A Tampon Shortage Is Impacting Stores (We’re Sharing Alternatives You Can Try!)

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Prepare for a possible tampon shortage this summer!

tampon shortage 2022 - tampons on shelf

 Yes, it’s true that a tampon shortage is impacting store shelves. 

You may have noticed the tampon selection at your local store is looking a little sparse. Staffing and transportation challenges are to blame along with the rising cost and high demand for raw materials, like cotton.

With inflation and fuel prices continuing to rise, you can likely expect the shortage to continue, at least for now. Some brands may be more impacted than others, so keep an eye out on which brands have inventory.

tampon shortage 2022 - ob tampon on empty shelf

If you are devoted to using tampons, don’t worry too much! The tampon shortage should be temporary. Proctor and Gamble own the biggest market share of menstrual products and they recently confirmed to NPR that they are doing everything they can to meet the demand. In the meantime, we have some excellent and affordable alternatives for you to try.


Don’t fret! These 3 great tampon alternatives will come to the rescue!

Don’t try to stretch your tampon supply by wearing them for longer periods of time. That’s just not safe and can lead to toxic shock syndrome. Instead, try one of our nifty alternatives to help you through your time of the month. Since inflation has heavily impacted the price of tampons, you might just find these other menstrual products save you money:

1. The Flex Cup Eco-Friendly Menstrual Cup

woman holding menstrual cup with savings sign sitting on couch

Flex Cup Full-Fit – $34.99

Don’t be scared to try this innovative product. Hip2Save’s Sara gave us all the scoop on how to use this cost-effective menstrual cup. Not only will this product get you through the tampon shortage, but it should save you a pretty penny too!


2.  INNERSY Leak-Proof Period Panties

holding innersy period underwear

Wear INNERSY’s comfortable, leak-proof underwear while using another menstrual product like a liner or period cup. This product is perfect for teens and those worried about leaks. The Hip Team highly recommends these helpful panties!


3. Always Infinity Flexfoam Pads

hand holding two packs of always infinity pads in store

These aren’t your grandma’s maxi pads! Say goodbye to the days when your pad felt like a diaper. You’ll barely know you’re wearing an Always Infinity FlexFoam pad. If you’re on the go during this tampon shortage, these slim pads fit discreetly in your purse or backpack. Pick your preferred coverage from light to overnight!


Learn how to make a DIY period kit for home and school!


About the writer:

Kara is a writer and photographer from the Midwest. Her creative work has appeared in various publications over the past decade. With a background in finance, she loves to be money-savvy.


Join The Discussion

Comments 16

  1. MegannT

    I had heard about this so I looked online to see what I could find (Iā€™m also not picky about brand just need a super/ultra absorbency! šŸ™„) But for this interested I found a wide variety at CVS.com. I had a $10 off $50 coupon (save10 – not sure how long thatā€™s good for) along with some rewards and other mobile coupons – I got a good bit of every day needs for our family. Shipped to our house – I believe shipping is free w/ $35.

    • Alli (Hip Sidekick)

      Thanks for letting us know, MegannT! šŸ™Œ

  2. Lisa

    This is seriously not funny. The alternatives donā€™t fully work for people like myself. Some of us need to get hormones under control to have a reasonably normal period.

    On a positive note, there are things we can do to balance hormones. For anyone struggling ( like me) you may want to try some raspberry leaf tea. I just started using this, and Iā€™m making progress in the right direction.

    • confusedbycomment

      ?I don’t think they were trying to be funny….but they offered some good alternatives for a good majority of users out there who were not sure where to turn, that raspberry leaf tea….something to research, sounds like a good alternative, thanks for your alternative too

      • Lisa

        Hip2save and ConfusedbyComment: Please forgive me if my comment came off wrong. It may be a generational comment… just a general ” that’s not funny”, but not directed at Hip2Save at all.
        I love what you all are doing, keep up the great work!!!

        • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

          No worries. We sure appreciate your kind words! šŸ„°

    • CJ

      My Gyn prescribed Lysteda for me which I only take during my period and it drastically reduced the amount of flow which had gotten ridiculous. The next alternative was an ablation but this was way less invasive and a very viable option.

  3. TheQueenBee

    You can also try reusable pads. I know they are definitely not the same as tampons. I use them and have a friend that uses them with her diva cup now. Little bit of an upfront expense. Got 2 different types on Amazon. I’ve been using them for about 8 months now.

    • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

      Thanks for the helpful response and letting other readers know what’s been working for you, TheQueenBee! ā¤ļø

  4. FSUGAL

    Most wholesale clubs are sold out online. Amazon has some but they seem marked up. I also went out to CVS.com and ordered 4 boxes to get the free shipping and applied extra bucks. Sending to my daughter at college who was panicked about this. I also used the Walgreens $5 off 2 Playtex Sport tampons digital coupon in the App and ordered 2 boxes for store pick-up and applied Walgreens Rewards. Both sites still had stock online tonight.

    • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

      Great! Thanks for the helpful feedback. Super happy you were able to grab some with savings! šŸ„°

  5. Becca

    So frustrating, basic necessities just keep getting harder and harder to find! And the money keeps dwindling away! Thanks for the tips to try and help!

    • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

      You’re welcome, Becca! šŸ’ž

  6. Laurie

    Not good news! After reading this I ordered some online at cvs. I signed up for the cvs care pass you posted about and used the $10 off coupon they sent for signing up and I also had a $6 off $30 coupon. At least Iā€™m stocked now for a bit. Thanks for all your posts. They sure help!

    • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

      You’re so welcome, Laurie! So happy you could stock up with some savings! šŸ’•

  7. Patricia Goff

    Glad I have a stock pile (10) for my daughter. I am lucky. My periods have been one day on, one day off, and one day on my whole life. Love it. Now the date is never constant but the one day etc is constant. My daughters pediatrician put her on the pill to regulate hers when she was 14.

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