Many Young Women Try To Avoid Or Limit Physical Activity During Their Period

Toronto, ON - A new Ipsos Reid survey conducted on behalf of Playtex Canada reports that many (31%) active young women across the country often avoid or limit their physical activity during their periods.

The survey, conducted among a nationally representative sample of over 1000 menstrual-active women between the ages of 12 to 34 reveals a number a strong social dynamics when it comes to young women and the potential worry about leaks and accidents during physical activity.

Most of the women surveyed (71%) indicate that they are active in terms of their general level of physical activity - with nearly eight in ten (77%) girls (ages 12-17) saying they are active. And, while nearly all (96%) say they are confident in their feminine protection products, six in ten (61%) say they have been embarrassed by a leak or accident during their period. In fact, 31% of young women say they either "avoid" (3%) or "limit" (28%) physical activity during their period "because of a potential leak". So, what sort of physical activities do young women avoiding or limiting during their period? Most often young women avoid either "running/jogging" (27%) or "swimming" (27%), but many others also point to "exercise/gym" (22%), "walking" (10%), and sports in general (8%).

Perhaps most profound in the study are the powerful emotional consequences that worrying about leaks or accidents has on young women. Two in five say that when they to choose to avoid physical activity during their period it makes them feel "embarrassed" (21%) and "angry" (19%). It follows then that the strong majority of the women surveyed (89%) say they would "try a feminine protection product if they felt it would increase their confidence in providing protection against potential `leaks' during physical activity". And, 77% say they are interested in "a tampon that would provide added protection against potential leaks during physical activity".

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted for Playtex Canada and fielded January 26th to 31st, 2007. For the survey, a representative sample of 1085 menstrual-active women between the ages of 12-34 were interviewed via an on-line survey vehicle. The sample used in this study has been weighted according to Census data to accurately reflect this population. With a sample of this size, the aggregate results are considered accurate to within 177 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had this entire population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within each sub-grouping of the survey population.

Most Young Women Have Active Lifestyles ...

Most women (71%) between the ages of 12-34 are active (17% "very active", 55% "somewhat active") -the remaining 29% say they are "not very active".

And, which of the following best describes your general level of physical activity? (All respondents)

• Young women between the ages of 12-17 are much more likely to be active than are those ages 18-34 (80% vs. 67%).
• Young women in Quebec (47%) are the least likely to be active, while those in British Columbia (77%) and Alberta (76%) are the most likely.

Nearly All (96%) Confident In Their Feminine Protection Product...

Nearly all women (96%) aged 12-34 say they are confident"in the effectiveness of their feminine protection product" (47% "very confident", 49% "somewhat confident") -just 4% say they are not confident in the effectiveness of their feminine protection product.

How confident are you in the effectiveness of your feminine protection product?
(All respondents)

• Young women between the ages of 12-17 are often less confident than are those ages 18-34 (92% vs. 97%).

Six In Ten (61%) Say They Have Been Embarrassed By A `Leak' Or `Accident' During Their Period...

Sixty one percent of respondents say they have been embarrassed by a `leak' or `accident' during their period, while 39% say they have not.

Three In Ten (31%) Either Avoid (3%) Or Limit (28%) Physical Activity During Their Periods...

Which statement best describes yourself? (All respondents)

They Avoid Wide Range Of Activites ...

And, what sort of physical activity do you avoid/limit during your period?
(Those who avoid/limit activity)

• No demographic variances are apparent with respect to this question.

Most Often It Makes Them Feel Embarrassed Or Angry ...

When you have your period and you choose to avoid/limit a physical activity because you're scared of a leak, how does this make you feel?
(Those who avoid/limit activity)

Those ages 12-17 are more likely than those age 18-34 to say they feel:

• "Embarrassed" (26% vs. 17%)
• "Left out" (11% vs. 7%).

Nine In Ten (89%) Would Try A Feminine Protection Product If They Felt It Would Increase Their Confidence In Providing Protection During Physical Activity...

Nine in ten (89%) say they would "try a feminine protection product if they felt it would increase their confidence in providing protection against potential `leaks' during physical activity" versus 10% who say they would not.

• Women ages 12-17 are more likely than those ages 18-34 to indicate willingness to try this type of product.
Young women in Alberta (95%) are the most likely to indicate willingness to try this type of product.

Three-quarters (77%) Would Be Interested In A Tampon That Would Provide Added Protection Against Potential Leaks During Physical Activity...

Seventy-seven percent indicate that they are "very" (42%) or "somewhat" (34%) interested in a tampon that would provide added protection against potential leaks during physical activity. One-quarter (24%) indicate that they're not interested in this sort of product (10% "not at all interested").

Those ages 18-34 are more often interested in such a product than are those ages 12-17 (79% vs. 71%).

Type Of Feminine Protection Used Most Frequently...

Please refer to the data tables and charts for further survey results.

For more information on this press release, please contact:
Jennifer McLeod
Senior Research Manager
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
(416) 324-2900
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

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