Underwear is usually probably the most neglected article of clothes, and many people might by no means give a second thought to precisely what we put on down there.
However, specialists agree that the underwear you select can have constructive or damaging results on the wellness of your genital space. For occasion, underwear that makes you sweat extra can result in itching and yeast infections. Certain cuts of underwear, similar to thongs, can enhance the chance of bacterial vaginosis or different infections. Underwear that’s too tight could cause constriction, chafing and bacterial infections, and there’s some proof that it will possibly have an effect on fertility in males.
When deciding on a pair of underwear, it’s necessary to think about the material, match and reduce. And you’ll wish to take into consideration when and the way usually you alter or go with out underwear.
We spoke with 4 specialists — two OB-GYNs and two urologists — who gave us their finest recommendation for selecting and carrying underwear.
Stick with cotton or different pure materials.
When deciding on a pair of underwear, the material is a significant consideration. “Generally speaking, the best fabrics for underwear are natural fabrics like cotton,” mentioned Dr. Andrea Braden, a board-certified OB-GYN in Atlanta. “It really has to do with the breathability of that fabric. We do know that air circulates better with cotton underwear versus polyester. It is important for vulvar health to have good air circulation.”
Other good pure choices embody hemp, bamboo and linen, mentioned Dr. Suzy Lipinski, a board-certified OB-GYN at Pediatrix Medical Group in Denver.
Urologists agree. Dr. Scott D. Miller, the medical director at Wellstar Urology in Atlanta, mentioned that cotton stands out as a result of “it is comfortable, cool, breathable, moisture-wicking and absorbent.” However, “these characteristics are dependent on the quality of the cotton fiber and various types of weaves,” he famous.
And there are situations the place different materials may do higher. “During times of increased perspiration, cotton can retain too much moisture, leading to bacterial and fungal overgrowth,” Miller added. “In these cases, a better choice may be a fabric made of a combination of cotton and a synthetic fiber.”
Avoid materials that don’t allow you to breathe down there.
Lipinski suggested towards “non-breathable fabrics,” together with synthetics similar to nylon and satin. Additionally, “woven, rather than knit, fabrics or thick fabric can also limit how much [the fabric] breathes,” she mentioned.
Miller mentioned pure polyester “is probably the worst fabric for underwear” and defined why.
“Although it is among the lightest materials, it is neither absorbent nor very breathable,” he mentioned. “However, its durability makes it a good addition as a small proportion of [fabric blends].”
If you’re not sure of a selected cloth mix, Braden recommended that feeling the material can assist you determine. “It should be soft and not slippery.”
Even underwear that isn’t manufactured from a pure, breathable cloth will usually “have a cotton panel in the crotch area or gusset,” she added. And that’s a superb factor: “That is because cotton is the most ideal fabric to be sitting in your ‘nether regions.’”
Pick a reduce that feels snug to you.
The docs usually agreed that in the case of choosing a reduce of underwear, there’s no actual proper or flawed. Rather, it’s about what feels snug to you and what permits your physique to breathe.
“The key is a comfortable fit that is not constricting or chafing,” Lipinski mentioned. “This means different underwear for different body types. … Ask yourself, does the underwear feel comfortable and move with you or tighten up and constrict? Does the underwear ride up or cause chafing? Even two pairs of underwear in the same cut but [from] different brands can fit differently.”
Dr. Fenwa Milhouse, a board-certified urologist with Down There Urology in Chicago, mentioned that “loose-fitting underwear has long been recommended,” including that “tight-fitting underwear reduces air circulation and may increase local moisture down there, which can cause skin irritation and cutaneous or skin yeast infections.” Therefore, she encourages her sufferers to select cuts which can be “most comfortable for them.”
However, there could also be purpose to consider that sure underwear types are higher for fertility than others. Milhouse famous {that a} 2018 Harvard research evaluating semen parameters from virtually 700 males discovered that individuals who primarily wore boxers had a 25% larger sperm focus than those that didn’t.
Still, “briefs have the advantage of better support and protection,” Miller mentioned. “Boxers have the advantage of freedom of movement, although the extra material may cause bunching. Boxer-briefs combine the features of both, although most of these designs are form-fitting in the style of briefs.”
Consider how usually you put on thongs.
Breathability doesn’t essentially imply much less cloth, with Lipinski noting how thong underwear tends to be tighter and extra constrictive.
“This doesn’t mean that you can’t ever wear it, just maybe minimize use or save for those special occasions,” she mentioned.
Also, contemplate your medical historical past.
“If you are prone to infections, then you may want to avoid wearing a type of underwear that is a thong or sits very closely to the rear end,” Braden mentioned, including that it will possibly enhance danger for bacterial vaginosis. “The reason behind that is that you can have bacteria tracked from the rectal area forward when the fabric is lying that close to the rectum. So if you’re going through an infection or prone to infection, it is probably best to wear something like a bikini or brief, or even boy shorts.”
Change your underwear every day, at minimal.
The agreed-upon rule among the many docs interviewed is to alter your underwear at the least as soon as per day to ensure issues stay clear and dry and to lower the micro organism load.
“Bacteria is normal. We all have normal bacteria that lives on the vulva or in the rectal area,” Braden mentioned. “What you don’t want is growth of bacteria coming from your clothing or your underwear.”
Braden defined how carrying underwear for lengthy durations of time could cause infections or odors as a result of moisture mixes with the traditional micro organism that’s down there.
So it’s necessary to alter your underwear as steadily as you possibly can. Some folks might even wish to contemplate altering their underwear greater than as soon as a day.
“If you are active and sweat a lot or struggle with incontinence, then you may want to change even more frequently,” Lipinski mentioned.
Consider going commando while you sleep.
Although some docs discovered no situation with sleeping in underwear when accomplished correctly, others felt it might be useful to go with out.
“In general, I recommend sleeping without underwear,” Milhouse mentioned, including that it permits your personal elements to get air air flow, decreases moisture and reduces irritation to the pores and skin.
“Even for my incontinent patients, at night I encourage them to sleep without underwear and pads and instead sleep commando on an absorbent towel or sheet,” she mentioned.
Ultimately, the choice is extra about private desire. However, it’s necessary to concentrate to how your physique reacts.
“If you’re having any complaints, such as itchiness issues, in general, the more air the better,” Braden mentioned. “The less trapped everything is against your skin, the better the skin is, the healthier it is. Yes, you can sleep in your underwear, but make sure it is something breathable, and make sure you are changing that daily.”
