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The pros and cons of going commando!
It's safe to say that the vast majority of people wear underwear. But what actually happens if you stop wearing them? Can ditching your undergarments have an effect on your health and how you feel? Well, it turns out it can.
In this gallery, we explain what happens to your body when you stop wearing underwear. If you're thinking of going commando, click on for the full story.
Tight underwear applies unnecessary pressure, which can have an impact on circulation overall. It can even lead to a condition called meralgia paresthetica, which causes numbness and tingling of the thigh.
“If it's really tight, you could have nerve impingement and decreased circulation," explains women's health professional Dr. Donnica Moor.
Most underwear have pretty sturdy waistbands that place unnecessary pressure on the waist and belly. This can press your sciatic nerve in particular, which can lead to pain.
The elastic bands on your underwear can actually compress the muscles surrounding the nerve, which runs from your lower back down your legs. Going commando will help avoid constant pressure in the area and, subsequently, pain.
Contact dermatitis can be caused by underwear. After all, as Dr. Moore puts it: “The tissues that your panties come in to contact with are a lot more sensitive than your elbows."
Your skin down there not only reacts to fabric, but also to chemicals, dyes, and preservatives, which are often found in underwear. And, believe it or not, you can also experience irritation caused by static cling in your undergarments.
The benefits of sleeping without underwear include a reduction of body temperature, which has a direct impact on how fast you fall asleep.
Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are pretty common, particularly in women. Underwear may play a direct role in this, as some fabrics are not breathable enough and keep moisture levels high, which is great news for bacteria, but not for you.
Cotton underwear may help, but going commando is also a viable option. And a cheaper one, indeed.
We’ve mentioned how some underwear fabrics trap moisture, creating the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. It turns out the excess moisture is also perfect for candida (the fungus that causes yeast infections) to proliferate.
Wearing underwear (especially tight) may have an impact on fertility in men. This is because the testicles must be at a certain temperature to optimize sperm production.
Having the testicles pressed against the body will increase their temperature, which in turn may cause lower sperm count.
This one is especially true for those who usually wear high-rise underwear. The tight elastic band can push stomach acid to your esophagus, causing heartburn.
"If you don't have a reflux problem yet, but have a predisposition to it, then wearing tight garments could tip you over the edge into being a sufferer," says surgeon Jonathan Wilson.
Discharge is essentially a combination of skin cells, bacteria, mucus, and other fluids. It’s not usually a cause for concern, but some underwear may cause an increase of it. More ventilation down there may lead to less discharge.
University of Arizona microbiology professor Charles Gerba explains how this can happen:
"If you wash a load of just underwear, there will be about 100 million E. coli in the wash water, and they can be transmitted to the next load of laundry."
Bacteria may come into contact with your private parts when sitting in a public space, especially if you wear a skirt or dress. This shouldn’t be a problem if you shower every day though.
This one is particularly true for those who wear thongs. E. coli is a bacteria commonly found in the colon, but with movement, it can travel through the fabric from the rectum to the urinary tract.
You may think you’re safe from it because you wash your underwear, but according to Gerba, "There's about a tenth of a gram of poop in the average pair of underwear." Yikes!
Some clothes may be uncomfortable to wear without underwear. Seams in particular, may not feel particularly great down there.
In addition to the discomfort, some garments can actually cause irritation. "Wearing no panties and tight jeans can lead to abrasions," says obstetrician-gynecologist Maria Sophocles.
Moisture-trapping undies can actually make your BO stronger, especially during physical activity. Going commando when you work out is actually a great alternative.
"Some women prefer to go commando during running, elliptical, spinning, kickboxing, etc., which affords less chafing, less visible lines in tighter workout clothes, and gives a sense of more mobility and flexibility," says obstetrician-gynecologist Alyssa Dweck.
Folliculitis, AKA butt acne, can be annoying. Those tiny bumps are actually inflamed hair follicles that can be caused by friction and sweat.
Wearing loose clothing and losing your undies can be a game changer when it comes to these annoying zits.
Going commando does have its risks while working out though, including skin cuts or microabrasions caused by the fabric and movement.
"The material causes more friction and irritation, and any friction or irritation can make little cuts or microabrasions in your skin, and those cuts can lead to bacterial infections, which can cause discomfort, itching, redness, [and] pain," explains obstetrician-gynecologist Scott Osmun.
Some underwear compress your bladder, which consequently makes you want to go to the bathroom more often throughout the day.
The right underwear, or lack thereof, can have an impact on comfort and how sexy a person feels.
And not wearing any underwear "may just boost your libido," says Sophocles.
See more: Laundry in space, and other fashion fun facts
What happens to your body when you stop wearing underwear?
The pros and cons of going commando!
HEALTH Undergarments
It's safe to say that the vast majority of people wear underwear. But what actually happens if you stop wearing them? Can ditching your undergarments have an effect on your health and how you feel? Well, it turns out it can.
In this gallery, we explain what happens to your body when you stop wearing underwear. If you're thinking of going commando, click on for the full story.