What Is Free Bleeding?

The menstrual freedom and liberation movement, and free bleeding challenges these harmful perceptions and advocates for more open conversation about menstruation.

TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains depictions of sexual and physical assault. Please continue reading with your well-being in mind. 

What does period poverty actually look like? In order to describe it, we thought about all of the stories that have been shared with our team over the past decades, and came up with a composite profile of a post-secondary student we are calling Sloan (she/they). Before we get into a day in their life, let’s review the basics about period poverty and sustainable menstrual equity.

One of my favourite things to tell anyone who is just beginning their menstrual cycle healing journey is that your period doesn’t have to be the worst time of the month. I know that sounds wild. You might be saying to yourself, “My period sucks! It’s soooo painful!

‘Moon Time’ is a common expression among Indigenous Peoples for menstruation, and indicates the relationship between the lunar cycle (28 days) and the human menstrual cycle. The purpose of the zine is for Indigenous young people to learn about and be proud of their moon times, as well as to learn Indigenous terms related to the menstrual cycle.

Access to free birth control allows for greater control and choice over family planning decisions, as a matter of human rights. Given the non-negotiable role that menstrual management also plays as part of the human fertility cycle, many of us are eager to see whether British Columbia’s move is a harbinger for the inclusion of menstrual products as part of a similar plan.

I started cycle syncing after years of struggling with endometriosis and PMDD. Week after week, month and after month I found myself struggling with severe symptoms such as pain, anxiety, fatigue, mood swings, brain fog and more. All while constantly feeling frustrated and angry at my body. I felt like I was at war with my own vessel and spent a lot of time hating and resenting my body for not functioning better. 

Plastics have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, from everyday items like takeout containers to shampoo/soap bottles to regularly used essentials like period products. As responsible inhabitants of this planet, it is crucial for us to comprehend the profound impact of plastics on our environment. 

New changes to the Canadian Labour Code mandate that federally-regulated workplaces must provide menstrual products to their workers. To support employers as they navigate these new regulations, Aisle has published a whitepaper titled “Menstrual Equity in the Workplace: a roadmap to success and sustainability”.

In February, we were able to ship 200 pairs of our period boxers directly to people who needed them across North America and Europe, helping transgender people who might not have access to our products otherwise feel supported.

Learning to live with PMDD has been one of the most difficult but also one of the most empowering experiences of my life. I have found by taking a multi-pronged approach to manage my symptoms I have been able to live a happier, healthier life. Here are three changes I made.

Most approaches to period poverty understandably focus on short-term, urgent needs, for example students in schools, or employees in workplaces. But the bigger-picture solution is not just having more pads and tampons in more bathrooms.