Hi Isobel, thank you for contacting me!

At this point I think you probably should not worry. When you first start to menstruate, your period can be very irregular; starting, stopping and starting again. Some periods may be very light whilst others could be heavy. Some girls have one period and then wait as long as six months for the next one! This isn't unusual. Until your body adjusts to your cycle, your period may be unpredictable, so please don’t worry. It can take up to two years for hormones to settle down enough to make them regular. 

I suggest you keep a menstrual calendar and record each period, including your flow pattern.  If you are at all concerned, see your Doctor and take the calendar in with you to explain your irregular flow.

Also, here is a link to the “Your Body” section of BeingGirl, our teens site, where you can find more information about periods: http://www.beinggirl.co.uk/yourbody/yourbody.php Just check the menu bar on the left hand side for all the different tools (like a period calendar) and information you can get!

Hope this was helpful!

Danai

Hi Roisin!

A very big thanks for your very positive encouragement from all of us! I have shared your email with the team, and it has put a smile on our face!

Thank you!

Danai

HI Saskia!

I am really sorry to hear you feel so scared about getting your period! And I am happy you can talk to your mum about it!

Periods do sometimes hurt, but not for all women, and not necessarily always. Remember, all women are different and so are their periods!

The pain is caused by cramps when your uterus contracts (squeezes) slightly to help get rid of most of it’s lining. 

If you do get pain when you get your period, there are many ways to relieve it, most of which work with finding ways to warm up your belly (like placing a hot water bottle on it). And if these techniques do not work, there are also helpful medications you can get at the pharmacy.

So I would say do not panic, as first of all you do not know if you will be one of the women that has any period pain at all, and secondly, there are ways to manage it even then!

One last thought: as you grow up things tend to get better! When I was younger I used to have period pain as well, and liked lying in bed all day, rubbing my belly to keep it warm. Now, I do not even feel I have my period, and nothing else has changed other than that I am a bit older!

So, please do not panic, and when the time comes, whatever your experience will be like, I promise you that with the help of your mum you will manage it!

You may also want to look into www.beinggirl.co.uk , our teens site, that also has a lot of information on periods!

Hope this helps!

Danai

Hi Annie-mai!

No worries, you can ask as many questions as you like :-)

A period usually lasts between 3 and 7 days.  However, when you first start menstruating, the length of your period may not be regular, so it is not as worrying if it lasts more than 7 days.

Still, if you feel you are having heavy flow and it has been 11 days already, I would urge you to talk to a close family member or your doctor to get it checked out properly.

You know, sometimes you will not be sure what your body is doing, and it is perfectly normal and ok to talk to someone about it. I know it feels weird at the beginning but as you grow older you will get more comfortable about it… I know I have!

Let me know if you have more questions!

Danai

Hello Annie-mai!

The amount of blood in the menstrual cycle fluid varies from woman to woman, and from day to day during the period.  A period usually end quite lightly, with most menstrual fluid lost in the first few days.  Even then, it doesn’t come out very quickly.  You lose about 80-85ml of menstrual fluid during your period, but only about 35ml of it is blood-although some women do lose a bit more.  It might look like quite a lot bit is isn’t as much as much as you think.

However, if you suffer from heavy menstrual flow and you are using the highest absorbency tampon or sanitary pad and having to change them more often than is recommended on the box, you should see your doctor for intervention.  I also advise that you keep a menstrual diary to include details of how many heavy days, kind of product used and how often you needed to change your sanitary protection, and take this to the doctors with you.

Regarding the pain that you are feeling, I would like to assure you that many women feel some kind of cramps during their period at some point in their lives.  You get cramps when your uterus contracts (squeezes) slightly to help get rid of most of it’s lining.  Not all women feel that same pain, some women only feel pain occasionally, and some women never feel any pain.  That’s because all women are different, are so are their periods.

Some ways to ease period cramps;

·                     Rub your tummy gently with your hand to make it feel warm

·                     Soak for a while in a warm bath

·                     Hold a hot water bottle against your tummy

·                     Do some gentle exercise

There are also helpful medications you can get at the pharmacy.

However, if you experience a lot of period cramps it may be a good idea to talk to a close female relative or consult a doctor for this as well.

