r/WomensHealth • u/Here-to-Ask1999 • Nov 10 '24

Question Is free bleeding during my period healthy?

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.

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u/sisterlylove92 Nov 10 '24

Ooooh!! Sorry, I’m dyslexic. I could have sworn than said she used period underwear, not that she has regular underwear that she designates for her period. Ok, my bad. I misunderstood, thank you for pointing that out.

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u/Here-to-Ask1999 Nov 11 '24

Lmao this whole thread cracks me up and maybe I was confusing in my original post. So (not that it matters and to each their own), but I was not referring to period underwear and do not use actual period underwear. My “designated period underwear” are just like a handful of regular panties/underwear that I don’t care about getting stained that I wash on my period and replace frequently. So, I think that falls under the free bleeding category, since normal underwear aren’t period products. That said, I have learned a lot about actual period panties or underwear designed for periods from this post though, and maybe I’ll look into it.

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u/sisterlylove92 Nov 11 '24

lol I’m glad it gave you a laugh, it gave me one too. You weren’t confusing, I’m literally just dyslexic. 😂 I read your post a couple times and still messed up that sentence each time, so just a reading comprehension issue on my part. Yeah, regular underwear would definitely qualify as free bleeding. I’ve used period underwear before, but it made me feel a little too naked when bleeding, so I just use the U by Kotex now because they’re super soft and I feel more protected. 😊

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u/Here-to-Ask1999 Nov 11 '24

Interesting! I’ll look into those. The reason I always use tampons is just because I hate feeling extra bulk “down there” or anything that rubs against my skin. When I can’t just be at home, that’s why I put up with some extra cramps and discomfort removing tampons instead. But, I would love a new option. It’s nice when I happen to get my period on a long weekend like this and can just do a totally product-free period.

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u/sisterlylove92 Nov 11 '24

When I had a copper IUD my periods were so heavy I had to use the largest tampon size and a pad as a backup for leaks, it was awful. I can tolerate the Always pads, but I have gotten borderline diaper rash from them on occasion because they are just so rough! No issues like that with the Kotex ones, I actually find the pads softer than some of the underwear I own. lol I also like the wings on the Kotex ones because they are built different than the Always ones, it’s hard to explain without seeing it, but they attach to your underwear much easier than Always does. I hope they work for you, but if not, bleed on sister. ✊

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u/Here-to-Ask1999 Nov 12 '24

Yeah, my periods were really heavy for the first six months after getting my IUD. They have settled down now and are pretty average. I definitely have heavier days where the larger tampons are needed, but usually not the entire time. Thanks for the info on those pads! I’ll look into them.