Canadian Survey Finds Over Half of Menstruators Face Dignity Barriers in Public Washrooms

joni’s “Cost of Silence” report shows transit, parks, schools, and workplaces are not yet period-friendly, and offers a roadmap to fix it for Menstrual Hygiene Day.

VICTORIA, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Canadian period care company, joni, is marking Menstrual Hygiene Day by releasing new national survey findings that frame period equity as a public infrastructure issue—not just a personal one. The Cost of Silence survey of Canadian menstruators found that 54% do not feel confident they will find what they need to manage their period with dignity in public spaces.

“Periods are a normal part of life, but too many public spaces still treat them like an afterthought,” said Linda Biggs, CEO at joni. “This research shows the gaps clearly. The good news is they’re fixable. Small changes like free products, proper disposal, and cleaner, more private washrooms can have a huge impact on dignity and participation.”

The report lands as Canada continues to advance menstrual equity, including Manitoba’s recent requirements for free menstrual products in provincially regulated workplaces and broader commitments to a “period-friendly world”, which is this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day’s theme. joni’s research adds new data from the perspective of menstruators using public infrastructure across the country, highlighting gaps that policy and practice have not yet fully closed.

Three hidden costs of silence

The Cost of Silence report identifies three connected ways that silence around menstruation shows up in daily life:

• Dignity: 54% of menstruators lack confidence in public period infrastructure, with transit and parks ranking lowest for access to products and proper disposal.
• Money: 48% of respondents had to choose between period products and basic needs like food, transportation, or utilities in the past year, and 29% faced that choice three or more times.
• Knowledge: Only 14% said a healthcare provider was their primary source of menstrual health education, while 64% relied on family and 29% on friends.

Together, these numbers show that menstrual inequity is not just about products—it’s about whether people can move through daily life with comfort, confidence, and dignity.

A practical roadmap for a period-friendly Canada

In addition to surfacing the gaps, the Cost of Silence report outlines concrete steps institutions can take to make spaces more period-friendly:

• For workplaces and schools: Install free period product dispensers in all washrooms; ensure covered disposal bins in stalls, maintain privacy and cleanliness; and treat period care as part of health, safety, and inclusion policies.
• For public spaces and facilities: Provide free products and covered disposal in transit hubs, recreation centres, libraries, parks, and community buildings, and integrate menstruation into facility standards and maintenance.
• For healthcare and education systems: Make menstrual health a routine part of school curricula and clinical care, and provide clear public resources on what is normal and when to seek help.

joni has published a Cost of Silence landing page, a one-sheet summary, and a partner toolkit to help organizations act on the findings. The resources are available at: https://getjoni.com/pages/period-equity-report

About the Cost of Silence survey

The Cost of Silence survey gathered responses from Canadian menstruators aged 18+ who currently use or have previously used menstrual products. The survey explored how people experience period care across public spaces, workplaces, schools, and home budgets, and how they access menstrual health information. The data was analyzed to identify key patterns and opportunities for systemic change in infrastructure, policy, and education.

About joni

joni is a Canadian, B-Corp certified period care company dedicated to building an ecosystem of accessible period care and advancing menstrual equity. Through its give-back model, joni donates at least 2% of revenues to menstrual equity initiatives across North America and partners with nonprofits, schools, and workplaces to install free-product dispensers and improve access to period care. joni’s plant-based products and commercial programs are designed to make period care more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable. In 2025, joni was recognized as one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies by The Globe and Mail, ranking 19th out of 400 companies and reinforcing the belief that businesses can grow while creating meaningful social impact.