News + Trends

Menstruating freely: through your period without hygiene products

26.7.2023

Translation: machine translated

Have you ever tried free bleeding? You can practise bleeding in the form of a regular visit to the toilet - without a pad, tampon or cup. Find out how it works and why it might be a good idea here.

"Bleeding love" is not really an appropriate term to describe my relationship with my period. It's usually annoying, painful and accompanied by the annoying handling of hygiene products. I've already told you all the things that can go wrong in a previous article:

Background information
Why I’m still using my menstrual cup despite some bloody mishaps
by Maike Schuldt-Jensen

Nothing new here. What was new to me until recently, however, was the term free menstruation, also known as free bleeding. And because you might feel the same way, I've summarised what it's all about here.

The trend, which has already conquered one or two uteruses, is all about menstruating without the support of hygiene products. Instead, menstruation takes place consciously and actively when going to the toilet. Sounds like a risk, but it seems to be possible with a little training: through trained body awareness.

Free menstruation then and now

The concept of free bleeding has been around for centuries - presumably since people with menstrual cycles have existed. After all, they didn't used to wear underwear under dresses and skirts. There were hardly any proper hygiene products either: alternatives usually consisted of plant-based materials or cloth wipes. The gynaecologist Livius Fürst first mentioned the development of an absorbent sanitary pad in 1894 in his book "The Hygiene of Menstruation". Of course, this was mainly reserved for the wealthy classes. Most people did not have access to such products. Even today, this is still a reality for many menstruating people. In this case, free bleeding is of course not a voluntary decision, but due to so-called period poverty. This means that there is no money for aids or no possibility of obtaining them. It is estimated that this affects over 600 million women and menstruating people worldwide. In addition to solidarity with them, free menstruation is also experiencing a revival for other reasons. Often it is about environmental protection or their own health.

A few reasons why free bleeding makes sense:

You save money by eliminating period purchases
You produce less waste and menstruate in the most sustainable way possible
You prevent dryness, irritation and vaginal flora disorders that can be caused by foreign bodies in the intimate area. This protects you from diseases and discomfort that can have a negative impact on your sex life
You may have no or fewer cramps as the cervix can open better and nothing builds up in the vagina
You avoid unpleasant odours that only develop when (dried) blood comes into contact with hygiene products
You avoid stains on your clothes, underwear or bed sheets
You develop a better, mindful body awareness

Well, if that's not a few good reasons to give free menstruation a try. What might speak against it: the fear of things going wrong. But that's exactly what targeted training is supposed to prevent.

Don't worry, you don't have to throw all your pads, cups and tampons out of the window on sale. Instead, you can take a step-by-step approach to menstruating freely. When starting out, you should use period underwear as support. This will keep you safe and you won't have to panic and run to the loo every three minutes to avoid bloody accidents. Incidentally, my colleague Natalie Hemengül has already tried out how well the period panties from Selenacare work:

Product test
Bloody pants! Washout or winner? My first time using period underwear
by Natalie Hemengül

How it works

Pants on? Then here are a few tips on how free menstruation can work:

Before the loo

Pay attention to your body: The moment when the uterus fills with blood before the cervix opens can be felt by most people. The sensation can be similar to that of a full bladder or can manifest itself in the form of pulling or a soft wet feeling in the vagina. You should therefore listen to yourself regularly and attentively.

In the loo

Once you have positioned yourself on the bowl, concentrate on exerting pressure - similar to a bowel movement, but on the uterus. To do this, push your pelvis backwards, tighten your abdominal muscles and try to widen your pelvic floor. You can also bend your upper body slightly forwards and place your feet slightly higher. The more you squat, the easier it will be to (further) open your cervix and let the blood flow out by gently pushing. Small, rocking movements of the pelvis and light massages on the lower abdomen can also help with this.

After the loo

Don't be too hard on yourself if it didn't work 100 per cent and something goes wrong. That's normal. A little practice makes perfect. Instead of stressing yourself out, give yourself a break if possible. Maybe with a hot water bottle. It's best to set yourself a timer: to start with, you should go to the toilet every half hour. How often you actually need to go is up to you and can be found out quickly through regular testing.

Cover image: Shutterstock

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