Kimberly-Clark(KMB) Prnewswire·2025-04-10 16:22Core Insights - Poise® is addressing the challenges faced by women in rural health deserts regarding perimenopause and menopause, emphasizing the need for accessible health information [1][2][3] Group 1: Initiative Overview - Poise® has launched an initiative aimed at bridging the healthcare gap for women in rural areas, where 80% of U.S. counties are classified as health deserts [2] - Only about 6% of obstetricians and gynecologists practice in rural areas, leading to limited healthcare access for women [2] - Approximately 2 million women enter perimenopause and 1.3 million become menopausal each year in the U.S., with many lacking education on these stages [2][3] Group 2: Research and Development - Poise® is collaborating with scientists to explore the extraction of dry urine from pad materials to identify indicators related to perimenopause and menopause, potentially aiding in the detection of conditions like urinary tract infections and diabetes [2] - The initiative aims to enhance understanding and management of menopause-related symptoms, including bladder leaks, which affect 25 million U.S. women [2] Group 3: Community Engagement - Poise® has traveled across America to gather stories from women in rural health deserts, highlighting their struggles with perimenopause and menopause, which are documented in a new film directed by Sara Nesson [3] - The film aims to amplify the voices of these women and raise awareness about the challenges they face [3] Group 4: Company Background - Kimberly-Clark, the parent company of Poise®, operates in over 175 countries and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable practices and ethical business operations [5] - The company holds leading market positions in various product categories and has been acknowledged as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for seven consecutive years [5]