Global advocacy organization working to end period poverty and stigma, PERIOD., and reusable period underwear brand, Thinx, announced the release of the 2025 State of the Period Study to drive awareness of period poverty in the U.S. and initiate conversations that help reduce period stigma ahead of the seventh annual Period Action Day on October 11, 2025.

The fourth installment of this survey uncovered that nearly a quarter of teens (24%) still struggle to afford period products, unchanged from the last poll in 2023 – emphasizing the need for continued efforts to improve access to menstrual products. Additionally, reports of teens feeling personally affected by the negative associations surrounding menstruation have especially risen this year (59%,14 points up from 2023).

Access to period products in schools and public places, however, has improved by double digits, with four in 10 teens saying they rarely or never find period products in school bathrooms, a marked 14-point improvement from 2023 (53%). In addition to increased access, students express increased comfort in having period discussions at school (60%), with room to grow in extracurricular sports/activities.

“This latest study shows that our efforts to advance policies improving access to both period products and menstrual health education are working,” says Michela Bedard, executive director of PERIOD. “Schools are often where young people facing economic insecurity turn for basic necessities like food—and period products. So far, 27 states and Washington, DC have taken steps to provide free period products in schools—23 more to go.”

“The State of the Period survey continues to be an essential resource in understanding the challenges, stigmas, and access barriers menstruating teens are facing today,” says Nicole Pawlukowsky, VP of Marketing for Feminine Care, Kimberly-Clark North America. “We are proud to continue to support PERIOD. to bring these findings to the forefront and continue to address these barriers with donations of over 50 million products to organizations focused on menstrual equity and teen well-being.”

On the heels of this release, PERIOD. will host the seventh annual Period Action Day, sponsored by OUAI, Aerie Real Foundation and Motrin. This global day of advocacy is an opportunity for advocates and community partners to host educational events, panels, and period product drives to bring awareness to the underregarded crisis of period poverty. This year, PERIOD. calls for a donation of one million period products in one day. All resources to take action, including the meter to track a million period products, can be found at periodactionday.com.