The large majority of incarcerated women face the monthly challenge of menstruation in prison, in addition to the absence of consistent health services in prison. Since prison is an institution originally constructed for men, it is not equipped for the unique challenges women face in American society. Rules regarding access to menstrual supplies vary between state and federal prisons and are largely inconsistent across states, even though women’s menstrual needs are a reality of their sex...

Approximately 190,600 women are incarcerated in the United States. Although this comprises only around ten percent of the total prison population, rates of incarceration for women have increased by 834% over the last forty years—more than twice the rate of men’s incarceration (Sawyer, 2018). While prison conditions are deplorable for all genders, the prison system was constructed for men, not women, thus neglecting concerns specific to the female experience, including gynecological services,...