MATT MILLER/WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

The Menstrual Hygiene Products Program, spearheaded by the Operations & Facilities Management Department at Washington University School of Medicine, started in 2021 when the department removed all the old coin operated dispensers and replaced them with dispensers with free pads and tampons in various locations across campus. Accessibility to menstrual hygiene products is not a luxury; rather, it is essential to staff, faculty and student success and is crucial to serving a diverse campus community.

We believe menstrual hygiene products should be accessible and free for our staff, faculty and students.

Melissa Rockwell-Hopkins, associate vice chancellor, associate dean of Operations & Facilities Management

Why does this matter?

Menstrual hygiene products are integral to the mental, emotional, and physical health of many staff, faculty and students, and are necessary to ensure access to people of all genders and socioeconomic statuses. Menstruation should not be stigmatized, and providing these products at no cost is a step towards normalizing campus-wide conversations about menstrual health.

What locations have the dispensers?

  • 4444 Forest Park, 2007
  • 4560 Clayton Avenue (CID Research), 1054 & 2055
  • 4480 Clayton Avenue, 1005
  • Becker Medical Library, LL08 & 2010
  • Biotechnology Building, G008
  • Steven and Susan Lipstein BJC Institute of Health, 2016
  • Cancer Research Building, 1009
  • Clinical Sciences Research Building, North Tower Addition, 1047 & 2047
  • Couch Biomedical Research Building, 4003B & 6003B
  • Maternity Building, 8005
  • McDonnell Pediatric Building, 1006
  • McDonnell Medical Sciences Building, 3017
  • Mid Campus Center, 1st floor lobby (Facilities Integrated Service Center), 2020, 8020, 10020 & 12020
  • Neuroscience Research Building – 20 dispensers (all-gender restrooms and women’s restrooms)
  • Northwest Tower, 14007
  • Taylor Avenue Building, 1042
  • West Building, 2010

See the map for all the restroom locations of the free menstrual product dispensers.

Future locations

  • Ambulatory Cancer Center (opening in 2024) – 9 dispensers (multi-stall staff and public restrooms on the LL, 1, 5, 6, and 8th floors and 9th floor staff restroom)