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Tampon and Sanitary Pad Sales Plummet As British Women Opt to Stop Periods

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Tampons
Tampons, photographed in Nantes, France, on February 24, 2016. Loic Venance/Getty
World Periods Menstruation Tampons

More British women are using contraceptives to stop their periods altogether, as a study reveals tampon sales have plummeted in the last four years.

Kantar Worldpanel, an international company dealing in consumer knowledge, has collected data from Britain's biggest retailers and discovered a significant decline in tampon popularity.

In 2012, Britons spent £56 million ($67 million) on tampons, compared to £43 million ($51 million) last year.

A million fewer packets of sanitary napkins were also sold last year, compared to 2012, according to the BBC.

A total of £236 million ($284 million) was spent in 2012 on tampons, liners and sanitary pads, compared to £221 million ($266 million) last year.

According to The Daily Telegraph, since 2012 400,000 women have switched to a progesterone-only pill—making periods lighter and shorter. More women are also using contraceptives with more longevity, such as implants and IUDs that in some cases stop menstruation altogether.

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