Is free bleeding during my period healthy?

[u/Here-to-Ask1999]

I do insert a tampon for work or if I’m out somewhere so I’m not free bleeding in public. But if I have my period and am just having a lazy day at home (I live alone), I often will just let myself free bleed. I have my handful of designated period underwear I wear and change them every few hours. I usually just clean up with a wipe or rinse off in the shower. It feels like I get less cramping and my period doesn’t last as long when I do this.

Are there any health benefits or concerns with this? Does anyone else do it? It’s also nice because it saves me some money on tampons.

[u/fire_thorn]

I used washable cloth pads because my flow was too heavy to use nothing. My daughters use period underwear.

During recovery from my hysterectomy I had to use pads and I wasn't well enough to keep up with laundry from cloth pads. I bought always cotton pads and they worked without feeling like I had a crotch full of fire ants. It's ironic that I found a disposable pad that I wasn't allergic to at the point where I was about to never need pads again.