Welcome to America’s Health Deserts

Women in America's rural health deserts are struggling – in silence. Poise®, the number one brand for light bladder leak protection, is committed to ensuring that health discussions are openly addressed. As the leading brand for light bladder leaks, Poise® is exploring innovative solutions to provide women with accessible health information about perimenopause and menopause.

In rural areas, many women lack sufficient access to gynecologic care and essential health checkups. Health deserts–primarily rural areas across the U.S. with limited access to adequate healthcare–make up 80% of the country's counties.1 Remarkably, only about 6% of the nation's obstetricians and gynecologists practice in rural areas,2 leaving countless women with limited direct access to healthcare. Each year, approximately 2 million women in the U.S. enter perimenopause,3 and approximately 1.3 million women become menopausal.4 With little to no education of what perimenopause or menopause means, many women don't understand their symptoms – let alone understand how to treat them.5

For perimenopausal and menopausal women in rural areas specifically, the lack of resources can make it more challenging to understand and manage the symptoms. One potential symptom of menopause is bladder leaks, a symptom many women feel ashamed to talk about, yet 25 million U.S. women experience this symptom in some form, but do not acknowledge the issue.6

Poise believes that, through a new collaboration with scientists, dry urine may be able to be extracted from the material used in pads and tested for indicators related to perimenopause and menopause. The research could one day drive real change in how key health information is uncovered, leading to the detection of conditions like urinary tract infections and diabetes.

"Every woman deserves access to essential health information, no matter where she lives," said Katie Moran, President of Adult and Feminine Care at Kimberly-Clark. "Women in rural health deserts face significant barriers, and Poise is committed to helping them have greater access to information about perimenopause and menopause."

To amplify Poise's research, the brand traveled across America to hear firsthand from women in rural health deserts about the struggles they face as they enter perimenopause and menopause. Their powerful stories are captured in a compelling new film shot by Oscar and Emmy-nominated director Sara Nesson and is available now at Poise.com/dropsofhope.

For more information about this initiative and to watch the film, visit Poise.com/dropsofhope.