13 facts about underwear that most people don’t know

It might seem like there’s nothing complicated about choosing underwear: just go to the store and buy something that suits your size and style. Everyone knows that synthetic fabrics are bad and cotton is good. We know that thongs are capable of causing inflammation and that there is nothing better than “granny panties”. However, current doctors can still surprise us, even on this sensitive subject: data from recent studies completely contradict all generally accepted concepts related to underwear.

O awesome.club reviewed the latest recommendations from gynecologists and discovered some interesting and important facts that I want to share in this post with you.

Some doctors recommend sleeping without any clothes on or wearing loose-fitting pajamas. The reason is simple: people tend to sweat at night, which makes their underwear wet and creates favorable conditions for harmful bacteria to grow.

Patients suffering from chronic vaginitis or a yeast infection feel relieved when they stop wearing underwear: the itching and burning disappear much faster. The fact is that fungi and bacteria prefer humid, warm and dark places to reproduce, and the lack of these items of clothing deprives them of the possibility of multiplying.

The panties should not leave marks on the skin, as this indicates that they are too tight. Tight-fitting clothing lovers are at a higher risk of getting a urinary tract infection or suffering from thrush.

Baggy underwear isn’t the best option either, and that’s because thongs and other larger panties constantly move around and can move intestinal bacteria to areas where they shouldn’t be.

Manufacturers of antibacterial underwear promise to rid you of unpleasant odors. To achieve this effect, silver or triclosan ions are added to the fabric of the product. However, gynecologists fear that these components are harmful to women’s health.

Triclosan can alter the hormonal balance and cause antibiotic resistance. With silver, you also need to be careful: doctors warn about the possibility of having allergic reactions to this element.

Hollywood stars like Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry and Heidi Klum have introduced the fashion of wearing shapely underwear. There’s nothing shameful about wearing high compression panties. However, this clothing and tight bands can cause irreparable damage to health.

Tight underwear compresses the abdominal organs and slows blood circulation. Some models even cause nerve compression. Doctors claim that wearing such clothes can numb the arms or legs. Also, it is difficult to remove tight clothes to go to the bathroom, so many women prefer to hold on a little, which harms the urinary system. The use of this garment is only permitted as a last resort, when you must be impeccable for a few hours.

Don’t wash your panties with the same basic soap you use for other garments. It contains ingredients that irritate delicate skin and mucous membranes. The same goes for fabric softeners: chemical fragrances can cause inflammation or allergies.

Pathogenic microorganisms easily withstand any washing and can live in underwear for several months. Therefore, it is better to wash them at a temperature above 40 °C. If one-piece fabric requires gentle handling, add washing liquid (or powder) with active oxygen bleach. Drying your clothes in the sun will also help kill bacteria.

Thong panties are believed to be very harmful to women’s health. First, because they are very tight, and second, because the thin strip of fabric helps transfer intestinal bacteria to the vagina. But while you can solve the first problem by choosing the right panty size, you can’t do the second.

A recent study has refuted the myth of the harmfulness of panties of this type. Scientists compared two groups of women: representatives of one group wore dental floss all the time, while the other wore regular underwear. The microflora in both groups was found to be approximately the same. So, you can wear the underwear you like without being afraid of getting some inflammation.

Special clothing for sports is not a gimmick by marketers who simply want to take your money. Underwear and exercise bras are made from a fabric that removes moisture and heat from the body, protecting us from inflammation and fungus. Of course, the usual cotton ones absorb sweat well, but the fabric remains damp and is in constant contact with the skin.

If you don’t have the sports specials, change your clothes immediately after your workout.

Hot water, washing powder, and bleach cannot completely eliminate the bacteria that live in your underwear. On average, after washing, these garments still have 10,000 live bacteria: many of them are not a threat to health, but some (E. coli and Staphylococcus, among others) can be very dangerous. Philip Tierno, professor of microbiology, recommends buying new underwear once a year and getting rid of the old one, even if it’s not worn out.

To make eye-catching underwear, the fabric is dyed with dangerous chemicals. O Greenpeace conducted a survey in which members of the organization purchased 121 pieces of popular underwear in stores around the world. Two-thirds of them were found to contain phthalates and azo dyes, toxic substances that can cause cancer.

In most developed countries, harmful dyes are banned, but nowadays a lot of clothes are produced in illegal factories in remote corners of the world, and it is almost impossible to determine the origin of these garments. Try to avoid unusually bright and strong colors: they can be harmful to your health and ecology.

The claim that synthetic underwear is harmful to health is not true. Of course, it is dangerous to buy products made from 100% synthetic materials from an unknown manufacturer, but large factories are concerned about the quality of their products. In addition, artificial fibers have some advantages on organic cotton products.

Polyester: durable, wear-resistant, does not fade even after hundreds of washes. Disadvantage: hardly absorbs moisture. Underwear with added polyester should have a cotton backing in the genital area. Polyamide: gives strength and elasticity to the fabric. Thanks to the fibers of this material, underwear does not stretch after washing and spinning. Spandex: Lycra fibers stretch 7-8 times and provide a good fit.

A few days a month, women need to use tampons. However, modern manufacturers offer a solution that will allow you to sleep peacefully. Menstruation panties are recommended as a one-time solution, meaning you can either discard all other hygiene products or use them as an added safety measure. This alternative is very respectful of the environment, as it significantly reduces the amount of waste.

The myth that tight underwear or swim trunks affect male fertility has been around for a long time and still has its adherents. In fact, the style of underwear does not affect the quality of sperm. It seems that men have fewer problems when they buy these clothes: doctors assure that the choice between loose boxers and tight briefs is a matter of taste.

But you shouldn’t relax too much: according to medical research, synthetic fabrics have some effects: a 100% polyester garment generates electrostatic fields that reduce fertility.

Effect panties and bras push up add volume to some areas of the body. But the advantages end there. The foam rubber that is used as a filler for this type of clothing contains carcinogenic components. In addition, multi-layer underwear creates the sauna effect and promotes the growth of pathogenic fungi and bacteria.

What do you think of these new discoveries? Do you trust the claim that synthetic fabrics are not as harmful as once believed? Share your opinions with us in the comments section.