Health experts are sounding the alarm as more Gen Zers go with the flow and embrace the once-taboo trend of free bleeding, a practice that may come with hidden risks.
Free bleeding is the latest boundary-pushing trend where menstruating women ditch pads and tampons altogether – all in the name of comfort and liberation.
While it might sound like a radical Gen Z invention, it’s anything but new. In fact, this practice is as old as menstruation itself. It saw a powerful feminist surge in the 1970s, when activists rejected tampons over concerns about toxic shock syndrome (TSS). But now, in the age of TikTok trends and Reddit threads, free bleeding is making a loud, messy, and controversial comeback.
Why women free bleed
Katherine Murad, a gynecology physician assistant, tells the Cleveland Clinic that there are several reasons women are embracing free bleeding.
- Financial relief: According to the Consumer Healthcare Products (CHP), women in the U.S. “spend a collective $3 billion per year on menstrual products.” Skipping tampons and pads saves money, and it’s part of a broader protest against the so-called “pink tax” – unfair pricing on women’s products.
- Environmental concerns: Many view free bleeding as a sustainable alternative to disposable pads and tampons that end up in landfills.
- Body empowerment: Supporters say free bleeding helps normalize periods and remove shame.
- Physical comfort: For some, pads cause skin irritation or dermatitis, while tampons can lead to vaginal dryness.
- Accessibility: Inserting tampons, positioning menstrual cups, and even opening pad wrappers can require flexibility and physical effort – all while necessitating regular changes throughout the day.
Medically speaking, free bleeding is generally safe – as long as you’re practicing proper hygiene.
Risks of free bleeding
“There’s a mild risk of infection if menstrual blood gets left on your skin for long periods without cleaning,” Dr. Murad explains. “But as long as you’re cleaning yourself appropriately, the risk is minimal.”
Still, free bleeding isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Here are the most common concerns experts highlight:
- Odor and hygiene: Menstrual blood isn’t inherently dirty, but prolonged moisture in the genital area can lead to bacterial buildup – which may cause unpleasant (though treatable) odor.
- Bloodborne illness: Like any bodily fluid, menstrual blood can carry infectious diseases. While free bleeding itself isn’t considered high-risk, experts recommend disinfecting any hard surfaces with bleach if spills occur.
- Skin irritation: Sitting in wet clothes too long, especially with heavy flow, can cause irritation or rashes – breathable fabrics and regular changes help prevent this.
- Increased laundry: Free bleeding means you’ll likely go through more clothing – especially if you’re not using absorbent period underwear. Staying clean and dry can be challenging if you don’t have the time to stay on top of extra laundry.
- Cleaning and stain removal: Without absorbent garments, you may need to spot-treat stains more often. While period-stained clothing can be washed with regular laundry, cold water pre-treatment is crucial for lifting blood effectively.
- Mental load: Constantly thinking about where you’re sitting, how much you’re bleeding, and whether others will notice can lead to stress – the exact opposite of the liberation that free bleeders often seek.
‘Magical gift’
Still, plenty of Gen Z advocates swear by free bleeding, calling it the ultimate way to reclaim comfort and control during their period.
“I love free bleeding. I prioritize staying home when I bleed I use a towel to move and sit on all day so I don’t stain anything,” shared one netizen on Reddit.
“Free bleeding at the beach, embracing my body’s natural rhythms and connection to nature. It’s liberating to shed societal expectations and tap into my own power. Free bleeding is more than just a choice; it’s a statement of self-love and acceptance,” shares a second netizen in a Facebook post.
Meanwhile, in a viral TikTok post that was mocked by several of the 14.1 million users who viewed the clip, Ellie Stiles says she’s “free bleeding in the grass.”
Reminding her followers “that blood is not an inconvenience…it’s actually one of the most magical gifts in the world,” the user stressed that “You get to die every month and be reborn through your blood.”
‘Plain stupid’
But many women refuse to buy into free bleeding, suggesting that it’s “unhygienic” and “gross.”
One Redditor asks, “Why would I stain my clothes (and potentially sheets and furniture) and then spend time to clean and scrub them with anti-blood stain product that will eventually damage my clothes when we live in a modern era with plenty of menstrual product made to catch blood?”
“Gross! The cost of damaging your furniture, sheets, clothing, car seats for free bleeding is not worth it! It is plain stupid,” writes a second.
A third, who calls herself a “feminist” and a “hippie,” explains that she “just can’t see how anyone would feel liberated doing this.” “I cannot think of a single valid reason. I can just think of other ways to feel feminine and spiritual without my entire lower half being sticky lol. It’s also worth noting that I’m a hippie lol I still just don’t really understand,” the netizen writes.
While it may be empowering for some, it’s impractical or even unhygienic for others. And as always, what works for one person doesn’t work for everyone.
Do you think free bleeding is gross or go for it? Please let us know your thoughts and then share this story with others so we can also hear from them!
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