In one of her most-watched videos, Sommer Seeley and her then-girlfriend are sitting side by side, holding hands, while leeches wearing matching bows feed from their legs. That video has been watched more than 4.6 million times.

Seeley is 26, lives in Portland, and works as a security guard. She owns five leeches and lets them feed on her blood every day. Her oldest leech, Betty, is four years old and measures nearly 5 inches long. The younger ones are around 2 inches each, and all five have what Seeley describes as healthy appetites.

Why the Bites Do Not Hurt

Leech saliva contains two things that make feeding sessions easier than most people would expect. The first is an anesthetic that numbs the area around the bite. The second is a chemical compound that prevents blood from clotting, keeping it flowing steadily while the leech feeds. Most people who try leech feeding report feeling little to nothing during the process.

That said, experts warn that feeding leeches your own blood carries real risks. Some people have allergic reactions to leech saliva, and there is always a potential for infection. Medical guidance before attempting it is strongly recommended.

A 3,000-Year-Old Practice That Never Fully Went Away

Leeches have been used by humans for roughly 3,000 years, primarily for medical purposes. Modern medicine brought them back into surgical settings in the early 1980s, when surgeons in France began using them in reconstructive microsurgery. The practice expanded significantly after a Harvard surgeon used leeches to successfully reattach a teenager's ear that had been bitten off by a dog. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration formally approved leeches as medical devices, specifically for treating localized venous congestion following surgery.

Leeches themselves can survive up to a year between feedings, though sellers of larger species typically recommend feeding every three to six months. Seeley feeds hers daily, which puts her well outside normal leech-keeping norms.

The Online Reaction, and the One Closer to Home That Surprised Everyone

The public response to Seeley's videos has been split. She told NeedToKnow.online that people have told her she is disgusting and that she needs to be committed to a mental facility. But the reaction she also gets, and the one she points to with clear satisfaction, is from people who say they never realized how fascinating leeches could be and are now planning to get some of their own.

The detail that tends to catch people off guard, though, is closer to home. Her current partner, Jozie, is not just tolerant of the leeches. Jozie is a genuine fan of them. In a story where the instinct is to assume the people around Seeley must be horrified or at least quietly uncomfortable, her partner is fully on board. That fact tends to reframe the whole thing. This is not someone hiding a strange habit from the people she loves. It is simply part of her life, accepted and shared.