Doncaster hygiene bank: More women 'risking their health due to period poverty'
It's feared many women are wearing basic sanitary products for too long
It's thought there's been a rise in people across South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire 'risking their health' due to period poverty.
A new report has found more women are skipping meals so they can afford basic sanitary products - & putting themselves in danger by wearing them for too long.
Serena Van Der Meulen is from the Hygiene Bank in Doncaster - & tells us the situation is getting worse for many:
"Women who work part-time or full-time are having to miss work because they can't afford the increased prices of period products.
"They're having to resort to toilet paper, flannels, or even a rolled-up sock as a makeshift period product.
"We hear all too often about girls having to miss school and many women asking to work from home where possible because of period poverty.
"Some schools and community partners even refuse to take tampons because there is such a risk of the women and girls using them for too long, which of course, increases the danger of toxic shock syndrome.
"There are some people who are so desperate to fix the situation by having something to use, that they will take that risk.
"How many people are going to die, or become very poorly, before something further is done?"
Statistics show up to 1 in 5 women in the UK are currently struggling to afford basic sanitary products.