As the world's most downloaded women's health application and a newly minted unicorn with over $200 million in funding, Flo Health is leveraging its market position to address a critical global health challenge: the widespread lack of menstrual health knowledge among women in low and middle-income countries.
Through its Pass It On Project, Flo Health has provided free premium access to Android users across 66 countries, reaching women who have traditionally been excluded from comprehensive reproductive health education. This initiative represents a significant departure from typical corporate social responsibility programs, offering the company's premium features—typically available only to paying subscribers—at no cost to users in regions where access to accurate health information is most limited.
Addressing a Global Health Crisis
The scope of the challenge Flo Health is tackling became clear through recent research published in BMJ Public Health. The study, involving 6,165 participants across 52 countries, revealed that adult women correctly answered only one-third of basic menstrual health questions on average. This knowledge gap affects over two billion people who menstruate worldwide, many of whom lack the resources and accurate information required to manage their menstrual health safely and with dignity.
The research documented stark disparities in knowledge levels. Women younger than 25, those without higher education, and participants from Southeast Asia demonstrated the lowest baseline knowledge scores. These findings underscore how traditional sources of menstrual health information—primarily relatives and caregivers—often fail to provide comprehensive, evidence-based education.
Market Leadership Enabling Social Impact
Flo Health's position as a market leader has enabled the company to make a meaningful intervention at scale. The app's core functionality centers on menstrual and ovulation tracking, enabling users to input daily data related to menstrual bleeding, symptoms, and mood. Based on this data, the app generates personalized predictions for menstrual and ovulation dates, helping users monitor their cycles and increase self-awareness about their reproductive health.
The premium version, which Flo Health has made freely available through the Pass It On Project, provides access to a comprehensive library of evidence-based educational content. This content covers menstruation and fertility, pregnancy and postpartum care, sexual health, mental health, and self-care. All educational material is co-created by doctors and health scientists, drawing on peer-reviewed sources and guidelines from internationally recognized health organizations.
Measurable Global Impact
The effectiveness of Flo Health's approach has been validated through rigorous research. The BMJ Public Health study found that women who accessed Flo's premium educational content for three or more months demonstrated an 18.7% improvement in menstrual health knowledge. Beyond knowledge gains, participants showed increased menstrual health awareness (9.0%), improved quality of life scores, and a reduction in menstrual stigma.
The study employed sophisticated mediation analysis, revealing that between 23% and 66% of observed improvements in various health outcomes could be attributed directly to enhanced menstrual health knowledge. This finding establishes a clear causal relationship between education and improved health and well-being.
Scaling Digital Health Solutions
Flo Health's initiative demonstrates how market-leading technology companies can leverage their platforms for social good. Period-tracking apps rank among the most downloaded women's health applications worldwide and hold growing user bases in low and middle-income countries. Mobile phone use continues to rise across many of these regions, providing even remote communities with potential access to digital health tools.
The Pass It On Project represents a scalable model for addressing global health disparities. By providing evidence-based health education through mobile applications, companies like Flo Health can effectively reach populations that traditional healthcare systems often fail to serve. This approach is particularly relevant for menstrual health, where stigma and misinformation remain significant barriers to proper care and management.
The company's commitment to building community connections alongside education ensures that users have access to both information and peer support networks, further enhancing the impact of their digital health intervention.
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