Climate Change and Menstrual Equity: How are they Connected?

As the summer heat starts to kick in, climate change appears to be a looming issue over us all, a problem that is always in the background. Despite this, did you also know that climate change has an effect on menstruation cycles? In the way that climate change continues to impact distributions of menstrual products to rural communities, the reverse is also just: there is a concrete impact of menstrual equity on just climate action, a strange correlation that seems to become more salient as we have these conversations in society.

It is known of the menstrual injustice that faces many rural and village communities, but even areas with these products do not have the proper education nor support to dispose of them properly. According to The Lancet, the improper disposal of these items results in many forms of pollution, including the pollution of beaches, landfills, and numerous bodies of water that continue to linger. These methods often result in hazardous situations for individuals working in fields or in numerous outdoor landscapes. 

Although an alternative to these is to use RMPs (reusable menstrual products), it is evident that many people do not have the first boost of income to make this commitment when they first buy the product, and have to rely on SUMPs (single-use menstrual products) to get by. Although there is not a current solution to mitigate this income gap, education and support is vital to ensuring safety for the individual as well as for the environment. A big factor dissolving this option is also due to a lack of privacy and a lack of personal space, which is why global action should be central to menstrual equity management. 

There are many ways that climate change and menstrual equity are more closely linked than what you would believe. For instance, the climate-induced migration that occurs in many homeless situations creates more challenges to menstrual health, such as hygiene facilities, private space, disposal areas, and more. In the duration of climate events, these factors are also disrupted out of the routine that many communities might have had, and such menstrual management programs are halted and are replaced by prioritized food and shelter homes.  

Along with further research on menstrual health management being vital to solving this problem, community-based solutions still prove to be the most efficient. Environmentally friendly approaches, such as banana fibre pads, work to encourage the production of sustainable and environmentally friendly products that benefit all parties involved. 

By recognizing and researching the environmental impacts on menstrual health, we play our part in supporting all as active members of society along with preserving the health of both our people and our planet. 

Reference: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(23)00081-5/fulltext

Image: https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2019/10/reasons-why-period-poverty-is-not-just-a-girls-or-womens-issue/