Two boxes of Tampax Pearl tampons are seen on a shelf at a store in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2022
Two boxes of Tampax Pearl tampons are seen on a shelf at a store in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2022STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
  • For the past 15 years, Shaylyn Wade has had no menstruation.

  • She started at age 15 because of the lack of feminine hygiene products at a juvenile center.

  • Wade said the shortage of feminine hygiene products has made her more in tune with her body and saved her money.

The post mentioned suicide.

Shaylyn Wade's mother showed her how to use a feminine hygiene product. She had never used one before.

By the time Wade had her next period, she was in a juvenile center in Arizona, where she lived for the next three years. She said that tampons were banned from the facility due to a previous suicide attempt.

She couldn't stand the red and itchy skin that came with it. Wade was able to bleed into her underwear or a pair of shorts.

Wade has been without feminine hygiene products for 15 years. She didn't know there was a shortage of feminine hygiene products. It's more difficult to find feminine hygiene products, and they're more expensive than before. The price of feminine hygiene products increased over the past year. People who were searching for menstrual products reported difficulties finding them on forums.

Wade doesn't have an issue with that.

Wade, who asked to use her artist last name to protect her family's privacy, said that most people think it's gross to free bleed.

Saving money and feeling more comfortable and in-sync with her body were added perks to free bleeding.

Staying near the bathroom, wearing shorts over pants, and carrying an 'emergency sweater' makes free-bleeding a breeze, Wade says

She said that when someone learns Wade doesn't bleed during her period, they are usually horrified.

She continues to use the method and suggest it to her friends despite that.

She didn't use anything to stop the bleeding when she was in the center. Wade said that it was too messy to use a towel or a piece of toilet paper.

She was about to discharge menstrual blood after a few periods. Her period usually lasts five days.

You have to be very aware of the waves. Wade said that if you feel like you're going to have to go to the bathroom, you should go to the toilet.

Listening to her body and going to the bathroom during her heavy periods helped her free-bleeding process.

There are a few pairs of underwear with a lining that catches blood.

Wade wears underwear or layers of shorts under her pants when she goes to the bathroom.

Over the years, she has bled through both pairs of pants, revealing a blood stain in public. She uses an "emergency sweater" to tie around her waist when she's not feeling well.

Wade tried a menstrual cup to see if she preferred the method over free bleeding, but she found the experience complicated and uncomfortable, so she returned to her tried and true method.

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