Why wear panties and should you give them up completely?

Briefs protect the groin area from chafing. Rough seams of clothing can damage delicate skin, and pathogens can easily penetrate wounds and cause infections.

In the “ Yod ” telegram channel we tell you how to take care of your health based on evidence-based medicine.

The main advantage of panties for women is that the underwear absorbs discharge that appears even if there are no diseases. The volume depends on the stage of the cycle and can reach up to a teaspoon. If you don’t want liquid to get on the fabric, you can attach a panty liner to your panties.

Men should wear briefs so as not to attract unnecessary attention to the groin area. This is especially important for those who prefer tight trousers.

Can wearing panties harm your health?

Panties absorb drops of urine , and particles of feces remain on them. Scientists have found that a healthy person has up to 0.1 grams of feces on their underwear. Visually, such an amount cannot be noticed. But despite this, there may be E. coli in the excrement. At room temperature, it lives on cotton for up to 45 days, and on synthetic fabric – up to 206 days. Therefore, if you do not change or wash your underwear, the bacteria can spread to your genitals and cause a urinary tract infection.

Also, other microorganisms can accumulate on panties, like on any other clothing :

• parasites,
• fungi of the genus Candida,
• citrobacter,
• corynebacteria,
• acinetobacter,
• propionibacteria,
• Staphylococcus aureus ,
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

This does not mean that any of the listed microorganisms will instantly harm a person. As with E. coli, it is simply important to change and wash panties. Then the risk of something getting from your underwear onto your genitals will be less.

There is also an opinion that wearing underpants, especially tight ones, can harm male reproductive health. Allegedly, the fabric presses on the groin area, and this reduces the quality of sperm. But there is little research on how wearing underwear relates to infertility. Now experts believe that the effect of panties on the quality and quantity of sperm is too insignificant.

How to choose the perfect panties

Here’s what experts from the Academy of Dermatology advise both men and women:

• Choose linen made from natural fabric, such as cotton. Thanks to it, even in the heat and during sports, sweat will not accumulate on the skin, which means you will reduce the risk of fungal infections.
• Avoid silk and polyester. These materials may irritate sensitive skin.
• Choose satin underwear if you have eczema or neurodermatitis.
• Avoid tight-fitting and chafing underwear, which can cause skin irritation and itching.

How to care for your panties

Panties should be washed after each wear. First, you should look at the care label. Usually there is a temperature indicated that is suitable for cleansing. Based on it, you can pick up the powder . Manufacturers write on the product box at what degrees the product cleans best. Usually this is enough to wash away all the dirt.

You can usually wash your panties together with other clothes. But if your underwear is stained with pus or blood and you’re worried, try the way health workers clean their uniforms. They wash items at temperatures above 71°C for a minimum of 25 minutes. And for disinfection, use bleach with chlorine.

After washing dirty laundry (or if you just touch it), you should wash your hands.

Ironing is not necessary. No authoritative source says that this will disinfect panties. So iron them only if you want to.

There are also no clear deadlines after which laundry should be thrown away. But it’s definitely time to say goodbye to your panties when they are stretched, holes and frays appear on the fabric, and threads are sticking out.

Another reason to throw away your underwear is that synthetic fabric often causes irritation and itching. In this case, it is better to buy cotton panties instead. This way you will sweat less and your skin will breathe.

Is it possible to sleep without panties?

There are several advantages to sleeping without panties or other clothing. Complete nudity helps lower body temperature. And this makes a night’s rest stronger and more refreshing.

The skin will be cleaner. Sleeping without clothes allows her to breathe throughout the night, reducing the risk of worsening body acne. The problem can be caused by wearing tight clothing, which traps dirt and sweat on the skin.

Some doctors believe that women with infections, such as chronic vulvitis or vaginitis , should also sleep without underwear . The fact is that tight-fitting underwear traps moisture and heat between the legs. And this is an excellent environment for the proliferation of bacteria and fungi.

There is also an opinion that partners sleeping together “naked” strengthens relationships. Small studies suggest that several factors play a role in this: a decrease in the stress hormone cortisol, a release of the affection and social bonding hormone oxytocin due to skin-to-skin contact, and increased levels of self-esteem.

But there are a few rules to sleeping without panties. The first is to wash your bed linen more often. It is usually recommended to change the set once a week, but those who like to sleep naked will need to do this more often. The reason is that sweat , secretions and stool particles can remain on the sheets. Or on pajamas, if you wear them without underwear.

Another recommendation for those who want to sleep without panties: wash your genitals and butt every day before going to bed. Even if you are tired. In the bathroom you will wash away the discharge, as well as the remains of urine and feces. Then they will not transfer to bedding. This way you will protect yourself and the person sharing your bed from possible infections.

Is it possible not to wear panties at all?

If you really want to, then yes. Doctors do not give categorical recommendations on this matter, so no one will forbid you. This is a matter of personal comfort and hygiene.