Women face tampon shortage as inflation hits essential items

Tampons are reportedly becoming difficult to find as supply chain shortages create another problem affecting women following the baby formula crisis.

"We've seen the reports: Tampons are becoming more expensive and scarcer on store shelves, and companies are profiting at record levels off a basic necessity. That’s absurd," Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) tweeted Monday. "Today, I am calling on CEOs of the four major tampon producers to increase supply - not prices."

The problem may not lie with companies, however.

Inflation is at 40-year-highs under President Joe Biden. The price increases are affecting many essential items, including tampons, NPR reported.

Menstrual product producer Procter & Gamble said in April that the ongoing supply chain crisis would lead to a price-increase on products starting mid-July. Tampons are already 10% more expensive from last year, according to NielsenIQ data.

Companies are blaming factory staffing issues, transportation problems, and the rising cost in raw materials used to make the hygiene products. 

P&G told NPR that their "Tampax team is producing tampons 24/7 to meet the increased demand," and the supply chain problems are only temporary. 

I Support the Girls, a group that provides menstrual products to women in need, has reported a drop in tampon donations. 

"Our shelves our bare," she said, explaining that her group has seen 60% fewer donations this year than in 2020.

Conservatives criticized Biden for the situation. 

"If women can even find feminine hygiene products they will need to pay nearly 10% more to keep up with Bidenflation," tweeted Nicole Morales, Republican National Committee deputy national press secretary.

"There would be more supply available if they stopped putting tampons in men's bathrooms..." Townhall editor Spencer Brown responded.