Ask a GP: Is it OK to sleep in undies?

Our resident doctor answers the age old question - do you really need to let it ‘breathe’ down there? 

 

Rebecca Judd certainly got tongues wagging when she made a confession recently.

The TV presenter and co-host of KIIS FM’s ‘The 3pm Pick Up’ revealed that she “always” sleeps in a G-string.

“It’s like wearing a watch,” she said. “For the first day or two, you feel it but then after that, you don’t feel it at all.

Her co-host, Monty Dimond, also sleeps in underwear - though she confesses to preferring “granny undies”.

While people are now debating how comfortable (or uncomfortable) it might be to sleep in a g-string, the real question it’s made many of us ask is: Is it healthy to sleep in your undies at all?

To be honest, that’s a tough question to answer, as there’s little research on the topic. I guess it depends on the type of underwear and sleepwear you’re wearing, to some extent.

If you choose to wear a lightweight, breathable material such as cotton underwear, and pair that with, say, a nightie, then there shouldn’t really be any issues. If you’re choosing to wear knickers at night, you’re also better off opting for a loose-fitting pair.

But if you prefer a heavy material for your undies, and then pop on a pair of flannel pj’s and snuggle up under a thick doona, that might not be such a great idea.

That’s because, in doing so, you’re creating a warm, moist environment. And yeast infections (thrush) thrive in that kind of setting.

Symptoms of thrush include itching and a ‘cottage cheese like’ discharge. If you think you have thrush, there are lots of over the counter medicines that can help. But if you keep getting thrush, it’s definitely worth seeing your GP. That’s because there are other reasons you might develop recurrent thrush, such as diabetes.

Another potential issue with wearing knickers to bed is if you’re prone to skin issues down there. If you wax or shave your bikini area, you may be prone to folliculitis (infection of the hair follicle). If that’s the case, you may be better off sleeping without briefs on.

In fact, if you have any chronic issues down there, such as vaginitis or vulvitis, it’s probably a good idea to steer clear of undies at night when possible. (And if you do have ongoing probs in that area, make sure you see a doctor to get it checked out.)

There’s also this idea you need to ‘breathe’ down there. While you may have heard that advice, there’s no definitive answer about that. Some women swear by that idea, others say it’s less important to them.

Of course, if you prefer to sleep without knickers on, that’s totally fine. In fact, if sleeping in nothing but your birthday suit tickles your fancy, it’s totally OK to go to bed starkers (mind you, things might get a little chilly in the heart of winter).

There are certain times when you should wear undies to bed. When you’ve got your period and are using a pad at night (which, as we’ve discussed, is what you should do), then by all means, keep your undies on during the night. But for the other times, the choice is yours.

As long as you don’t have any issues down there, you should be fine to either sleep in undies, or without them.

BodyAndSoul

Tagged: Sleep 2