Free Bleeding: Why It Is So Powerful

Which period product did you choose the last time you had your period? A tampon, pad, or maybe a cup? And why that choice? Convenience? Habit? I, too, was a tampon loyalist for the longest time—simple and straightforward, despite the growing whispers about potential harm. Caught up in the whirlwind of work, friends, and relationship drama, who has the time to rethink menstrual products? Well, your search ends here. Believe me when I say that period underwear has revolutionized my most uncomfortable days, and Gotyu's versions are top-notch.

Ever wondered how menstruation was managed before the invention of modern products? By nature, we are free bleeders—our pelvic and vaginal muscles are designed to retain and release menstrual blood naturally. Tampons entered the scene in 1931, but a century isn't enough for evolutionary rewiring. Mainstream products have disrupted this natural rhythm. Instead of allowing release, they compel us to hold in, keeping muscles tense and cramps worse.

Non-intrusive period products like Gotyu's underwear allow for a gentle release. This natural flow helps your muscles relax, potentially easing cramps over time. It's about shifting from resistance to harmony, embracing your body's natural functions without interference. Sure, pads are an alternative, but they come with their own set of issues like feeling bulky and containing dubious chemicals.

For far too long, we were made to believe that periods are something to be ashamed of. That they are dirty, something bad, something not to talk about out. But it's the opposite. They are amazing; they are proof of the miracle of life, and the hormones behind it make us who we are. 

Yet this is not how they are seen and not how we were taught to feel about them growing up. Trying period panties, for me, a way to change the narrative in my head. I got the Discovery Set from Gotyu, which is a perfect way to start with period underwear if you are unsure if it is the right solution for you. It consists of 3 different period panties: the Athena, the Minerva, and the Venus. Each pair has a different absorbency, so the set covers your menstruation from beginning to end. 

I was excited to try it when I got them. I think there is a wrong stigma around period underwear; they do not feel like diapers, and they are not unhygienic. Gotyu's slips, actually, look super nice and when you scroll through all of their different options, you feel like they definitely look nice enough to just wear them every day, and the options are endless: High-waisted, low-waisted, thongs, with lace, detachable and many more.

Initially, it felt odd just slipping on panties and going about my day. No tampon or pad? Empowering, yet strange. The panties are comfy and often come high-waisted, which just gives you an extra good feeling when you're a bit bloated. While I was hyperaware of my body's natural process, it was liberating - and it didn't feel wet; it didn't feel like I was about to leak and be publicly embarrassed; it was just smooth sailing - with less cramping. 

The first few hours of my period are usually quite painful, and while I'm not gonna say that there wasn't any pain at all, I can truly say, that my cramps were way less severe. I tried to not be away from home too far, because I wasn't sure how long I could be using the panty. I kept her on for about 8 hours without even the slightest sign of leaking, a smell or them being noticeable through my pants. While there are some models that are a little thicker, like the Luna (which provides front-to-back coverage and absorbs up to 6 tampons), the models that I ordered were much thinner than I thought - if you wouldn't know, you couldn't tell. 

After taking the panty off, I just rinsed them in the sink - is it disgusting? Not at all; it's just blood - nothing bad; if our blood would stop running, we wouldn't be alive anymore. I had to do some laundry that day anyway, so I just put them in a laundry bag and threw them in the wash with some other clothes.

And that was it. My first experience with period underwear, and I was absolutely sold. The only trouble I had now was: The 3 panties I ordered weren't enough to get me through an entire menstruation. I can not even start to explain how uncomfortable it felt to go back to the old tampon for the rest of this one and be assured, a few more pairs were ordered that same day.