“IYKYK” Workshops 2025–2026 School Year — Survey Results Summary

Girls Helping Girls Period (GHGP) ran two-part “IYKYK” workshops at eight schools this year, teaching fifth- and sixth-grade students about periods and period care. Before and after the workshops, students filled out surveys about their knowledge, confidence, and habits. In total, 423 surveys were collected (215 before, 208 after).

The Headline Numbers

• • • 98% of students said the workshops were helpful to them.
    • 85% said the workshops made them feel more confident managing their period.
    • 75% now carry an “emergency period kit,” up from 47% before the workshops.
    • 86% know how to use pads on their own, up from 55% before — the biggest jump of any question asked.
    • 51% now say they know “a lot” or “everything” about periods, up from 21% before.

Feeling Less Scared

Before the workshops, 70% of students said they felt scared or nervous about their period. Afterward, that dropped to 58%. Interestingly, the surveys showed that students who felt confident using pads were consistently less likely to report fear — both before and after the workshops. This suggests that practical skills, like knowing how to use a pad, may be an important piece of easing anxiety about periods. (The data can’t prove this causes less fear, but the pattern is strong and consistent.)

 Who Do Girls Talk To?

 Before the workshops, students were much more likely to talk openly about periods with a parent or guardian than with friends — roughly two-and-a-half times as likely. This gap held steady even at the conclusion of the program, suggesting that trusted adults remain a key channel for reaching girls who aren’t yet comfortable discussing periods with peers.

What Students Found Most Helpful

When asked which workshop activities helped them most, students most often pointed to:

1. Making an emergency period kit (73%)
2. Learning to track their period (70%)
3. Learning what a period is (66%)

Report prepared by Heather Kugelmass, Ph.D.