We said it in 2024 when we declared CODE RED: numbers tell a story we simply cannot ignore.

Now, in 2026, we’ve gone one step further.

Robust statistics are essential to show scale, but they do not show the in-depth experience as effectively: what it feels like to sit in a classroom praying you don’t bleed through the tissues and gym sock, for example. Or the split-second calculations at a supermarket checkout. Or the overall weight and toll of silence.

So, building on our 2024 research, the largest-ever quantitative study on period poverty in the Netherlands, Neighborhood Feminists partnered with Perspectivity to answer a different question:

How is period poverty actually experienced, and what are the less visible impacts?

For nine months, using Perspectivity’s Sprockler methodology, we listened. Twenty-eight people, primarily young people and students, most based in Amsterdam, shared their experiences.

Despite extending the study, participation was lower than we had hoped. That was a real reminder of the negative impacts of the stigma around both poverty and menstruation. In effect, silence becomes part of the data. Nevertheless, what we did hear was clear.

Beyond prevalence: what lived experience reveals

Some participants shared detailed personal accounts. Others responded through more open-ended reflections. Notably, only 36% explicitly identified themselves as having experienced period poverty. And yet, many who said “no” later described:

  • Using toilet paper instead of pads or tampons
  • Wearing products longer than medically advised
  • Skipping sports, classes, or social activities
  • Choosing food over menstrual products

This disconnect matters. It tells us that period poverty is not always recognized, even by those experiencing it, whether out of shame or the normalization of hardship. Reality is reframed, as definitions blur.

Period poverty – or menstrual exclusion – exists on a spectrum. And far more people exist somewhere on that spectrum than the label “period poverty” suggests.

The emotional weight

If there is one consistent thread through the stories, it is this: menstrual exclusion is emotionally heavy. Participants spoke of:

  • Shame
  • Anxiety
  • Loneliness
  • Stress
  • Insecurity

Particularly powerful were memories of early menstruation, of first periods marked not by guidance or reassurance, but by confusion and embarrassment. Not understanding what was happening. Not knowing who to ask. Not having the right products.

Those early experiences linger. They shape confidence, body image, and self-worth for years. This is not just about access to needed products and information. Fundamentally, it is about health – and dignity.

Disruption to daily life

Ninety percent of participants reported using alternatives to menstrual products at some point — regardless of whether they self-identified as experiencing period poverty.

All described stress when doing so. Impact looked like:

  • Staying home from school
  • Struggling to concentrate
  • Missing work shifts
  • Withdrawing socially

These are not minor inconveniences. They are interruptions to education, income, wellbeing, and participation in community and the workplace.

Despite the impacts, most participants said they rarely discuss menstruation beyond a few close friends. While few speak to family, almost none speak to medical professionals, and most believe they don’t know anyone else experiencing period poverty. In other words, the problem persists, hiding in plain sight.

What people are asking for

When we asked participants what would make a difference, the responses were strikingly consistent. They called for:

  • Free menstrual products in schools, universities, and public toilets – “as standard as toilet paper”
  • Financial measures to make products affordable, such as subsidies or insurance coverage
  • Access to healthy and sustainable product options, including cups, discs and period underwear
  • Earlier, more comprehensive menstrual education – destigmatizing, age-appropriate and practical
  • Cultural change, by normalizing (talking about) menstruation and reducing shame

They agreed: access to products alone is not enough. We need structural solutions including education and a cultural shift.

Why narrative matters

Our quantitative research showed that 765,000 people who menstruate in the Netherlands struggle to access the products and information they need. It confirmed that period poverty exists above and below the poverty line. It demonstrated a measurable impact on health, food security, and participation at school and work.

Our 2026 narrative research shows us the human reality behind those numbers. It shows us how someone can say, “I’ve never experienced period poverty,” and in the next sentence describe textbook menstrual exclusion. It shows us how shame results in policy inaction. It shows us how silence perpetuates invisibility.

Where we go from here

In a high-income country like the Netherlands, the solutions are neither mysterious nor unattainable.  This research further reinforces that we know what works:

  • Structural provision of free products in public and educational spaces
  • Financial support mechanisms for those at risk
  • Investment in menstrual health education starting before first menstruation (e.g. 10-12 y.o.) 
  • Public acknowledgment that menstrual health is a societal issue, not a niche topic

Ending period poverty is preventive public health policy, which delivers real healthcare cost savings and a boost to the economy. Ending period poverty is also educational and professional equity.

The silence has been measured; the impact has been documented. Data showed us the scale, and these stories show us the cost. The solutions are within reach. Together, they reinforce something else: the time for incremental change has passed. The question is not whether period poverty exists, it’s whether in policy, media, or our day-to-day lives we are willing to make the invisible visible. 

It’s about whether we accept that taking targeted action is in the interests not only of those who menstruate, but society as a whole.

Click on the pdf below to dive into our report, which includes a link to the actual data and stories.

2026 Narrative Research – Making the Invisible Visible Download full research report

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For a downloadable overview of findings and recommendations, check out the 2-pager summary.