Woman who admits to free bleeding explains how she does it in public
The controversial Gen Z trend of 'free bleeding' has resurfaced as a hot topic online this week after singer Ashnikko revealed she was doing it during a recent festival performance.
The admission quickly divided the internet, with some praising the artist for challenging taboos around menstruation, while others questioned whether the habit is appropriate in public spaces.
And as the discourse has continued this week, several free-bleeding participants have stepped forward to explain why they do it, including one woman who insists she's secretly been doing it for over three years.
What did Ashnikko do?
During her set at Sziget Festival in Budapest last weekend, the 30-year-old musician told the crowd: "Just so everyone knows, I feel like I'm right about to start my period, so if I'm free bleeding at any point on this stage, respect and love."
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Turning the moment into a lyric, she then sang, 'Free bleeding in Budapest!' three times, telling those watching, 'That would be so cute'.
The reaction to Ashnikko's confession was mixed, however. "Bro, that is just weird," one Instagram user hit out.
"Wear a pad or something. Free bleeding makes everything worse because of the mess. People are insane."
Others, though, rushed to the rapper's defence, insisting: "Free bleeding is perfectly natural. It’s how our bodies are designed and intended to be."
What have other free bleeders said?
As we say, the conversation has since prompted some self-described free bleeders to speak out online about why they choose to ditch tampons, pads and menstrual cups altogether.
For those unfamiliar with the term, free bleeding describes the practice of purposefully abandoning traditional period products during menstruation. In doing so, a person's blood flows naturally into their underwear or clothing.
The reasons behind the practice can vary from comfort to menstrual activism, period poverty to not wanting to cause pollution with disposable products.
One woman recently opened up about her experience in a Reddit thread, revealing she's been free bleeding throughout every period for the last three years and claiming no one has yet noticed.
"I hate the feeling of tampons, cups, and pads," she wrote. "So I don't wear them.
"I have underwear and pants I wear on my cycle as I know I'll bleed in them. I have an IUD, so I don't bleed heavily, and my cycle is usually 3-5 days. Other than that, I'm rocking out normally."
The woman continued: "I've been doing this for 3+ years, and no one has ever noticed. It's not a k*nk, just comfort.
"And honestly, if someone DID see, I don't really care."
How did people respond?
Unsurprisingly, the original poster was asked by several curious commenters how she manages the possibility of stains, to which she replied that she's often able to work around them.
"I do and don't," she replied. "My Mamaw taught me young (I mean 8 - 10, we lived on a farm) that cold water on fresh blood takes the stain out; wash as normal from there, and most clothing will not retain a noticeable stain.
"Like most women, I have 'period underwear', which is comfortable and loose-fitting underwear I wear on my cycle. So they have wear and tear I find normal for this time of the month."
Others, meanwhile, questioned how she navigates public spaces, particularly when it comes to sitting on shared furniture.
"Since you do bleed through your clothing, do you ever use your own seats or cushions or anything like that in public?" they asked. "To prevent any traces of blood getting on the seats?"
The woman explained that she takes extra precautions when she believes it necessary.
"Generally, if I'm not somewhere I regularly go, I'll just stand," she replied. "Example: waiting to pick up food, I would stand instead of sitting on a chair. If I was going to a restaurant or something, I bring a scarf or long cardigan to sit on/cover the seat.
"At my job I have an assigned workspace so only I sit in my office chair."
The renewed conversation has also seen medical experts weigh in on what actually happens when you ditch period products altogether.
What do doctors reckon?
Speaking to Tyla, women's health expert Dr Susanna Unsworth explained that there isn't necessarily a medical benefit to free bleeding, as menstrual blood is the same whether it's absorbed by a pad or tampon or allowed to soak into underwear and clothing.
"From a medical perspective, there is no particular health benefit to free bleeding," she said.
However, that doesn't mean the practice is automatically unsafe.
"Equally, there is generally no significant health risk to the individual from choosing to free-bleed, provided normal personal hygiene is maintained," Dr Unsworth added.
That means the decision can ultimately come down to personal preference - something the Reddit user appears to agree with, having said she finds traditional period products uncomfortable and simply prefers to manage her periods without them.
There are, of course, some practical considerations, particularly when free bleeding in public.
Health guidance stresses the importance of maintaining good hygiene and being mindful of blood coming into contact with shared surfaces, while clothing, towels and anything else used during a period should be kept clean to reduce the risk of infection.
Topics: Health, Periods, Women's Health, Real Life
Rhianna Benson