Free bleeding is exactly what it sounds like; it means forgoing any type of blood collecting product during your period. You may have heard of this trend as its popularity has recently grown; here’s what you need to know.
What is Free Bleeding and Why are Women Doing It?
Pads, tampons, cups, and even “period underwear” all go out the window when a woman decides to free bleed. This causes many questions among women who do use menstrual products. Where does the blood go? Why do women choose to free bleed? Should I give it a try?
Some women choose to free bleed in honor of girls around the world who don’t have access to period products; many of these girls miss school when they are on their period. Some women, like Kiran Gandhi, bring awareness to this issue by running marathons, period blood freely running down their legs and soaking their shorts.
Some women choose to free bleed in an effort to normalize the fact that women, indeed, do bleed every month, and that there is nothing to be ashamed about. Periods are often thought to be something to hide; many girls would be horrified if they leaked on their way to class in high school.
There is also the environmental impact that must be considered. Pads and tampons create an enormous amount of waste in our landfills. This issue has led some women to use a reusable cup or to simply let the blood flow freely.
For others, using period products is uncomfortable; their choice to forgo the use of these products is to reduce the pain and discomfort that their period brings.
It’s a different world we live in now. The shame that is associated with menstruation is slowly diminishing thanks to women who are willing to take a stand. Kiran kickstarted the conversation, and it continues to impact women across the globe. Whether it’s for environmental or social reasons, more women each day are making the choice to free bleed.
Free Bleeding Health Benefits
Tampons are known to cause Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). By choosing not to use menstrual products, the incidence of toxic shock syndrome decreases.
While many women find bleeding freely is more comfortable than inserting a tampon or wearing a pad, there are no proven health benefits to this style of menstruation.
Should You Free Bleed On Your Next Period
While there is quite a lot of controversy about whether or not women should allow period blood to flow freely in public, there is nothing preventing them from doing so. Many women prefer to use period products; the choice is entirely personal.
If you decide that you would like to free bleed, you can start at home or swap out your traditional period products for special underwear. You can free bleed at night while you are sleeping for a tampon-free rest.
Once you are more comfortable with bleeding freely, you can do it all the time if you want. The choice is entirely yours, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
As you already know, periods are messy. While they are certainly nothing to be ashamed of, bleeding freely will require a lot of clean up. You may not be able to free bleed at work unless you use the special underwear.
No matter how you decide to handle your period, whether you stick to pads, use period panties, or completely forgo all products, it’s always your decision
