Periods are a biological predisposition of being born a female, and the average female will spend more than 2,500 days, or roughly 7 years, of her life menstruating, but many women and girls around the world cannot afford period products.

According to the parliament's website, the law requires the Scottish Government to set up a universal system so that anyone in need of period products can get them for free.

Schools, colleges and universities will also be required to make free menstrual products available in restrooms.

Local authorities and education providers will be responsible for ensuring free products are made available under the law.

Based on that figure, it's estimated the new law will cost the Scottish government roughly £8.7 million in 2022/23, although the real cost will depend on how many individuals use the products made available.

In a document pushing for free period products that was published in 2017, Lennon explained the harsh realities of period poverty in Scotland and the rest of the U.K.

According to the Scottish government's website, there were roughly 220,000 girls and women between the ages of 12 and 54 living in relative poverty after housing costs as of 2018. .

Global children's charity Plan International released statistics in 2017 showing that a lack of menstrual products was a pervasive problem among women and girls in the United Kingdom, largely due to cost. 

cannot afford sanitary products such as pads and tampons, and 15% of girls in the U.K