An American rapper stunned concertgoers by announcing she could “free bleed” onstage as her period arrived – but doctors warn the controversial practice comes with risks.
For generations, periods have been managed behind closed doors with pads, tampons and, more recently, menstrual cups and period underwear, but a practice that deliberately removes some of those barriers has been gaining renewed attention.
Known as “free bleeding,” it generally means menstruating without using products such as pads, tampons or menstrual cups to collect the blood.
Despite its reputation as a modern social media trend, however, the idea itself is hardly new.
Women menstruated without modern sanitary products long before they became widely available, while free bleeding later became associated with feminist activism, particularly during the 1970s as concerns grew around tampon use and toxic shock syndrome.
Today, the reasons women choose to do it vary considerably.
Why some are ditching period products
For some, free bleeding is about challenging the shame and secrecy that can still surround menstruation, while others simply find conventional products uncomfortable.
There can also be a financial incentive.
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.
And while menstrual blood itself isn’t inherently dirty, prolonged moisture can encourage bacterial buildup and create odor, leading doctors to remind women that hygiene still matters.
Is free bleeding safe?
According to Katherine Murad, a physician assistant specializing in gynecology, the practice itself is generally considered safe, but leaving menstrual blood against the skin for extended periods can create problems.
“There’s a mild risk of infection if menstrual blood gets left on your skin for long periods without cleaning,” she told the Cleveland Clinic. “But as long as you’re cleaning yourself appropriately, the risk is minimal.”
Remaining in wet clothing for long periods can also irritate the skin, particularly during a heavier flow, making regularly changing clothes and keeping the area clean and dry important, Murad said.
And, like other bodily fluids, blood can potentially carry bloodborne infections, meaning surfaces exposed to it should be properly cleaned and disinfected.
“Menstrual blood is still blood and, like any blood, can potentially carry blood-borne infections,” said Dr. Susanna Unsworth. “That doesn’t mean menstrual blood itself is dirty or dangerous, and we certainly should not be reinforcing that stigma. However, it is reasonable to avoid exposing other people to another person’s blood.”
Despite any warnings or possibility of discomfort, one performer has taken the conversation somewhere considerably more public: the stage of one of Europe’s biggest music festivals.
‘Free bleeding in Budapest’
American rapper Ashnikko, whose real name is Ashton Nicole Casey, was performing at Sziget Festival in Budapest when she realized her period might be arriving at a particularly inconvenient moment.
Rather than quietly disappearing backstage, the 30-year-old decided to tell 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,” Ashnikko said, according to clips shared on social media. “Send hearts up to me.”
She then turned the possibility into an impromptu chant, singing, “Free bleeding in Budapest!” three times before adding: “That would be so cute.”
Fans at the festival appeared to embrace the moment, but once clips of Ashnikko’s comments made their way online, the reception became considerably more divided.
“Throw her a tampon and some clothes. No one wants to see that. Nothing about this humanoid says talent or decency,” one user shared on X, while another asked, “Why does anyone need to know that?”
Meanwhile, others came to Ashnikko’s defense.
“We were meant to free bleed btw,” one person wrote, while a second added, “Crazy how this is like the cleanest blood and somehow y’all are most disgusted by it.”
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