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Grossed Out Bride Ditches Family Dinner After Sister Insists She Try Free Bleeding Over Tampons

Woman shopping for feminine hygiene products.
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If women didn’t already have to put up with enough frustrations and adversity in the modern world, one of their greatest annoyances is inherently part of their DNA.

This is, of course, having their period.

While many women take this monthly occurrence in stride and have no shame or embarrassment talking about it, others understandably like to keep this more personal.

As a result, they don’t like to bring attention to themselves when they need to leave the room to address it.

Redditor Scared_Constant8694 found her period arriving on a rather unlucky day, as it was a day she was spending with most of her family.

Even more unlucky for the original poster (OP), her period ended up becoming the primary topic of conversation with her family during dinner.

Having finally had enough, the OP felt there was only one efficient way to change the subject.

Worried she handled things poorly, the OP took to the subReddit “Am I The A**hole” (AITA), where she asked fellow Redditors:

“AITA for leaving dinner when my sister wouldn’t stop talking about free bleeding?”

The OP explained why she felt she was left with no other choice but to take an abrupt departure during a family dinner:

“Me (25 F[emale]) had a family dinner with my fiancé, and my sister (22 F[emale) also attending.”

“I happened to have my period and go to the toilet a few more times than usual in the afternoon.”

“My sister supposedly asked my fiancé about why I’m going so frequently, because during the dinner, she started to talking to me about how I’m ruining my health with using tampons instead of free bleeding.”

“She’s been doing it for years now, and she kept on explaining why I should do it too, how healthy it is, how easier it made her life etc.”

“I told her to stop, dinner is not the time to talk about this, and she still went about how it’s only natural.”

“My fiancé started getting visibly uncomfortable, and so did I, with my whole appetite gone.”

“Me and my fiancé left early, and my parents (and sister) think I overreacted, but I honestly felt disgusted talking about period blood while dinner, and my sister told me I’m not invited next time for making a scene.”

“I honestly don’t know if I overreacted or not, it’s just a sensitive topic for me apparently, and not my family.”

“AITA?”

Fellow Redditors weighed in on where they believed the OP fell in this particular situation, by declaring:

  • NTA – Not The A**hole
  • YTA – You’re The A**hole
  • NAH – No A**holes Here
  • ESH – Everyone Sucks Here

The Reddit community unanimously agreed that the OP was not the a**hole for leaving her family dinner early.

Everyone agreed that the OP’s sister was being invasive and inappropriate for pressing the OP about free bleeding, agreeing that a woman’s decision as to how to handle her period was personal, and others shouldn’t offer their opinion.

“NTA.”

“You are dealing with a natural process in your own way.”

‘She has her preference, that’s great.”

“Dinner is not the time to discuss it, especially if it’s causing discomfort to people present.”-Haunting-Juice983

“NTA.”

“You’re at a group dinner setting.”

“If a topic is making one of the participants (guest or host does not matter) uncomfortable the polite thing to do is change the subject so that all may enjoy the conversation.”

“It could be period management techniques, it could be politics, sports, a celebrity, hell- it could be the proper way to bake a cake, if someone asks to change the topic due to their being uncomfortable that’s the end of that topic.”

“Besides not following the above, it was also completely inappropriate for you sister to ask your partner about your bathroom habits in the first place and pretty inappropriate of your partner to share the reason for your slightly more frequent bathroom trips.”- MizZo2

“NTA.”

“There is a time and a place for unsolicited advice.”

“It’s never and nowhere.”- KronkLaSworda

“NTA.”

“Am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that your sister commented on your bathroom visits to your fiancé?”- Vibing-cucumber

“NTA.”

“Talk about hot, burning, violent diarrhea next dinner.”

“What, it’s natural!?”- SenioritaStuffnStuff

“NTA.”

“Periods shouldn’t be taboo, but it’s not a topic to continue after someone has requested that you stop.”

“Also fine she has a big opinion and love for free bleeding, but your body is your choice.”

“It’s weird and disrespectful she is trying to push what she favours onto you.”

“Fine tell you about it, maybe even suggest you give it a try….but beyond that, she needs to shut up.”

“It sounds like a topic she brings up a lot.”- LemonRoll_Rabbit

“NTA.”

“There’s a time and place for that, and it’s not the dinner table.”- Schnauz

“NTA.”

