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New launch aimed at making first-time disc use more accessible
April 20, 2026
By: Tara Olivo
Associate Editor at Nonwovens Industry
Menstrual disc brand The Flex Co. announced a “Beginners Welcome” campaign and a new six-pack of Flex Discs, aimed at making first-time disc use more accessible and less intimidating. The launch underscores the company’s embrace of the reality that first times are awkward, but shouldn’t be a barrier to better options.
For years, limited education and stigma have contributed to hesitation around trying new period products. Today, however, that dynamic is shifting. Although nearly 25% of Gen Z adults were not taught how to use menstrual products before their first period, they are 63% more likely to openly discuss menstruation than previous generations. This growing openness is reshaping expectations around period care, placing greater emphasis on comfort, transparency and personal agency.
The Flex Co. founder and CEO Lauren Schulte Wang has been leading this shift since starting the company in 2016. “Gen Z is more open and curious than any generation before them, and that’s creating space for more honest conversations about period care,” says Wang. “With ‘Beginners Welcome,’ the goal is to reduce the pressure around trying something new and make that first experience feel more approachable. By bringing our smaller packs at a lower price point to market, we’re making innovative, body-safe period products more accessible for first-time users.”
After struggling with health issues linked to traditional period products, Wang founded The Flex Co. to address a category she saw as outdated and underserved. Her vision was to create more comfortable, effective solutions while fostering more open, honest conversations around menstruation.
To support that shift, the company is introducing a new six-pack single-use format of their best-selling Flex Disc, lowering the barrier to trial and removing the expectation of immediate mastery. Designed by women, for women, Flex Discs are 100% body safe, offer up to 12 hours of leak protection and are designed for a comfortable, barely-there feel. Additionally, Flex Discs are designed to hold as much as 5+ super tampons (60mL) so users only need two per day – reducing waste by 60% compared to traditional products and giving women more freedom.
“At Flex, we see Gen Z’s willingness to learn and natural curiosity as a real opportunity to reframe the period conversation. While trying a disc might feel intimidating at first, we’re working hard to help women feel confident and know that everyone starts somewhere,” Wang continues.
According to Flex users, 97% said they couldn’t feel the disc while wearing it, 64% reported fewer cramps and 80% experienced less dryness and irritation compared to their previous period product. The new six-pack is available starting today in more than 7500 stores nationwide at Target, Walmart and Walgreens and HEB, with prices starting at $9.97.
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