Menstrual Health Project

Menstrual Health Project

Contact us

Contact for questions or concerns: menstrualhealth@ssmu.ca
One of our team members will get back to you shortly!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for pick-up updates, product how-tos, and more!

Who We Are

The Menstrual Health Project was established in 2017 to supply students with menstrual hygiene products on campus, free of charge.

More about us

Before the project, only sexual health products such as condoms were provided for free or at subsidized rates on campus, while necessary personal health products—such as tampons—were not. The motion at the SSMU Legislative Council that kick-started the project was passed in an effort to decrease the financial burden of using these products, which can often be expensive.

All SSMU members currently pay a nominal fee each year and the collected monies fund the purchase of dispensers, products, and labour.
The initiative also collaborates with other SSMU services and external organizations to provide products to community members who can benefit from having them.

Where We Are

Dispenser Refill

 

Refill form
Disclaimer: no identifying info will be shared with anyone, just need to be able to contact you back!

Location List and Map

For a detailed list of which washrooms are women’s or gender neutral, and which are most accessible, please consult this document!
Downtown campus, including first year residences (hopefully expanding to MacDonald Campus soon!

Buildings We’re In

  • McGill Sports Complex (Currie Gym)
  • Education Building
  • Chancellor Day Hall
  • Stewart Biology Building (North and South)
  • Brown Building
  • University Centre
  • McLennan Library
  • Redpath Library
  • McConnell Engineering
  • Leacock Building
  • Arts Basement
  • Burnside
  • Wong
  • Trottier
  • Ottomass
  • Schulich
  • Bronfman
  • Strathcona Dentistry
  • MacDonald Harrington
  • Adams
  • Each residence: RVC, New Residence, C4, La Cit, Solin, Upper Residences, Douglas, University Hall

Coming Soon

  • Sherbrooke 680

Monthly Period Product Pick-Up

We recognize the need for period products expands beyond campus. We want to provide accessible and affordable period products for the McGill community by providing a monthly pick up service free of charge.

Each month, the Menstrual Health Project Team will give out sustainable and reusable menstrual products to members of the McGill community for free. We provide disposable pads and tampons and reusable products (cups, discs, pads, underwear, and boxers).

Please follow @ssmumenstrualhealth for updates regarding the monthly pick ups!

Fall 2024 Pick-Up Dates

How do I get something?

Step 1: Decide what type of product you would like
Step 2: Stop by the listed location on the specified date
Step 3: Grab some products!

Types of Products Offered

We offer a variety of options because no one period is the same. We provide both disposable and reusable period products. Our disposable products come from Joni, a brand based in Vancouver that uses compostable and biodegradable materials made out of organic bamboo. Our reusable products come from Period Aisle, a certified B corporation also located in Vancouver that supplies period underwear, menstrual cups, and reusable pads. We also offer menstrual discs from Saalt.

For more information, check out these resources here.

Pads

We have two types of pads – regular and super. Regular pads are best for light to medium flows and give solid protection to go about your day. Super pads are best for those heavier flow days and are a bit longer than the regular pads. Both pads are made out of organic bamboo, chemical, chlorine, and fragrance free, and winged. They come in compostable wrapping and recyclable box packaging.
Tampons

Our tampons are applicatorless and come in three varieties, regular, super, and super plus. Regular tampons are the smallest of the three options and hold up to 9 grams of blood. Super tampons are slightly bigger and hold up to 12 grams of blood. Super plus are the biggest size and hold up to 15 grams. All tampons are 100% certified organic cotton and come in compostable wrappers.
Reusable Products

These products can be hand washed (or machine washed depending on the type) and used again and again! We offer period underwear that works similarly to our pads. This underwear, the BOOST Hipster, is medium rise with full coverage. They hold up to 8+ tampons worth with a booster absorber to help for those heavier days. These can be machine washed and dried to be used again and again. We offer sizes small, medium and large currently. We also have menstrual cups. We provide size A, which according to Period Aisle is best for those new to cups and those who have not given birth. These cups provide up to 12 hours of leak-proof protection. Just empty, wash, and reinsert as needed throughout your day! Another option we have are reusable pads. These are made of cloth and can be machine washed to reuse. We offer Aisle’s mini pads which hold up to 8 tampons worth and are 8 inches/20 cm long. We also have their maxi pads which have the same absorbency but are slightly longer: 10 inches/25 cm. Both include wings that snap together around your underwear.

Menstrual discs

How to use Saalt Discs
We also offer menstrual discs from Saalt. These work similarly to menstrual cups, but the difference is the shape (disc instead of cup!) and requires no suction when inserted. It is made with 100% medical grade silicon. We offer size regular which holds 50mL, or 5-6 tampons worth of menstrual blood. For more information on the difference between menstrual cups and discs, head to our “further resources” link or check out our Instagram!

Further Resources

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!