Free instinctive flow, the natural method of retaining menstrual blood

What is instinctive free flow?

Free Flow Instinct (FFI) is a natural method of retaining menstrual blood through the perineum before letting it drain when you go to the toilet. This practice allows the flow of menstrual blood to be controlled and therefore hygienic protection is no longer needed.

The free instinctive flow, how do you do it?

The free instinctive flow is practiced thanks to a natural function of the body: the contraction of the perineum.

The perineum is a set of muscles and tissues that extends from the pubis to the coccyx and supports the entire small pelvis including the genitals. We rarely pay attention to it, yet it is very important because it helps to avoid incontinence and even the descent of organs (yes, it is a big job every day)!

The magic of the perineum is that you can contract and release it as you wish. It is an organ over which we have total control, and when we say "we", we also mean men (well, we mean that they have control over their own perineum, not yours).

Concretely, how can we practice free instinctive flow?

As soon as you feel the blood flowing into the cervix, you contract your perineum, which will allow the vagina to tighten and contain the menstrual blood. The purpose of the instinctive free flow is not to let our blood flow down our thighs (honestly this would not be practical), but to hold it back in order to evacuate it to a suitable place, i.e. the toilet! On the way to the toilet, we relax the muscles of our perineum, usually at the same time as we urinate, in order to say bye bye to our menstrual blood.

Free instinctive flow, for anyone at any time?

We can perfectly imagine your head at that very moment in the article. You are wondering if this method is really effective and if you are not going to have to spend your life in the toilet, aren't you?

Well, yes and no. It is important to know that your blood does not flow continuously but in phases, so it is essential to learn to feel this flow (you lose on average 50 ml to 150 ml of blood during the whole cycle, or about 3 to 5 tablespoons). However, it is true that at the beginning, you will have to go to the toilet regularly to avoid leaks and to learn to control your perineum little by little. And if you have a very abundant or even haemorrhagic flow, even with a perineum at the top of its shape, you will probably have no choice but to discharge your blood frequently. On the other hand, as far as contraception is concerned, you can rest easy because the free instinctive flow is compatible with any method!

Anatomically speaking, the free instinctive flow is accessible to anyone with a menstrual period and therefore with a female genital organ. In practice, however, it is not so simple.

3 disadvantages of Free Instinctive Flow :

Access to the toilet at all times: Going to the toilet whenever you feel the need to do so throughout your menstrual period is not always possible. And if you can easily hold your urine, it's still a tad more complicated for the menstrual blood. If during your work or leisure time (swimming pool and sport) you cannot evacuate your blood as you wish, then we advise you to alternate between WIRE and menstrual protection such as SHL, cup or menstrual panties.
You need an invigorating perineum: There is no real secret to succeed in practicing free instinctive flow, everything lies in being able to contract and release your perineum when you wish. And to do this, it is essential to have a toned perineum, which is not the case for everyone. Fortunately, it is not a fatality (beware, there are always exceptions) since there are many exercises that can tone the perineum (perineal rehabilitation after childbirth is often a must). These exercises are often very simple, and can be practiced anywhere (by writing a blog article on the FIL for example). There are even specialized accessories, including the famous geisha balls!
You cannot control your perineum 100%: At night, it is difficult to know if you will be able to retain your blood. Normally the body goes on automatic pilot when you sleep, and you often don't need to get up to go to the toilet, but again, this is not a certainty. Also, it is not recommended to let the blood stagnate in the vagina for too long because of toxic shock syndrome. We therefore strongly recommend the use of menstrual panties at night.
Some people have also noticed some leakage when they sneeze. This is quite logical when you think about it, since you can't control the sneezing and everything slackens at that moment. Besides, it doesn't just happen with a sneeze that someone who has never had a laughing fit when peeing himself or herself throws the first stone...

Our tips for practicing free instinctive flow serenely

Do you feel like practicing free instinctive flow? Here are a few tips to make it happen.

Since the goal of free flow is to feel your menstrual flow, you have to know it first. Don't hesitate to observe your next period in detail and take notes: colour, consistency, duration, volume... To find out how much blood you lose throughout your period, don't hesitate to use a menstrual cup. Since a cup has a specific capacity, you can easily calculate your flow.

Also, try to observe your different symptoms and sensations as you approach your period. Recognising when your period is due will help you prepare for it. And since you're not always set like clockwork, it's good to be able to rely on other factors to recognise the start of your cycle. The more relaxed and attentive you are to the signs, the better you'll be able to feel the flow of your blood.

Whether it's during your period or outside of it, start training your perineum now. As we said earlier, it is essential to tone up your perineum for the free instinctive flow to be effective. To start simply, don't hesitate to look at the Kegel exercises!

As with any new method or protection, we advise you to test the free instinctive flow at home, in a quiet place. Concentration is important, so don't have too many distractions at first. And to play it safe (even if there is no doubt that you can do it the first time), you should still have protection just in case. With menstrual panties, the advantage is that if you go to the bathroom regularly to check your blood flow, you'll only have to pull your panties down. But with a cup, you'll see more easily if you've managed to contain your blood or if you've had "leaks".

To urinate regularly and to evacuate the blood from your period, don't forget to drink enough (water of course, who do you take us for?). Once in the toilet, relax in order to release your menstrual blood and take your time. Sometimes there may be a few drops left in the vagina, so you can push a little to get them out before getting dressed and avoid a spot or two.

5 good reasons to practice free instinctive flow

It's free of charge.
There is no cheaper than free instinctive flow since you will not spend your money on menstrual protection or very little.

It's environmentally friendly
Who says no protection, says no production and no waste, therefore no pollution. The instinctive free flow, there is nothing more natural and environmentally friendly!

It feels good
Reconnecting to your body is essential to feel good physically and psychologically.

It's healthy.
There is no healthier option than free instinctive flow because no foreign bodies come into contact with our blood or our vulva/vagina. And since this method requires you to evacuate your blood regularly, there is little risk of TSS.

It's liberating.
Once you understand how it works and are able to practice WIL, you can use this method whenever you want. You no longer need to run out and buy protection or spend your time cleaning, sterilizing, changing, etc., and you don't have to worry about it.

What's up? Bluffing, isn't it?

Don't hesitate to send us your testimonials if you test this natural method!