National tampon shortage? Here’s what you need to know and what to do if you can’t find anything

If you have recently gone shopping and could not find a tampon box of your usual brand – or you have been in a difficult situation to find any tampon that suits you at all – you are not alone. Tampons, a necessary product for approximately 34 million people in the United States, are the latest focus of another obvious product shortcoming.

Stories of people looking for tampons and coming empty-handed from both social networks. The most recent lack of basic care (the second is lack of baby formula) began to make headlines when Tim declared the shortage of tampons “a supply chain problem that no one talks about.” It is also another lack of health care that primarily affects women.

Estimates of how popular tampons are compared to other menstrual products vary, but as many as 70% of people with menstruation in the U.S. use tampons, one at a time. If you get your period, you know better than anyone the products that suit you. So, if you have a favorite brand or you have thought about another line of menstrual care (e.g. underwear period), here’s what companies say about shortages, tampon alternatives and more.

Why is the tampon missing? Which brands are affected?

Procter & Gamble said in an April call for earnings that the procurement and transportation of materials needed for tampons was “expensive and very volatile”, according to many media reports. Tampon prices rose nearly 10% in one year, according to a Bloomberg report, and the price of pads rose by more than 8%.

“We can assure you that this is a temporary situation, and the Tampax team produces tampons 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to meet the increased demand for our products,” P&G told CNET. “We are working with our retail partners to maximize availability, which has increased significantly in the last few months.”

A spokesman for Kimberly-Clark, which produces the popular brand U by Kotex, said the company, however, is not experiencing a shortage of products or offerings.

“We are working closely with our retail partners to maintain inventory shelves,” they said, adding that the company is on track to donate more than 6 million products for the Periodic Inventory Alliance period, a nonprofit that distributes periodic products to those who can’t afford them.

Edgewell manufactures Playtex and OB tampons, as well as Stayfree and Carefree insoles and insoles. A company spokesman said in a statement that labor problems were caused by the rise of omicrons in two different countries – the first at a U.S. manufacturing plant in late 2021 and the second in early 2022 affecting a Canadian supplier – affecting inventory.

“We have been working in our production facilities 24 hours a day to replenish stocks and expect to return to normal levels in the coming weeks,” a spokesman said.

Smaller monthly care companies may also be affected as customers start turning to newer brands of tampons while their usual brand does not exist. A spokesman for Cora, which makes tampons with menstrual cups, menstrual underwear and other menstrual care products, said that although the company’s products are still in stock, it has experienced a “significant increase in demand for tampons” and we expect it to be stock problems in the coming months.

Which stores have no stock?

Whether you will be able to get the desired brand of tampon (or any tampon that will suit you) may depend on where you live and which store you visit often.

A CVS spokesman told CNET that in recent weeks there have been cases where tampon suppliers have not been able to fulfill orders in full. “If there are temporarily no specific products in the local store, we are working on replenishing those items as soon as possible,” the spokesman said.

A Walgreens spokesman said that “similarly to other retailers, we are experiencing some temporary brand-specific shortages in certain geographical areas.” Although they still have products, the spokesman added, these can only be certain brands for the duration of the supply disruption.

In a statement to CNET, a Walmart spokesman said the retail giant “does not feel a shortage” and has no stock of menstrual products, including tampons.

Can you use expired tampons?

Usually tampons have a shelf life of about five years and you should not use them when they expire. Although many people who are menstruating would probably use one after all, they are designed to enter your body and stay there for a while, and contrary to their designed use, it can open you up to harmful infections such as toxic shock syndrome.

As Tampax states on its website, “Obviously, tampons won’t break down right after five years, but bacteria and small mold particles can find their way into your tampons once they expire.”

What about tampon alternatives?

One of your options is to temporarily switch to a disposable menstrual pad. There seems to be no disruption in the supply of menstrual pads at the moment, but due to the lack of tampons, all types of menstrual products are less in stock and harder to find.

If you can’t find tampons or pads, or are just interested in a change, here are a few alternatives to consider.

Periodic underwear

Menstrual underwear is a sustainable and ultimately cost-effective alternative to tampons and pads. While starting to use menstrual underwear may be a little more expensive than buying a tampon box if you buy a few pairs to go through your period (a good pair of menstrual underwear starts around $ 14), you will save money in the long run.

There are a number of brands to choose from and they are made to suit people of all sizes with all types of flows. Here is a list of the best underwear for the period for your body, flow and budget.

Menstrual cups

Menstrual cups or discs are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to disposable products. These cups (popular brands include Diva, Cora and Lunette) are reusable, usually rubber or silicone, and close around the cervix, collecting menstrual blood from your uterus before it leaves your body. There is a learning curve on how to insert it, but many people who try menstrual cups swear they will never come back. You can shop around to find the best menstrual cup size for your body and strong, medium or light flow. (Note for IUDs: Intake cups can sometimes cause the IUD to come out – eh – or move. If you have IUDs but want to try a menstrual cup, talk to your doctor about the best cup you can use and how to use it safely. )

Free bleeding

Although it is not suitable for everyone, give up any product for a period, especially at night or while lounging around the house with a lighter flow. Simply put, free bleeding is bleeding without the use of tampons, pads, panties or other disposable products. People do this for a variety of reasons, and many choose to do so on the last day or two of their period when they lose so little blood that it would be difficult to refill even a tampon or pad. (Although toxic shock syndrome is rare, using tampons with more absorbance than you need may be a risk factor for developing TSS.) If stains are a concern, you can put away a towel or wear old and / or dark underwear.

Watch out for ‘less popular’ brands of tampons

There are several names that dominate the shelves of pharmacies, but you can also get tampons elsewhere from newer, smaller or organic care companies, which are mostly sold online. But keep in mind that aggregate demand (and possible panic buying) could start to affect the shares of these companies as well.

August sells sustainable care products online, including tampons. Although the price of a box of tampons is probably higher than the one you would find on a drugstore shelf, August says that tampons are 100% organic and completely biodegradable.

Cora tampons and period products are also organic and available online, although the company noted that a large increase in demand for them could affect supply in the coming months. (L., another organic tampon manufacturer, is not in stock, according to his website.)

Read more: Menstrual cups, panties and organic tampons: 5 brands that make your period easier

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health care professional regarding any questions you may have about your health condition or health goals.