The latest manufacturing shortage to be felt across the country is affecting about half of the population.

People who menstruate are scrambling to find tampons and sanitary pads as manufacturers say securing the cotton and plastic used to make the products is volatile.

A raw materials shortage plus staffing challenges have caused prices to increase as much as 10%, according to Bloomberg News.

Even nonprofits that typically supply the products to women across the country are struggling to find them.

Dana Marlowe, founder and executive director of the nonprofit I Support The Girls, says her organization is seeing an increase of about 25%.

Marlowe says period poverty is real.

“I would love to see members of Congress really looking at how they can make any national legislation to provide free menstrual products, pads and tampons in public spaces just like we expect toilet paper in the U.S.” Marlowe said, adding that there are 26 states that tax pads and tampons as luxury items even though feminine hygiene products are a necessity.

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Originally Appeared Here