Finally, I would urge you to visit our teens website at www.beinggirl.com for more period advice, and to better understand the changes your body is going through, under our “Our body” section.

Hope this helped!

Danai 

Hi Sinead!

I am sorry to hear about your health problem. Thanks for sharing - and hope you are already better! Let me reassure you that wearing a pad has nothing to do with your condition.

Here’s why (I know it sounds a bit scientific, but tried to summarize for you as what I found out from different research):

Cystitis is the medical term for bladder infection, which is in most of the cases caused by bacteria such as E.coli. Among others, having sex, genetic, anatomical and immune factors influence the individual susceptibility to this disease. On the other hand, there is no scientific indication that the use of a pad promotes this condition.
Regarding the sweating you experienced, the skin in the intimate area has generally a higher level of moisture. Research has showed that wearing a pad does not lead to higher skin temperature, moisture, and relative humidity in the intimate area than normal fluctuations due to changes in – for example - temperature, food intake, exercise, or such. And research demonstrates in general no clinically significant negative effects either on the skin or genital microflora either.

So, whatever caused your problems – you don’t have to forego the great protection Always pads offer. Give them another try!

I will also forward your email to our company experts so that they can come in contact with you, to make sure that your case is handled in the best way possible, hope that is ok. Do not hesitate to contact me again to let me know how you are doing!

Danai

HI Babs!

Thank you for your compliment on our products, it always puts a smile on my face to know we are doing a good job for women out there!

I am sorry, I am not sure what you are asking for. Are you looking for a special box so that you can move your pantyliners into it and out of their original packaging? If that is the question, then I am afraid that no, we do not have any special containers, other than the packaging our products are sold in.

I am really sorry if I have not understood your question and you were asking for something different, please do not hesitate to contact me again to help me understand!

Best regards,

Danai 

Hello Q– thanks for your question.

Let me explain: When we say ”dermatologically tested”, what we mean is that tests prove the very good skin compatibility of our products. Under strict protocols we look at how the human skin reacts to being exposed to our pads. A dermatologist is present during these tests to grade the reaction of the skin and look at overall test results.

These tests are conducted with the help of people who volunteer to be a part of the research. There is no animal testing involved in this.

In general, we do not test Always products on animals.  On very rare occasions, we may be explicitly forced by law to test by-products (an individual product component).   However, we do this only when required or if all other reasonable options for using alternative tests have been exhausted.   P&G is proud of its record in developing alternatives to animal testing and we urge you to learn more about our policy on animal testing at our website (http://www.pg.com/science/animal_alt.shtml).

Hope this helps!

Danai

HI Kati!

The Alldays black pantyliners have been discontinued some time ago everywhere in Europe. I know how frustrating it is to love a product and then it stops being available. Actually, I loved the black pantyliners too! In fact, I have some stock of my own, because I like them so much. I will contact you outside this forum to see if I can send you some of mine ;-)

Regards,

Danai

HI Emily!

Thanks for contacting me! Weight should not affect when you will get your period, provided you are at a healthy weight for your height. Some times if you are underweight, that indeed may affect getting your period and things like eating disorders and excessive exercise may also be responsible can cause you to stop having periods even after you first started menstruating.

If you are worried in general that you will never start your period, I would like to re-assure you that everyone has her own "biological clock" and yours is different from everyone else's. So even if you feel like you'll never get your period, don't worry!  Some girls have their first period at 8 or 9 - some don't have it until they're 15 or 16.

So there is a big chance you may not have gotten yours yet because your "clock" is not ready, and not because of a medical reason. If however you still worry, I would urge you to discuss it with your doctor next time you visit.

Also, I would suggest you visit our teens site www.beinggirl.co.uk, that has a lot of information on the changes your body goes through in puberty, as well as fun games and beauty tips.

Hope this helped!

Danai

Hello!

Thank you for the feedback, we hope we always do the best we can to keep in touch with you, so your positive comment means a lot!

Danai

Hello Silvia!

Thank you for your email.

Always Ultra Night is our best protection pad. While it is longer, it is still an ultra pad, so it is quite discreet, and there is no reason why you could not wear it during the day as well as during night. 

If you suffer from heavy menstrual flow and you are using the highest absorbency sanitary pad (Always Ultra Night) and having to change them more often than is recommended on the box, you should see your doctor for intervention.  I also advise that you keep a menstrual diary to include details of how many heavy days, kind of product used and how often you needed to change your sanitary protection, and take this to the doctors with you.

