What do you wear to bed? Are you a pyjamas kind gal? Maybe you sleep in your birthday suit? T-shirt and pants? Everyone’s different. But according to gynecologist Dr Alyssa Dweck, author of V is for Vagina, wearing underwear in bed can be bad for you.
Why? Well, sleeping in your pants can cause bacteria to collect, especially if you sweat a lot in your sleep.
Talking to Shape, Dr Dweck said ‘If [the area] is constantly covered—especially by a fabric that’s not moisture-wicking or absorbent—moisture collects. That’s a perfect breeding ground for bacteria or yeast.’ Meaning it could up your chances of infections like thrush.
It's said that vaginas have a similar climate to a rainforest – in other words, they’re warm and moist. So, in the words of Blu Cantrell, we need to let it breathe.
According to a survey by The Wool Room, which polled 1200 adults in the UK, 30% of us choose to sleep naked. If you're not one of those people and you don’t fancy going totally commando in bed, Dr Dweck recommends wearing loose-fitting cotton pairs because they're more breathable and moisture is less likely to collect and lead to infection. Check the label in your knicker and you'll probably be surprised at how many pairs aren't 100% cotton, so it's time to re-embrace M&S cotton knickers.
Sleeping naked is good for other reasons too: apparently it helps regulate body temperature because your temperature naturally drops as you sleep so being too hot can disrupt your sleep cycle.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.