Flow With a Glow: P&G bridges menstruation knowledge gaps

Always and Tampax have launched Flow With a Glow, a menstrual health education initiative to bridge the gap in knowledge among young menstruating people by emulating skin care discourse.

The Procter and Gamble (P&G) subsidiaries underline how young people today are growing up fluent in skin care, while they lack information about their periods. According to P&G research, over one in three menstruating young people understands their skin better than their period.

To address this discrepancy, the brands have partnered with WASH United to make menstrual health education more accessible under P&G’s #PeriodFriendlyWorld commitments. P&G is also supporting WASH United’s yes.period platform, an e-education hub with resources available for parents, caregivers, and educators.

“For too long, period education has been too little and too late. [Kids] deserve timely, age-appropriate period education that not only transfers knowledge, but also strengthens their confidence and provides them with the support they need in this critical moment of their lives,” says Thorsten Kiefer, co-founder and CEO of WASH United.

The research was conducted by surveying 7,000 AFAB (assigned female at birth) children aged 11-17 and 7,000 caregivers from the UK, US, South Africa, France, UAE, China, Saudi Arabia, and India.

Lagging education

Age-appropriate resources help children feel prepared for menstruation.

Menstrual health awareness is not suffering from a lack of interest — 79% of the study participants expressed interest in learning about their periods. Instead, the systemic barriers in place aggravate ignorance around menstruation through limited access, stigma, shame, and taboo.

There is a distinct lack of access to age-appropriate education, as most menstruators are only introduced to the concept of period shortly before or after their first cycle, not giving them enough time to mentally prepare or build confidence.

The stigmatization of periods is still persistent despite progress. The topic is often approached as shameful, private, or uncomfortable, making the threshold to broaching conversations higher for young people.

Another barrier to period knowledge is inconsistent guidance. Information access in school, home, and community environments varies greatly, leading to unbalanced preparedness among peers.

P&G’s research revealed that young menstruators are 15% less likely to feel comfortable talking to their parents about periods than skin care. And 56% of those surveyed reported not feeling equipped to handle their periods due to feeling awkward when they have needed to ask necessary questions.

The report states that while today’s younger generations have unprecedented access to information, some areas still experience a distinct lack of attention. Skin care and self-care knowledge is highly visible, while menstrual health is seldom covered extensively and “often introduced too late, too briefly, or in ways that feel clinical rather than relatable.”

“Without consistent, relatable education, many [kids] approach their period feeling unprepared,” says Ana Carolina Ruiz, P&G Feminine Care global communications director.

“For those of us serving the lives of girls and women, that is more than an insight — it is a responsibility. That is why this work matters so much, especially on Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28). Through our partnership with WASH United, the expansion of yes.period, and the launch of Flow With a Glow from Always and Tampax, we hope to help them build the knowledge, confidence, and support they need to feel more informed and prepared,” says Ruiz.

Period precedents

Young menstruators learn about periods through interactive programs.

Gaps in menstrual knowledge and menstrual product satisfaction are underlined by recent surveys, initiatives, and product launches.

While P&G is addressing gaps in young consumers with Flow With a Glow, age-related menstrual care gaps are logged across demographics. Last month, US-based Honey Pot expanded its period care line to include Peri-Harmonizing Herbal Infusion Pads & Liners, designed to give comfort and restore balance during the instability of perimenopause.

The company promotes products designed for menstruators “from every generation,” with the company saying it responds “directly to real, lived experiences.”

“We’re designing solutions for real, often overlooked experiences, whether that’s first periods, postpartum, or now perimenopause,” Honey Pot’s VP of Brand, Jazmyn Williams, previously told Personal Care Insights.

In an awareness and diagnosis initiative, the female technology (femtech) company Flo Health discovered that solutions like its Symptom Checker can reduce time to getting an endometriosis diagnosis by over four years (or +50% sooner) and reduce costs by thousands of dollars per patient in the US.

Flo’s medical advisors report witnessing patients having endured years of pain and suffering due to undiagnosed endometriosis — which takes almost seven years — before they came to see them.

Meanwhile, Kotex recently launched a pad and liner portfolio in response to the 82% of menstruators who report frustration with available period products.

Drawing from a survey of 1,000 people aged 18-49 who menstruate, Kotex outlines that one in ten are unsatisfied with today’s period products. Two in five of those surveyed reported that they are still sleeping with towels under them in 2026 due to the insufficiencies and inadequacies of existing products.