I am not trying to scare you, but I think a doctor will be more appropriate to examine your individual case and offer some solution.

I would also urge you to visit our teen website at www.beinggirl.co.uk, for any other type of questions you may have regarding your period, the changes your body is having, but also for fun, as we host games, beauty tips and more there!

Good Luck

Danai

Hello Ria!

I am really sorry to hear about your skin condition, I hope it all works fine for you!

I can assure you that Always pads have been designed to meet the highest skin compatibility standards. For your particular condition, I would recommend that you talk to your dermatologist on which product to use.

Hope this helps!

Regards,

Danai

Hi Kim!

I am sorry to learn that you've been disappointed with our product and am sending a voucher to reimburse you for your purchase.

As I am sure you will know, with Always it is important to make sure the most suitable type and size is being used. If you are experiencing leakage at the sides you might like to try the Always Plus - they have wings developed to deal with this problem.

I'm sorry that you dislike our Always advertising campaign.  We know how uncomfortable periods can be and that is something that definitely does not make you happy. We understand that some women really dread that time of the month and the emotional rollercoaster of their periods, but we do not tell them what to do about it either. We sympathize with everybody who suffers during that time and hope they can find their own individual way to make it better for them. And that is what we want to encourage them to do with this campaign.

Whether women have a positive or negative attitude towards it can be very much because of how their mother, sister or friends talked to them.  When we talk about periods, we want to get a positive message out. We are breaking a taboo by talking about periods in this positive way. But we think it is right and Always has always been a taboo breaker. We believe that with our advertising we have over the years contributed to the fact that women today can talk more freely about periods than ever and also live them more positively.

I hope this explains our position but I will certainly share your comments with our Advertising department and agency.

Best regards,

Danai

Hi Marija!

I am sorry it took me some time to reply back, but you contacted us at the Always UK site, and my expertise on the Croatia market is very limited so it took me some time to find the answer for you! However, I contacted the Croatian team and they informed me that your product is still in the market :-) The product, though, has been upgraded and the design of the pack changed! Perhaps that is why you could not find it? They did suggest you try one of the big Konzum stores if you have difficulties finding it anywhere else.

Hope this helps!

Danai

HI Amy!

I will answer your question very unscientifically... In theory you could wear pads with any type of underwear, however you may have to compromise in comfort and protection if the fit is not optimal.

Most women prefer wearing more "classic-cut" underwear during their period, as they find them more comfortable. And while Always is flexible and has double wings that can give you a good hold on most underwear, they were designed with women's habits in mind, which usually do not include wearing pads on thongs ;-)

Sorry I can't give you a better answer, but hope this helps!

Let me know if you have more questions!

Danai

Hi Sally!

Thank you for taking the time to write to me your suggestion! I do sports as well, and I find Always works fine for me, although I am not really a runner like you! I will make sure the Always team hears your input!

Thanks!

Danai

Hi Sylviane!

I'm sorry that you feel this way about our Always advertising campaign.  Let me assure you that I know how uncomfortable periods can be and that is something that definitely does not make you happy… After all, I am a woman too!

Here at Always, we understand that some women really dread that time of the month and the emotional rollercoaster of their periods. In fact, what we are trying to do is to encourage even the women that do suffer during their period to find a way to make them better for them.

Personally, I find it comforting that someone tells me it is ok to eat a whole chocolate when I have my period, if that is what will make me just a bit happier… or whatever else will give me comfort. But I will certainly share your comments with our Advertising department and agency.

Best regards,

 Danai

Hi Levenia!

What can I say to your email, except thank you for your support! I will pass your message on to the rest of the Always team!

Once again, thank you!

Danai

HI Dawn!

I can definitely understand that it is a bit difficult for you to talk to your mum, but you shouldn't worry! After all, she has been through it herself! I would recommend you find a quite moment when it is just the two of you and just go ahead and tell her!

In terms of which product to use, that depends on your body type and your flow. Why don't you try our on-line tool for finding the perfect product for you at http://www.always-info.co.uk/find_your_pad.html

You may also want to visit our teens site at www.beinggirl.co.uk, for more information about your period and the changes your body is going through!

