In the latest trend, women of Generation Z do without pads and tampons and rely on “free bleeding”.
Who needs tampons and pads?
Your knee-jerk reaction might be to say that people who menstruate, but actually Gen Z girls embrace a world without toiletries.
The trend is called “Free Bleeding”, which means that you don’t wear anything during menstruation to absorb the blood.
To put it more bluntly, it’s about not using anything to block your flow.
The trend has become a popular topic of conversation, with young women sharing their experiences on the social media platform TikTok.
Many rave about the nature experience, which they find liberating and, yes, a little chaotic.
Creator Charlee stated that she had started bleeding And while she said she knew it was a “crazy” decision, she added that it was “healthy” and it saved her money.
It didn’t go down well with everyone.
“So you’re just staining all your clothes,” someone asked.
This comment was immediately ignored.
Creator Annette spoke about her free bleeding process and said that she doesn’t leave the house during her period because she wants to honor her body.
“I stay home when I have my period. I’m staying home and bleeding,” she said on TikTok.
She added that if she had to go out she would wear period underwear, but when she stays at home she walks around the house with a towel.
She said the free bleed just “hit differently” and claimed the experience made the period “orgasmic.”
In the meantime, Popular creator Nayda Okamoto cheekily posted a video of her dancing in a bikini, saying she was “reluctant” to bleed freely in a bikini.
“Thank god it’s a dark color,” she added.
See? It’s one thing.
In fact, online women are claiming that free bleeding even changed their cycle.
TikTok creator Hannah went viral when she claimed her periods were “weaker than ever” after “transitioning” to free bleeding.
The post sparked a lengthy discussion in which women said they had noticed their cycles improved after adopting the free bleeding method.
“Same thing,” someone commented.
Another said she only bled for “two days” from a five-day heavy period because she didn’t use tampons.
Another free bleeder described the experience as “life-changing,” saying she now only “bleeded for a day” and then only had light spotting throughout her cycle.
dr Amy Carmichael said that while it was “intriguing” to hear that some people had reported feeling their periods lighter by practicing free bleeding, there was still not enough evidence to back up the claims.
“Currently there is no scientific research to support the claim that free bleeding leads to shorter periods,” she said.
However, she adds that sometimes tampons are known to cause extra pain when you have your period.
“It’s important to realize that using internal menstrual products like tampons can potentially lead to menstrual cramps because they are foreign objects in the body,” she advised.
While there’s no research to confirm that free bleeding has any additional benefit, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea.
dr Carmichael emphasized that free bleeding is not “unhealthy” and simply comes down to people’s “personal preferences.”
“It’s important to respect individual choices about menstrual hygiene practices,” she said.
dr Carmichael also said the free bleed trend is a positive thing because it helps “destigmatize periods.”
It is crucial to encourage open discussions about menstrual flow in the workplace and in the family, and foster a culture of self-care during menstruation.
“This perspective is supported by scientific evidence showing that hormonal changes during menstruation can increase certain sensitivities. By fostering an environment that respects and supports women during this time, we are helping to reduce the stigma surrounding menstruation.”
