According to The Pad Project, “1 in 4 teens in the U.S. have missed class because they don’t have access to menstrual products.” In California, public schools do provide these products but the question is: Does quality matter? 

The answer is yes, if you are a student who has experienced unexpectedly getting your period during school hours. Jaylee Mazariegos, a junior at San Rafael High School, says, “One time I got my period in the middle of class and when I went to the bathroom to look for pads, there weren’t any. Then I went to another bathroom and I found some, but they were small and not convenient.” She began to ask people for pads instead.

The Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2021 was introduced in the House on May 8, 2021 and was signed into law in October 2021. The law requires the state of California to provide free menstrual products in public schools from grades 6-12. As of the 2024 school year, public schools of grades 3-5 must also follow the act. This includes providing pads and tampons in the girls restrooms, gender-neutral restrooms, and at least one boys restroom. 

According to the Menstrual Equity for All Act Handbook, “Both pads and tampons must be provided pursuant to the Menstrual Equity for All Act. Local educational agencies are encouraged to provide a range of product sizes to meet individual’s varying menstruation needs.” It should be noted that listed on the page are multiple types/sizes of pads/tampons that are encouraged to be included in school restrooms. Menstrual flows differ for each individual and should be taken into consideration when deciding how important menstrual products are to students. 

High quality pads and tampons are essential for the health of women. Poor quality pads can lead to irritation and even infection because of inadequate absorption and from the materials used to create menstrual products. If schools and states cooperate to ensure that the money going to menstrual products are of good quality, the risk of health issues reduces. If reimbursement from the states managed by school districts would focus on upgrading pads, feminine hygiene could improve.

Having access to better products allows students to feel more comfortable and confident about their hygiene and menstruation. “The side of our [school] pads have no wings which makes it easier for leaks. It’s also too small and when you’re moving the pad is more likely to move around,” says Kateryn Sanchez, a senior at San Rafael High School. 

Most girls have experienced fear of forgetting a pad or tampon on the first day of their menstrual cycle and are presumably burdened by the discomfort and embarrassment of leaking. An article about the dangers of menstrual stigma, published by the PLOS Global Public Health, explains, “Policy documents and interviewees frequently pointed to the embarrassment and shame menstruators feel when leaking, smelling, or staining,” 

Menstrual sigma is the negative perception of periods that cause women to feel as if their menstruation is abnormal. 

Throughout young adulthood, girls begin their menstruation; it is a time where they feel the most vulnerable. “I remember when I was a freshman and maybe even before that I was embarrassed to take my pad to the bathroom and open it up while it made noise. I didn’t want people knowing that I was on my period. Even now sometimes I try to hide my pad when I take it out of my backpack to go to the bathroom during class,” says Yesleny Alvarez, senior at San Rafael High School.

Being able to grab pads/tampons in the restrooms, knowing they are good products, allow for a comfortable environment for girls at school. By pushing aside the idea that female students don’t need or deserve the greatest quality menstrual products, schools are normalizing discomfort and less trust in schools. This negative unfeeling towards girls can go as far as lowering their menstrual health. 

Repetitive discomfort as a result of bad quality products can lead to poor attendance. When girls are hesitant about using menstrual products at school, they might worry about leaking from inefficient absorbing pads or tampons. Instead, they stay at home to avoid being embarrassed by their peers. Poor quality products can also cause uncomfort due to wrong sizing or materials and can then lead to skipping school. 

The tough debate of providing good quality menstrual products without cost at school continues. However, these products do not just affect the academic performance of students but their overall mental and physical health.