Hope this helped!

Danai

Hello Sarah!

Thank you for writing to me! I am sure it must be difficult to deal with your daughter having her period at such a young age! I am sorry it is so hard to find the right product for her. I will definitely share your comments with our marketing team!

In the meantime, I can propose two solutions to you, based on size, as she still does not have a real flow. I would suggest you either try our Always Silk Normal (http://www.always-info.co.uk/product_20.html) which is a bit smaller in size that Always Ultra normal, or check our range of pantyliners for a size that could work at www.alldaysinfo.co.uk (there is Normal, Large and LongPlus).

If you need information on how to talk period with her, there is a section on the Always website called "for mums" (http://www.always-info.co.uk/girls-puberty-for-mums.html)

Sorry I could not be of more help at this point!

Danai

HI Amelia!

Doing sports during your period should not normally affect you. If anything, mild exercise is advised as a way to reduce period pain. Actually, it has been observed that excessive exercise can lead to the opposite, meaning it can even cause your period to stop!

If you are worried about your flow, I would recommend you discuss it with your doctor.

At Always we do not have such a thing as what you describe as a "period panty". If you explain to me why you are looking for one, however, I may be able to help you find another solution!

Hope this helped!

Danai

Hi Kate!

Thank you for your email! As you may appreciate, detailed marketing information about a specific brand is confidential, so I am afraid I cannot share this with you. If you want to get some general data about Procter&Gamble, please visit our corporate website at www.proctergamble.com I also found a link with some general Procter&Gamble marketing information for you: go to  http://ukconsumers.custhelp.com/ and select "Students/teachers" under the "Search by category box".

I am sorry I cannot help you more with your query!

Best of luck with your project!

Danai

HI Janel!

thank you for your email! Yes, single-wrapped pantyliners are still available in the UK. I am sorry it is so hard for you to find them! I will ask our sales team to help you with your enquiry, hope that is ok!

Regards,

Danai

HI Carys!

Thank you for your email! I am really sorry to hear that your thoughts on our new advertising campaign are this negative.

What I would like to try and explain is that actually, we do know that periods can be very uncomfortable, and that is something that definitely does not make any of us happy.

In fact, I talk to a lot of women daily, and I know that some women really dread that time of the month and the emotional rollercoaster of their periods. So, what we are trying to do is to encourage even the women that do suffer during their period to find a way to make them better for them. Personally I find this to be comforting and empowering, and that feeling is shared by other women out there too. But I am sorry this is not the case for you.

I really hope this better explains the intention of our new campaign! But I will certainly share your comments with our Advertising department and agency.

Best regards,

Danai

Hi!

Technically, if you have reached menopause, you can no longer get pregnant as, at this time, the ovaries stop releasing eggs and the menstrual cycle comes to a stop. However the process to arrive to menopause can take years. Hot flushes, or sweats may start years before you actually go through menopause, not to mention changes in your menstrual cycle. So while your cycle may become erratic during the years before menopause, your ovaries will still release eggs, and as a result you can still be fertile and get pregnant. If you are worried you may be pregnant, I would suggest you take a pregnancy test, which will help clear any doubts. You can get more information about pregnancy tests at the Clearblue website: http://www.clearblueeasy.com/

Hope this helped!

Danai 

HI Elise!

Thanks for contacting me! I am really sorry to hear you had such trouble finding Always during your travel! While Always is a global brand, I guess there may be some places where it is harder to find! Unfortunately we do not have a travel pack, but I could propose you do what I do when I travel: I have a small beauty pouch where I pack my pads and pantyliners, to take with me when travelling. It is discreet and easy to use and I can refill it with just the right number of pads I will need.

Hope this solution can help you too!

Danai 

Thanks for contacting the Always Team, we love to hear from you. We appreciate you taking the time to let us know your suggestion regarding the information we give on our web site for our products. I will forward your comment to our maintenance team, and I hope we may be able to address it in teh coming months!

Please feel free to e-mail me again if you need any help or simply want to let us know your views.

We know we might not have the answer to everything, but we'll do whatever we possibly can to help you have a happier period.

With Best wishes,

Danai

"Have a happy period. always"

For further information on periods, products, health and lifestyle, please check out our Always website: http://www.always-info.co.uk

Thanks for contacting the Always Team, we love to hear from you.

