Photography by Natalie Rose Dodd. Art direction by Marta Pucci.
What is free bleeding? Why the movement matters
Breaking down period stigmas
Top things to know about free bleeding:
The free bleeding movement is a menstrual activist movement recently repopularized by TikTok
Female athletes have historically used free bleeding to successfully advocate for the removal of tampon taxes and to fight period poverty
Free bleeding with period underwear is cheaper because you do not need to keep buying period products
What is free bleeding?
Free bleeding is intentionally menstruating without blocking or collecting the period flow with period products. It is a form of menstrual activism that destigmatizes periods by drawing attention to periods. Instead of hiding periods with menstrual products, people who free bleed purposely bleed into their environment (1).
Period stigma can manifest in feelings of shame around menstruation, hiding period products, or skipping school. Free bleeding aims to make periods visible, refusing to hide away a natural experience. Free bleeding has also been used to challenge period shame and taboos and to protest the high prices of, and taxes on, period products (2).
When you hear about free bleeding, you might think, “What about all that laundry and blood stains?” But there are lots of ways to free bleed. Some people practice free bleeding by sitting on a towel to help with absorbance on heavier days, while others just bleed into their leggings. Using period underwear is also considered free bleeding because you’re still bleeding into your environment.
Although panty liners and pads allow you to bleed freely into your environment, period underwear is the only period product that qualifies as free bleeding. The free bleeding movement pushes back on using disposable period products, like tampons, because of concerns about the amount of period products that end up in landfills (3).
But where did the free bleeding movement come from? Let’s start from the beginning.
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Why people practice free bleeding: A short history of the contemporary free bleeding movement
2012: Period stain portraits spark debate
VICE published a photo series by Emma Arvida Bystrom called “There Will Be Blood,” in 2012, featuring portraits of people with period stains on their clothing. There was no accompanying text, but the images sparked a big debate, including a 2012 Feministing community post on free bleeding.
2015: Kiran Gandhi free bleeds at the London Marathon, raising awareness about period poverty
In 2015, drummer Kiran Gandhi decided to run the London Marathon without using a tampon or pad. Photos of her bloodstained leggings went viral, and her run was covered in the Independent:
“A marathon in itself is a centuries-old symbolic act. Why not use it as a means to draw light to my sisters who don’t have access to tampons and, despite cramping and pain, hide it away like it doesn’t exist?” —Kiran Gandhi, Musician
Women and people with periods in the U.S.A. alone throw away about seven pounds of period products in landfills every year, and Kiran Gandhi used her high profile to draw attention to those environmental concerns. She was also quick to point out that one of the reasons for the lack of sustainable menstrual products is because of period stigma.
2015: Free bleeding activists protest tampon tax
Menstrual products are still taxed in two-thirds of countries in the Americas (3), which discriminates against all people who have periods. People with low incomes and people with disabilities are further affected by expensive products with an additional tax on top, often experiencing what is known as period poverty (2).
In 2015, after the British government declined to repeal a “luxury tax” on menstrual health items, two feminist activists responded with blood. Charlie Edge organized a protest outside Parliament. She and fellow protester Ruth Howarth publicly bled through their white pants to show what it looks like when tampons and pads are out of reach.
2015: Rupi Kaur calls out social media censorship
That same year, artist and poet Rupi Kaur wrote about how Instagram “accidentally” removed her period-themed photos, twice.
2016: Nadya Okamoto draws attention to period poverty
Nadya Okamoto, a free bleeding activist, addresses period poverty by distributing sanitary products around the world to those in need. Through conversation and activism, she hopes to shed light on the taboo conversations surrounding menstruation and period products. Her company, Camions of Care, promotes the menstrual movement worldwide by breaking down the period stigma and making products more accessible to those who need them.
2017: Periods are not just for women
In 2017, transgender artist, educator, and period activist Cass Clemmer posted a photo showing a period stain on their pants with the hashtag #bleedingwhiletrans — to highlight that periods don’t only happen to women. Cass has also created a coloring book to illustrate that people of all genders get periods.
