The back-to-school effort brings practical period education, trusted products and peer advice to students as they navigate greater independence on campus.
CINCINNATI, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Heading to college is often celebrated as a milestone of independence, yet many young people still don't feel prepared to manage one of the most routine parts of daily life: their period. New research from OnePoll, commissioned by Always and Tampax, revealed that nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. women who graduated college within the last five years wish they had received more practical advice about periods before arriving on campus. To help incoming freshmen navigate this transition, Always and Tampax are helping normalize conversations about periods, providing accessible education and resources, and putting trusted period care products directly into students' hands.
Always and Tampax believe period preparedness should be part of every student's transition to college and is often overlooked amid packing lists, class schedules, and dorm move-in plans. With more than three in five women (61%) saying more open conversations about periods would have made their college experience easier, the brands are helping bring those conversations directly to student life through educational experiences, trusted resources and period care support.
"The experiences of recent graduates highlight an opportunity to bring period preparedness into the college preparedness conversation," said KaNeeTa Kimble, Vice President of North America Always. "The next generation of students shouldn't have to navigate the same gaps, which is why Always and Tampax are helping make period support a more visible part of the college experience."
To bring that commitment to life, Always and Tampax are bringing students advice, education and community so that they feel more confident in period care at college. Beginning with a nationwide tour, the brands are hosting a seven-stop campus tour at the University of Miami, University of Arkansas, Ohio State University, USC, University of Minnesota, Spelman College and UCLA. Through educational resources, peer-to-peer advice, product sampling and interactive experiences, the initiative has already reached more than 52,000 students and distributed nearly 800,000 period-care products, helping make period conversations feel more approachable and students feel more prepared for the school year ahead.
Beyond the campus tour, Always and Tampax are bringing period preparedness into the spaces where students were already seeking advice and shopping for the school year: online. The brands recently hosted a social sweepstakes where students were invited to contribute their own back-to-school advice, while creators shared relatable college content and helped connect students with Always and Tampax products through participating retailers. Together, these efforts made practical guidance and period-care solutions more accessible throughout the back-to-school season.
Q: What Is Period Preparedness? A: Period preparedness means having the products, information and confidence needed to manage your period independently, whether navigating classes, living in a dorm or balancing a busy campus schedule.
Q: Why does it matter in college? A: Many students begin managing their periods on their own for the first time after leaving home, making access to education, resources and trusted products especially important.
Q: Why did Always and Tampax host this back-to-school initiative? A: The transition from high school to college often comes with new routines, responsibilities and moments of uncertainty. While Gen Z has access to more information than any generation before them, many students still don't feel fully prepared for what is ahead. Always and Tampax launched this initiative to help students start the school year feeling equipped by providing practical advice, trusted period-care products and opportunities to connect with new friends.
Q: How are Always and Tampax supporting me with my period beyond period-care products? A: Both brands know that students need more than products alone. Through educational resources, advice, confidence-building experiences and trusted guidance, the brands are helping students navigate the many changes that come with starting a new school year and building independence.
Q: How has the Always and Tampax campus tour grown year over year? A: The program continued to grow this year, with more campus stops, more students reached and more products distributed. In 2025, the tour put more than 18,500 product packs directly into students' hands. This year, it reached more than 52,000 students across seven campuses and donated nearly 800,000 period-care products.
Q: Why can students trust Always and Tampax products? A: Always and Tampax have spent decades helping women and girls manage their periods with confidence. Backed by OB-GYN expertise and a long history of period-care innovation, the brands are committed to providing safe, high-quality products and educational resources that help students feel informed, supported and confident in their period-care choices.
Q: What products are recommended for college period care? A: Always and Tampax recommend students consider:
Always Pocket FlexFoam Pads: Full-size period protection in a compact, portable design featuring FlexFoam technology, wings, and a resealable wrapper for on-the-go convenience.
Always Radiant FlexFoam Pads: These pads feature FlexFoam technology that locks in blood and sweat so you stay fresh and offer up to zero feel, zero leak, and zero odor.
Tampax Starter Kit: Designed for first-time tampon users, the kit includes step-by-step instructions, multiple absorbencies and LeakGuard Braid technology to help stop leaks before they happen.
Tampax Radiant: Provides up to 100% leak- and odor-free protection with a LeakGuard Braid, Comfort Grip applicator and CleanSeal Wrapper for discreet disposal.
These products are available at mass retailers like Walgreens and Amazon.com.
OnePoll research commissioned by Always® and Tampax® among 2,000 U.S. women who graduated college within the last five years, conducted Sept. 9-16, 2026
ABOUT TAMPAX Tampax®, the No.1 tampon brand in the U.S., is committed to helping women and girls better manage their periods through superior internal period protection and medically accurate period education. Backed by more than 80 years of period protection expertise and trusted by OB-GYNs, Tampax offers a range of products designed to meet different needs, including Tampax Pearl, Tampax Radiant, Tampax Pocket Radiant and Tampax Starter Kit. Only Tampax tampons feature a LeakGuard™ Braid and five absorbency sizes to help provide leak-free period protection. For more information, please visit www.tampax.com.
ABOUT ALWAYS Always®, the world's leader in menstrual protection, offers a wide range of pads and liners designed to fit different body types, period flows and preferences, with a commitment to safety, quality, and performance. For over 40 years, Always has been supporting women in every phase of their lives. Please visit www.always.com for more information.
ABOUT PROCTER & GAMBLE P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit https://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. For other P&G news, visit us at https://www.pg.com/news.
Share this article