“It’s your body, and it’s your choice.”

“As for your sister, knowing you’re on your period and going to someone else’s house or out to dinner where you will sit on furniture that isn’t yours and possibly bleed through onto it is disgusting.”

“Not to mention it must ruin so many more pairs of underwear and trousers, etc.”- Mac4491

“NTA.”

“I’m a woman and have never heard of free bleeding, but I don’t think I’d want an explanation at the dinner table.”

“I actually don’t think it’s anyone’s business how I manage my period.”- PuddleLilacAgain

“I feel like it’s a general rule not to discuss bodily functions during dinner, especially not in great detail.”

“But that’s just me.”

“NTA.”- corvidfamiliar

“I admit I totally don’t understand how free bleeding works.”

“Is it just using pads and not tampons, or is it not using mensural products at all?”

“Either way, it’s not really a ‘dinner table’ convo topic IMHO.”

“I mean defecation is natural, but I dont’ want to hear about it while I’m eating.”

“NTA.”- celticmusebooks

“NTA.”

“You asked her to stop, and she kept going. Well within your rights to leave at that point.”- Esatron

“Now personally, I have no problem discussing periods at the dinner table, but I know that generally speaking bodily functions aren’t the best topic for discussion.”

“What DOES bother me, though, is that your sister didn’t accept how YOU want to manage your own menstruation.”

“This simply is none of her business, and she doesn’t get to pressure you into free bleeding, or using specific menstruation products.”

“The fact that she tried to do it means she was wrong, and you’re NTA.”- Dull-Investigator-17

“Ya know, I’d be okay with that.”

“NTA.”- Select-Anxiety-1557

“NTA.”

“As someone with a period, they are gross & ‘free bleeding’ is absolutely disgusting and unsanitary.”

“Like do you just pee your pants?”

“No you don’t.”

“Do you just let the bowels loose whenever?”

“No you don’t.”

“Do you pick your nose & wipe it on your clothes or furnishings?”

“No you don’t.”

“Just because it’s a natural thing doesn’t make it Not gross.”

“And to talk about your period in front of at least two people who have no interest in it whatsoever OVER DINNER is fkn gross and inappropriate.”- No-Function223

“NTA.”

“That’s gross in front of food and if your saying no she needs to stop bringing it up.”- Salm228

“This is more of a 1:1 convo and not a family dinner convo lol.”

“NTA.”- herlavenderheart

“NTA.”

“If your sister won’t stop and your parents want to spend dinner with that as the topic of conversation, then you WIN.”

“It’s like the old joke….. Doctor it hurts when I do this (raising arm).”

“Then don’t do that.”

“If you are with people that refuse to stop making you feel uncomfortable, don’t go and spend time with them.”- catskilkid

“NTA.”

“Some topics are not suitable for the dinner table.”

“I have a stomach made of iron, and nothing bothers me, but I respect other people.”

“Religion, politics, blood (any kind of blood) just should not be conversational fodder, especially when someone present expresses discomfort.”

“The first mention of ‘this bothers me’ should be the end of the discussion.”- sbinjax

“Your sister is gross.”

“If she wants to ‘free bleed’ at home then that’s her own gross choice.”

“No one, and I mean no one wants to see free bleeding at the supermarket, on public transport or at work.”- GroundbreakingArt145

“NTA.”

“What’s comfortable for one person is not for another; that’s why we have boundaries.”

“Personally, I’d have lost my appetite too.”

“Bowel movements are natural; would they have been so open if you said oh, I’ve just taken the most freeing sh*t, and described it in detail.”- ckptry

Everyone knows that when going into a family dinner, there are some topics that are just not appropriate for the dinner table or are bound to ignite opinions everyone would be better off not hearing.

Blood and bodily functions are usually high on this list, making the OP’s sister’s unwavering determination to continue talking about it all the more surprising.

One can only imagine that the OP isn’t too heartbroken at the idea of being left out of any future dinners with her sister, at least for the time being.

Written by John Curtis

A novelist, picture book writer and native New Yorker, John is a graduate of Syracuse University and the children's media graduate program at Centennial College. When not staring at his computer monitor, you'll most likely find John sipping tea watching British comedies, or in the kitchen, taking a stab at the technical challenge on the most recent episode of 'The Great British Baking Show'.