2024: The rise of free bleeding on TikTok
The free bleeding movement has had a renaissance on TikTok, where the same sentiments about menstruation and the taboos surrounding it are echoing around the world. Users are tired of seeing their periods as a nuisance or an inconvenience to others and are starting to push back on the classic marketing campaigns of pad and tampon companies. Instead of hiding during their periods or using discreet period products, people are accepting their period blood stains. They’re using it as a chance to remind others that it’s just a regular part of many people’s lives.
Why do people free bleed?
There are lots of reasons why people choose to free bleed. Some people free bleed as a political act, to destigmatize periods, or bring attention to the cost of period products. Some people free bleed as a personal choice.
While there are no proven health benefits linked to it, some free bleeders may feel more in tune with their bodies. Many have anecdotally reported their blood flow and cramps improving through free bleeding.
Free bleeding may be environmentally friendly because less waste ends up in the landfill. Buying period panties or free bleeding is also cheaper. The environmental impact of reusable period products is a key reason some people choose period panties (5).
How to free bleed
Consider Period Underwear or a towel
Period underwear is the easiest and least messy way to free bleed. Period panties look and feel like typical underwear so you can feel comfortable and fresh. They also may be less irritating than traditional period products with fragrances and other unnatural ingredients.
If you decide to free bleed without period pants, you can sit on a towel to avoid staining any furniture at home. If you want to go out in public, you can wear dark leggings to minimize the visibility of stains if you do not want other people to see the stains. Some people also wait to leave the house until their period is lighter for comfort reasons. Consider packing extra clothing, underwear, and period panties to change into. You can also pack an additional bag to keep any soiled clothes or period pants in.
Free bleeding and period underwear recommendations
Period underwear comes in different colors and looks just like any other pair of underwear you may have. Companies usually make different styles, such as thongs, boyshorts, or bikini cuts. You can check out our recommended period underwear brands and discover our reviews here: Rael, Modi Bodi, and Wuka are some of the top brands Clue’s Science team reviewed. We had people with different period flows and preferences test them and tell us what they thought.
Is free bleeding safe?
Yes, free bleeding is safe. You are not putting yourself at risk of any health conditions by free bleeding, so if you prefer to bleed openly, go for it. Make sure that your period products and towels are kept clean, to reduce the risk of infection (6). Be aware that blood-borne diseases, like HIV and hepatitis, can be transmitted via menstrual blood (7, 8).
How Clue can help you free bleed
At Clue, we believe in menstruation activism to normalize and destigmatize various issues. Our app helps you free bleed by tracking the heaviness of your period, so you can plan for when free bleeding might work for you. With Clue, we’ve got you covered.
FAQs
What does free bleeding feel like?
Some people describe it as natural or freeing. It may be less noticeable than using traditional menstrual products. People who free bleed say that pads tend to bunch up and tampons can feel uncomfortable, whereas free bleeding feels like having your period is just another day.
Does free bleeding make your period end faster?
There is no scientific research that links free bleeding to shorter menstruation. Some people may anecdotally report a shorter period, but this may be because they aren’t using traditional products, so they aren’t keeping track of their product use as closely.
Is free bleeding dangerous?
Free bleeding is not dangerous, but menstrual blood and other bodily fluids can transmit diseases (9). To avoid transmitting diseases, free bleeding should be done with the proper sanitary precautions to promote a safe environment for those around you.
Can you free bleed in bed?
Yes, you can free bleed in bed. You can use a towel or period panties if you need something absorbent to reduce staining. Some companies make period-proof panties that are specifically designed for use at night.
Is free bleeding messy?
Free bleeding doesn’t have to be messy. If you’re worried about staining your clothes or furniture, try period underwear. They come in different levels of absorbency, so you can feel comfortable from your lightest to your heaviest flow days. You can throw them right in the washer and dryer, so clean up is easy.
Article was originally published on Oct. 20, 2017
