In the rural health deserts of America, women suffer in silence. The industry leader in mild bladder leak prevention, Poise®, is dedicated to promoting candid conversations about health. Poise®, the industry leader in light bladder leaks, is looking for creative ways to give women easily accessible health information on menopause and perimenopause.
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
According to Poise, a new partnership with scientists could allow dry urine to be separated from pad material and examined for menopausal and perimenopausal markers. One day, the research may lead to significant changes in the way important health information is discovered, which could result in the identification of diseases like diabetes and urinary tract infections.
“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.”
[1] Nguyen, A., et al., Mapping healthcare deserts: 80% of the country lacks adequate access to healthcare. GoodRx. September, 2021.
[2] Statz, M. and K. Evers, Spatial barriers as moral failings: What rural distance can teach us about women’s health and medical mistrust author names and affiliations. Health Place, 2020. 64: p. 102396.
[3] Wegrzynowicz, A.K., et al., Insights into Perimenopause: A Survey of Perceptions, Opinions on Treatment, and Potential Approaches. Women, 2025. 5(1): p. 4.
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507826/m
[5] Atomik Research Online Survey sponsored by Poise, 1,114 women between the ages of 34-65 throughout the U.S., March 34-25, 2025.
[6] Burke Inc. Consumer Habit and Attitudes Study sponsored by Kimberly-Clark, 5,131 U.S. females ages 20-85, 2023.
