Miki Agrawal is passionate about periods.?In fact, shes the co-founder of THINX -- a company, which among other things, develops underwear that absorbs menstrual blood without the additional use of tampons, pads or a cup.?So, when Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui made headlines for discussing her time of the month at the Rio Olympics, we knew she would be the best person to dissect the culture-shifting moment.Here, the former semi-pro soccer player and serial entrepreneur discusses playing sports while on your period, disrupting the feminine hygiene market and removing the social stigma that surrounds menstruation. This interview has been edited for length.espnW: Bronze medalist Fu Yuanhui made headlines for telling the world she was on her period during the Olympic games. What were your initial thoughts and reactions?Miki Agrawal: It was amazing. Her candor liberated so many women. In particular, those in Asian countries [where its often] taboo to talk about periods. The fact that she was so open and without shame was empowering and absolutely worth being a headline.espnW: As a former semi-professional athlete, has your period ever impacted your performance? Agrawal: In my past life, I was a [competitive soccer player for the New York Magic], and all three of my ACL tears happened during menstruation. Your ligaments are far more brittle and malleable when youre on your period. However, there isnt much research on the connection between that time of the month and the common injury. But there should be. So, yes, my period has definitely impacted my performance.espnW: What inspired you to create THINX? Agrawal: I was frustrated with the offerings in the marketplace. Think about how many pairs of underwear youve ruined while on your period? And what about your sheets, clothes and everything else? [Women] are spending all this time cleaning up, or putting sweaters around our waists. Weve had the same options for the for the last 50-plus years. The tampon was invented in 1931 by [Dr. Earle Haas], a man. The last real innovation was adding a strip underneath the pad to stop it from moving around, which [Stayfree] created in 1969. Now, the menstrual cup is here, but it hasnt been popularized globally. My overall goal and purpose is to make the experience of getting your period easier.espnW: How does your patented underwear work? Agrawal: It took three to four years to develop this product. This is the first real [menstruation] product for the mass market developed by women and for women. My partners and I wanted the consumer to feel like they were wearing regular underwear; not anything bulky and uncomfortable. When you bleed into [the underwear], its innermost layer wicks away moisture. So, youre not sitting in a pool of blood, but rather a regular pair of panties that remain dry. They are also antimicrobial and breathable. The whole system of layers really works like magic, but they look like regular underwear and are able to absorb about two tampons worth of blood.espnW: Youve also created a sports variation, which specifically caters to active women. What are the key differences with this design?Agrawal: They dont feature lace trim, and have comfort-fit leg with a cotton interior. When youre exercising, your body needs more room to breathe, and we understand that. Now, women can keep their heads in the game.espnW: Please discuss The Week, your micro-documentary that hopes to remove the stigma from menstruation. Howd you get notable women like Joy Bryant, Jackie Tohn, Sophia Bush and others to discuss their periods in such a public manner? Agrawal: They are all very vocal feminists. If you enter a conversation with confidence, it basically gives others permission to do the same. If Im coming to talk about that time of the month and Im embarrassed about, then youll react that way. If I speak to you in a confident manner, then youll be confident as well. It has really helped women discuss menstruation publicly.espnW: THINX has a donation for purchase (one-to-one) partnership with AFRIpads. Please discuss the program.Agrawal: I travel often, and Ive seen first-hand what women in developing countries go through while on their periods. Could you imagine bleeding on to your bed -- in a hut, with no feminine hygiene products around, and often times very little underwear? I cant.So, I scoured planet earth to find the right partners and hopefully make a difference. Luckily, we found AFRIpads, which is based in Uganda, and they make washable and reusable cloth pads at a reasonable price. The product costs between $2 and $5 dollars for the whole year, and come in three or five pad kits. [The pads] dry quickly in the sun, are affordable, and help develop the local economy. Weve helped AFRIpads grow from 25 to 175 employees. Its been amazing thing to witness. 