We appreciate you taking the time to let us know your opinion(s) regarding our site

Please feel free to e-mail me again if you need any help or simply want to let us know your views.  we know we might not have the answer to everything, but we'll do whatever we possibly can to help you have a happier period.

With Best wishes

Danai

"Have a happy period. always"

For further information on periods, products, health and lifestyle, please check out our Always website

http://www.always-info.co.uk/index.html

Hello and thank you for your email

If your daughter is struggling with normal sized sanitary pads may I suggest she tries Alldays long plus for light flow.

For more information on Alldays you can take a look at www.alldaysinfo.co.uk

'Have a happy period'

Danai

Dear Joyce

Thanks for getting in touch.

I have asked another member of the Always team to help answer your e-mail in the next few days, as they can help with the specific request, better.  I hope this is okay, but don't hesitate to contact me again if you have any more questions.

With Best Wishes

Danai

"Have a Happy Period. Always"

For information on periods, products, health and lifestyles, please check out our Always website at

http://www.always-info.co.uk/index.html

Dear Seona

Thanks for getting in touch.

I have asked another member of the Always team to help answer your e-mail in the next few days, as they can help with the specific request, better.  I hope this is okay, but don't hesitate to contact me again if you have any more questions.

With Best Wishes

Danai

"Have a Happy Period. Always"

For information on periods, products, health and lifestyles, please check out our Always website at

http://www.always-info.co.uk/index.html

Dear Angela

Thanks for getting in touch.

I have asked another member of the Always team to help answer your e-mail in the next few days, as they can help with the specific request, better.  I hope this is okay, but don't hesitate to contact me again if you have any more questions.

With Best Wishes

Danai

"Have a Happy Period. Always"

For information on periods, products, health and lifestyles, please check out our Always website at

http://www.always-info.co.uk/index.html

Hi Kate, Thanks for contacting the Always Team, we love to hear from you.

We appreciate you taking the time to let us know your opinion regarding the packaging on our towels.  Your comments have been passed on as it is always helpful for us to have consumer feedback and suggestions. 

Please feel free to e-mail me again if you need any help or simply want to let us know your views.  we know we might not have the answer to everything, but we'll do whatever we possibly can to help you have a happier period.

With Best wishes

Danai

"Have a happy period. always"

For further information on periods, products, health and lifestyle, please check out our Always website

http://www.always-info.co.uk/index.html

HI Bev!

Thanks for getting in touch.

The Alldays black pantyliners have been discontinued a few years ago unfortunately, so you will not find them in any store! I have stocked up in some product because I love it too, if you want, I can send you a box of mine. Please contact me again to let me know if you want it, and send me your mail information too (I will not publish these).

Hope this helps!

Danai   

Hi Paula,

Thanks for contacting the Always Team, we love to hear from you.

We appreciate your suggestion of different coloured towels and have passed on your comments to the relevent department.

Please feel free to e-mail me again if you need any help or simply want to let us know your views.  we know we might not have the answer to everything, but we'll do whatever we possibly can to help you have a happier period.

With Best wishes

Danai

"Have a happy period. always"

For further information on periods, products, health and lifestyle, please check out our Always website

http://www.always-info.co.uk/index.html

Thanks for contacting the Always Team, we love to hear from you.

Please feel free to e-mail me again if you need any help or simply want to let us know your views.  we know we might not have the answer to everything, but we'll do whatever we possibly can to help you have a happier period.

With Best wishes

Danai

"Have a happy period. always"

For further information on periods, products, health and lifestyle, please check out our Always website

http://www.always-info.co.uk/index.html

Hi There, Thanks for contacting the Always Team, we love to hear from you and appreciate you taking the time to let us know your thoughts.

Please feel free to e-mail me again if you need any help or simply want to let us know your views.  we know we might not have the answer to everything, but we'll do whatever we possibly can to help you have a happier period.

With Best wishes

Danai

"Have a happy period. always"

For further information on periods, products, health and lifestyle, please check out our Always website

http://www.always-info.co.uk/index.html

Thanks for contacting the Always Team, we love to hear from you.

Best wishes

Danai

Thanks for getting in touch. We’re so pleased you like the new campaign and we really appreciate you taking the time to let us know. 

With best wishes, Danai