What’s free bleeding and why do people do it?

Let it flow.

Do you remember getting your first period? I certainly do. It was a school lunch break in summer, and I was sitting cross-legged on the grass in my itchy, navy and knee-length (thank god) skirt. I was the last of my friends to get it, and the feeling was certain.

Gingerly, I stood up and asked the group to check the back of my skirt. They shielded me while I shuffled, mortified, to the sick bay for a clean-up operation. From then on, for one week of every month, the cramps, mood swings and general discomfort have been coupled with a constant fear of bleeding – in beds, on seats, through swimwear, jeans and light-coloured skirts.

The answer has always been simple: menstrual products. But tampons are uncomfortable, menstrual cups scare me and pads feel like nappies most of the time. Period underwear works but when I’m slack on washing, another option is necessary. Is free bleeding the answer to my issues?

What’s free bleeding?

Put simply, free bleeding means forgoing all menstrual products during your period and instead, letting the blood flow naturally. It’s important to note access to tampons, pads and other menstrual products is a luxury not everyone is afforded, and some women are forced to free bleed out of financial necessity.

Recently, free bleeding has become a trend on TikTok – but according to Healthline, the movement has been around for centuries. “People in 17th-century England would either free-bleed, use rags to soak up the blood, or fashion makeshift tampons out of things like sponges,” writes Lauren Sharkey.

“Free bleeding in those times, however, may not have been an intentional choice. It’s more likely that little else existed. It isn’t exactly clear when the modern free bleeding movement began, although menstrual activism became prominent in the 1970s.” In 2015, musician and activist Kiran Gandhi made headlines for running the London Marathon – all 26.2 miles of it – while free bleeding on the first day of her period.

So while some opt to free bleed for comfort or financial necessity, it can also be interpreted as a political statement – promoting body neutrality while actively rebelling against the ‘tampon tax’. As Olivia Dreizen Howell describes in The Cut, “Women are judged for so much of what we do, and this is my own little rebellion.”

What are the benefits?

According to Clue, “Free bleeding keeps your usual vaginal fluid and healthy bacteria where they should be  – in your vagina.” Tampons, in particular, are efficient in soaking up period blood as well as vaginal and cervical fluids. “This might change the amount of fluid your vagina produces during the rest of the cycle, but more research is needed.”

Plus, there are no menstrual products to purchase, use and in turn, throw in the bin – better for your bank account and the planet. If you’re a tampon-wearer, free bleeding also reduces your risk of toxic shock syndrome. Anecdotally, people have reported it makes their periods gradually lighter, plus reduces the pain associated with endometriosis when using a tampon or menstrual cup (though there is no research to back this up).

Is it unsanitary?

Should period blood be seen as inherently ‘dirty’? No. But obviously, free bleeding can be messy and it’s important to be considerate of other people if you’re skipping the menstrual products in public. As reported in Healthline, “Period panties and similar items of protective clothing tend to incorporate antimicrobial technology designed to keep germs at bay. But, when exposed to air, menstrual blood can give off an intense smell. It also has the ability to carry bloodborne viruses.”

Chances of transmitting a bloodborne virus are low without through-the-skin contact but in general, it’s easiest to free bleed in a private space. TikTok recommends using a towel while sitting down, and choosing allotted periods of the day (usually at home) to free bleed. Change your undies regularly, always have extra clothing on hand and when in doubt, opt for a pair of period undies to help absorb your flow.

For more on free bleeding, head here.