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"I like the way the lineup is swinging the bat really. Theyre good at-bats, quality at-bats," Johnson said. "Thats what Ive been looking for. It takes the pressure off everybody in the lineup. They feel like they can stay within themselves and not try to do too much." Ramos has driven in eight runs in two games since coming off the disabled list on Thursday. "He kind of got us going early today and hes been a big impact so far these last two games," Span said of Ramos. One hitter not thriving is Bryce Harper. The left fielder went 0 for 4 with a sacrifice fly Friday night and is 1 for 19 since his return. Johnson said hell probably give Harper a couple of days off this weekend. "He expects a lot of himself and I think coming back from that long layoff hes just not as relaxed as he likes," Johnson said. "Hes probably not at 100 per cent physically either. Its a good time (to rest him) before we go on the road trip." Chase Headley homered, doubled and drove in two runs, and Carlos Quentin had a three-run homer for the Padres, whove lost seven straight, but scored more than two runs for the first time in that stretch. Gonzalez (6-3) went 6 2-3 innings, allowing three runs and eight hits while striking out five and walking one. He allowed a first-inning run and pitched out of a jam in the second when he struck out three straight with runners on second and third. "It was just one of those days you have to battle through, but defence came through and offence was as wonderful as it gets," Gonzalez said. "They were up there getting runs and producing them and my job was just trying to keep them in the game as much as possible." He went through a six-game stretch during which the Nationals scored two runs or fewer, but is now getting good run support. Washington has scored 25 runs in his past three starts. Gonzalez left with an 8-2 lead and a runner on first with two outs in the seventh. Chris Denorfia (3 for 4) singled off reliever Craig Stammen and Carloss Quentin hit Stammens first pitch into the seats beyond the visitors bullpen to make it 8-5.dddddddddddd Tyler Clippard pitched the eighth and Rafael Soriano the ninth for his 23rd save. Padres starter Andrew Cashner (5-4) had his worst outing of this season, lasting just two innings while giving up six runs and five hits. He had three walks and no strikeouts. The Nationals trailed 1-0 when Ryan Zimmerman singled to lead off the second inning. With one out and a 3-2 count, Werth fouled off four pitches before singling to left. Werth is 6 for 7 in two games hitting in the No. 6 spot in the lineup with Ian Desmond moving to the second spot. "I think he likes that," Johnson said when asked if Werth likes having an inning to watch the opposing pitcher. "I think he also likes the fact that at five or six, youre generally going to have a lot of guys on and hes more aggressive when hes in that spot. And I like that about him." After Anthony Rendon walked to load the bases, Ramos grounded a single to left, scoring Zimmerman and Werth. Gonzalez was hit by a pitch and Span doubled down the right-field line scoring two more runs. "The inning just snowballed on (Cashner). Just didnt make many good pitches," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Tonight every good pitch that he did throw, they fought it off or took it. Every borderline pitch they took for ball. They had some really good at bats." Harper drove in the fifth run with a sacrifice fly. "We have a deep lineup and it definitely puts pressure on opposing pitchers," Span said of the big inning. "We should be able to do that. It was definitely fun. I love getting up five or six times a game." Headley homered in the third to make it 5-2. Ramos singled home LaRoche in the bottom of the third. In the fourth, Ian Desmond scored on a LaRoche single and Zimmerman scored on a Werth groundout to make it 8-2. The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the first when Denorfia doubled and scored on a two-out double by Headley. NOTES: Headley is hitting .377 for his career at Nationals Park. ... The Padres activated Cabrera (strained left hamstring) from the 15-day DL Friday. He started and went 0 for 5. To make room for him, the Padres optioned RHP Burch Smith to Triple A Tucson. ... Washington RHP Ryan Mattheus (broken right hand) threw from the mound for the first time since going on the DL May 22. ... Padres RHP Jason Marquis (9-4, 3.74) opposes Jordan Zimmermann (12-3, 2.46) Saturday. ' ' '