Free instinctive flow: is it really possible to do without hygienic protection?
Still not very widespread, the practice of free instinctive flow questions, puzzles or fascinates. After the controversies over toxic shock syndrome and at a time when environmental issues are more topical than ever, some women decide to get started. The concept: to do without hygienic protections, whatever they are, during the rules. So, utopia or true liberation?
The Practical Guide to the free instinctive flow (Ed. The present moment) will be released in bookstores next January. To find out more about this method, we interviewed its author Jessica Spina and gynecologist Odile Bagot in preview. Different perspectives on this practice which is stain… oil.
Without a tampon or towel during your period, a dream?
Does Free Instinctive Flow (FIL) speak to you? This trend straight from the United States was adopted by a handful of French bloggers and youtubers a few years ago. Today, with environmental issues at the heart of the political and societal debate, but also the fear of prolonged exposure to possible toxic substances (via non-organic products in particular), this practice is gradually coming out of the shadows. It consists of dispensing with hygienic protection during the period of menstruation. One way to reduce waste, but not only that. If some women put forward ecological reasons, others also evoke the fear of toxic shock syndrome linked to invasive protections (tampon and cup). Even if, let us remember, this risk is rare and thatproper use (change every two hours and clean hands) reduces any side effects or health concerns.
According to Odile Bagot, gynecologist, this practice is mainly adopted for reasons " ideological or reappropriation of her female body, even if it means giving a little knife to her freedom of movement and comfort" . Jessica Spina, author of the Practical Guide to Free Instinctive Flow and psychotherapist, appreciates the practicality and the hygienic aspect of this method. "The classic hygienic protections bothered me, as is the case for many women I think. So I started to learn about other methods after my pregnancies. I had heard of the cup, but it's not for me, I didn't find it practical. I still tried it for a while and then one day I came across a video of a girl talking about Free Instinctive Flow. I found it amazing! I said to myself, 'it's true, nature is well done, why didn't we think about it before!' You don't need a towel, tampon or even a cup. There is no maceration . "
Reconnect to your feminine
“ When I started, I wanted to be interested in the history of women, those of their periods, and I realized that it was a taboo subject. I found much. So I decided to carry out an anthropological study, which is currently underway with around thirty women of all ages, during several cycles, ” says the FIL specialist. For the latter, this practice also expressed a need to reconnect with her feminine. “ Today, many women don't really know how their body actually works. We are not connected to our lower abdomen. By practicing free instinctual flow, we become aware of this. We reconnect with ourselves, with our feminine.. "Adept for nearly seven years, she also accompanies participants in this process during training." When we do it with envy, we learn to trust each other. By reconnecting to your body, it is guaranteed fulfillment . "
The key: contraction of the perineum
Concretely, how does it work? The vaginal opening being between two smooth muscles, it does not have a sphincter. It is in fact the contraction and relaxation of the perineum that will allow the periods to flow or not, explains Odile Bagot. " By listening to their body, learning to detect when the flow is in the vagina, women can contract their perineum and then go to the bathroom to drain the blood." To get there, " you have to be alert, very attentive and listen to yourself, " says Jessica Spina. " As we go along, the uterus and the bladder adopt certain mechanisms. We can also do exercises, learn to visualize what is happening in our body, breathing exercises . "But holding back this blood intended to be expelled, isn't it dangerous for your health?" Without making bad puns, when the cup is full, it overflows! "Says Jessica Spina." I am fortunate to have a doctor who is interested in my practice. My goal was also to find out how it worked mechanically. So she gave me ultrasounds during my period, before and after going to the bathroom. I was able to observe that by contracting my perineum, the blood was in fact stored in the vaginal fornixes, which are cavities anterior and posterior to the cervix. "
A piece of advice to start with confidence: put on protection and take the test at home. "It is true that in the middle of the cycle we have 1 or 2 days of heavy flow, and it is better to stay at home if possible . "But that is not given to everyone." If women are working, put on one. towel is more careful, at least at the beginning, to avoid accidents and to settle, if possible, near the toilets " , underlines the psychotherapist.
Free Instinctive Flow: Can All Women Achieve It?
" Women with vaginismus can close their vaginas in an extremely powerful way ", specifies Odile Bagot. " However, this practice is especially accessible to women able to control their perineum. It is also necessary to have a real awareness of the action that we can have on this muscle. Because some patients can indeed have a certain force in the vagina. without really realizing it. Other women do not have the command. However, it must be contracted voluntarily! "Your perineum lacks tone? Rehabilitation with a professional can help. "Biofeedback allows you to have control and strengthen your perineum through exercises. The patient gradually becomes aware of certain natural mechanisms. Let us also add that the followers of Pilate, who are used to doing exercises that contract the perineum have good aptitudes " , indicates the gynecologist. The only thing difficult to control according to her: spotting, light bleeding." These flows are very weak and only stain the bottom of the panties, so the risk of an accident is low, " adds the specialist.
In addition, the position in which you find yourself makes the exercise easier or harder! " It is more possible when you are standing because the vagina is oriented backwards, 30 ° horizontally. You must avoid leaning forward. When sitting, on the contrary, the vagina will fill up. , so when getting up, it is important to contract well to avoid leaks . " Another precaution to take: when coughing, you have to tighten your perineum. According to the gynecologist, " it is easier with a woman who has not given birth. She naturally has a more toned perineum" . But according to Jessica Spina's experience, it depends on the women. "After 2, 3 cycles, I had mastered the FIL, despite my three children. Moreover, I have never had recourse to perineal rehabilitation, I have a rather toned perineum. "
What about bleeding periods?
On this point, our two specialists also have a different opinion. Odile Bagot believes that this practice is unsuitable for women with bleeding periods. On this question, Jessica Spina is more mixed. She considers that having a significant flow does not prevent the practice, itself being concerned. " The endometrium detaches itself from the inner wall of the uterus, and releases the flow at times, but we have time to go to the toilet . " However, she admits that this can be more restrictive.
Learning from the first menses?
The instinctive free flow is still a marginal subject. However, one may wonder if learning when the first period occurs would not make this method more democratic, but above all facilitate this reconnection to one's body from puberty. " I have 3 children including a 14 year old teenager ," explains Jessica Spina. “ She had her first period, and little by little she is learning to listen to her body. Obviously, for the moment, she wears organic cotton towels to avoid accidents, but she is gradually gaining self-confidence. a work of transmission. Young girls do not know what is going on in their bodies, because mothers do not know it themselves. "
Helping the most vulnerable
The practice of free instinctive flow could also be an interesting alternative for the less well-off. In any case, this is the point of view of Jessica Spina. " I am planning to conduct training for women in precarious situations", she continues. According to the feminist collective Georgette Sand, during her life, a woman would spend between 1,500 and 2,000 euros on hygienic protection. An exorbitant amount for the homeless. The question of the price and non-reimbursement of these products is increasingly debated. Since April 2018, the LMDE student mutual insurance company, which has joined forces with two brands offering healthy and ecological protection, reimburses the hygienic protection of its members and those close to its members. On August 24, 2018, the Scottish government became the first to provide free hygienic protection to female students. And last June 28, England opened the debate on the cost of these specifically feminine products. In France, training women to reconnect with their bodies could, according to the specialist, help the most disadvantaged. Because if collections are regularly organized to reach women living in the street, this is unfortunately not enough. But, one question remains unanswered: access to sanitary facilities (other than public ones) can be complicated when you do not have a home.
Source(s):
Interview with Doctor Odile Bagot, gynecologist (alias Mam Gynéco). Author of Dico des nanas, Ed. Hachette
Interview with Jessica Spina, psychotherapist, phytotherapist and female companion
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