can I use an old stash of tampons?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Some brands of tampons come with a date stamped on the package, but that is not an expiration date mandated by the Food and Drug Administration, like you&#8217;d find on, say, latex condoms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Tampax brand tampons, for instance, are marked with a &#8220;shelf life&#8221; date of three or five years, which Procter &#038; Gamble describes as the &#8220;time period during which a product is expected to meet our high standards for quality&#8221; &#8211; when stored in a cool, dry place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">But according to medical providers, that doesn&#8217;t mean tampons are necessarily unsafe or ineffective beyond that date.  In theory, cotton could absorb some bacteria or mold, said Dr. Barbara Wilkinson, an obstetrician and gynecologist with Brigham and Women&#8217;s Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, but there is no scientific data behind shelf-life dates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">&#8220;I would say if you&#8217;re 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,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-1bxm55 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-1d79a664\">What should I do if I run out of tampons?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">First and foremost: If you are running low, do not try to extend your supply by wearing a tampon for longer stretches of time, Dr. Wilkinson cautioned.  Toxic shock syndrome is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that can occur when you leave a tampon in for more than eight hours or use one with too much absorbency.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">And while the tampon shortage may be a source of stress, Dr. Jessica Atrio, an OB-GYN at Montefiore Health System in New York, said it can also be a chance for women and others who use tampons to re-examine the products they use and whether they are in line with their values.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cPeople should be assured that they have agency in these decisions,\u201d she said, noting, for example, the possibility of switching from tampons to reusable options for environmental reasons.  And these days, there are more alternatives to tampons available than ever.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"css-92uw3k e1gnsphs0\" id=\"link-178b0\"><span>Pads<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Many women already use menstrual pads &#8211; sometimes called sanitary napkins &#8211; in conjunction with tampons, said Dr. Lauren Streicher, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University&#8217;s Feinberg School of Medicine, either on days when their flow is particularly heavy, or perhaps when they are sleeping.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">There are disposable and reusable options.  But Dr. Streicher acknowledged that pads aren&#8217;t for everyone: Some users don&#8217;t like the sensation of wetness they can cause, while those with vulvar conditions, such as genital psoriasis or vulvodynia, can experience significant discomfort and irritation.  Pads can also keep women from engaging in certain activities, like swimming or intense exercise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<h3 class=\"css-92uw3k e1gnsphs0\" id=\"link-395ead46\"><span>Period underwear<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Period underwear use absorbent materials, like microfiber polyester, to soak up menstrual blood.  \u201cI&#8217;m seeing more and more women, especially my younger patients, really embracing this option,\u201d Dr. Wilkinson said.<\/p>\n<section role=\"complementary\" class=\"css-1iixf4w\" aria-label=\"How the Supply Chain Crisis Unfolded\">\n<h2 class=\"css-ba3d02\">How the Supply Chain Crisis Unfolded<\/h2>\n<hr\/>\n<div id=\"storyline-context-container\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\"><span class=\"css-1ly73wi e1tej78p0\">Card 1 of 9<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-scrolled-index=\"0\" class=\"swiper css-1goft0b\">\n<div class=\"css-1vt1os1\" aria-hidden=\"false\">\n<div class=\"css-1novq15\" data-testid=\"context-card\">\n<p class=\"itemClass\"><strong>The pandemic sparked the problem.<!-- --> <\/strong><span>The highly intricate and interconnected global supply chain is in upheaval.  Much of the crisis can be traced to the outbreak of Covid-19, which triggered an economic slowdown, mass layoffs and a halt to production.  Here&#8217;s what happened next:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1vt1os1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"css-1novq15\" data-testid=\"context-card\">\n<p class=\"itemClass\"><strong>A reduction in shipping.<!-- --> <\/strong><span>With fewer goods being made and fewer people with paychecks to spend at the start of the pandemic, manufacturers and shipping companies assumed that demand would drop sharply.  But that proved to be a mistake, as demand for some items would surge.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1vt1os1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"css-1novq15\" data-testid=\"context-card\">\n<p class=\"itemClass\"><strong>Demand for protective gear spiked.<!-- --> <\/strong><span>In early 2020, the entire planet suddenly needed surgical masks and gowns.  Most of these goods were made in China.  As Chinese factories ramped up production, cargo vessels began delivering gear around the globe.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1vt1os1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"css-1novq15\" data-testid=\"context-card\">\n<p class=\"itemClass\"><strong>Then, a shipping container shortage.<!-- --> <\/strong><span>Shipping containers piled up in many parts of the world after they were emptied.  The result was a shortage of containers in the one country that needed them the most: China, where factories would begin pumping out goods in record volumes.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1vt1os1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"css-1novq15\" data-testid=\"context-card\">\n<p class=\"itemClass\"><strong>Demand for durable goods increased.<!-- --> <\/strong><span>The pandemic shifted Americans&#8217; spending from eating out and attending events to office furniture, electronics and kitchen appliances &#8211; mostly purchased online.  The spending was also encouraged by government stimulus programs.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1vt1os1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"css-1novq15\" data-testid=\"context-card\">\n<p class=\"itemClass\"><strong>Strained supply chains.<!-- --> <\/strong><span>Factory goods swiftly overwhelmed US ports.  Swelling orders further outstripped the availability of shipping containers, and the cost of shipping a container from Shanghai to Los Angeles skyrocketed tenfold.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">There are many reusable brands on the market, most of which indicate their capacity by how many tampons&#8217; worth of menstrual blood they can hold, she explained.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">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.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"css-92uw3k e1gnsphs0\" id=\"link-6234038c\"><span>Menstrual cups and discs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Menstrual cups and discs &#8211; flexible, reusable devices made from medical-grade silicone or latex and inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual blood &#8211; have exploded in popularity in recent years.  Research suggests leakage with menstrual cups is similar to or lower than what women experience with pads or tampons.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cYou place the menstrual cup over your cervix, and it collects menstrual blood for about 12 hours,\u201d said Dr. Streicher.  Cups and discs tend to fall in the $ 25 to $ 35 range.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cJust because one menstrual cup doesn&#8217;t work for you, doesn&#8217;t mean all won&#8217;t,\u201d said Dr. John Horton, an assistant professor in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine.  &#8220;Just like any product, there are differences with different shapes or brands.  It make take one or two to find the right one for you. &#8220;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">(If possible, he recommended, you should have a backup form of menstrual protection on hand when you&#8217;re trying out a new product like a menstrual cup.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Dr. Horton believes the tampon shortage is a reminder that menstrual hygiene is a broadly important topic.  Talking about it helps to \u201cdemystify it,\u201d he said, so that everyone &#8211; not just those who have periods &#8211; can get a better sense of the costs and logistical challenges associated with menstrual hygiene.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First, it was baby formula. Now, the latest supply chain issue complicating daily life for women across America is a nationwide tampon shortage, set against a backdrop of rising consumer prices because of inflation. For months, Reddit and Instagram users have swapped stories of bare shelves and increased prices. &#8220;I checked 8 different stores!&#8221; wrote &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/is-there-a-tampon-shortage-what-you-need-to-know\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Is There a Tampon Shortage?  What You Need to Know<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2022\/06\/13\/well\/13WELL-TAMPON-SHORTAGE\/13WELL-TAMPON-SHORTAGE-facebookJumbo.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49320"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49320\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}