Do you wear pants to bed? Many women would likely
answer in the affirmative. However, experts say when a
woman does so on a daily basis when it’s not necessarily
because she is having her period, there may be
untoward side effects to it!
Physicians aver that the female genital needs to breathe
in order to maintain its PH levels and prevent fungi and
odour. And that’s why doctors advise going bare below
when it’s bed time at the close of day.
“With BV, there is an increase in harmful bacteria and a
decrease in good bacteria. BV is the most common
va’ginal infection in women of child-bearing age.”
Part of the problem, says Family Physician, Dr. Grace
Obong, is that during the day, women wear a variety of
panties and tight outfits that hardly allow their privates
to breathe. She says though it’s advisable and absolutely
preferable to wear cotton panties, many women still opt
for polyester panties, with the attendant heating up of
the genital area while the day lasts
And as for those who may not like to go to sleep without
having pants on, Obong recommends wearing of boxers
or pyjamas.
Bacterial va’ginosis
Talking about the need to maintain the PH levels of the
va’gina, experts at womenshealth.gov say the va’gina
normally has a balance of mostly “good” bacteria and
fewer “harmful” bacteria. However, a condition, called
bacterial va’ginosis, develops when the balance changes.
Obong says women with BV may have an abnormal
va’ginal discharge with an unpleasant odour, while some
women may complain of a strong fish-like odour,
especially after se’x.
“The discharge can be white (milky) or gray. It may also
be foamy or watery. Other symptoms may include
burning when ur’inating, itching around the outside of
the va’gina, and irritation; while some women with BV
have no symptoms at all,” she adds.
Yeast infection
To further underscore the negative effects of wearing
panties to bed, online portal, Medline Plus, also notes
that too much moist in the female genital area can lead
to va’ginal yeast infection, most commonly due to the
fungus Candida albicans.
“Wearing tight underwear or a pair made from polyester
or some other material that doesn’t breathe can lock in
moisture and lead to yeast infections,” the warning goes.
Again, Certified Se’xuality Counselor, Evelyn Resh, says,
“I do not recommend that women wear underwear to
bed. Taking a break from underwear for the eight or so
hours that you’re asleep gives you an opportunity to ‘air-
out’ down there! Best to have an underwear-free zone
while sleeping.”
And while yeast infection is not a se’xually transmitted
illness, physicians say some men will develop symptoms
such as itching and a rash on the penis after having
se’xual contact with an infected partner.
The symptoms of yeast infection are as obnoxious as
they are embarrassing, and they include abnormal
va’ginal discharge, which ranges from a slightly watery,
white discharge to a thick, white, chunky discharge;
painful intercourse, painful ur’ination, redness and
swelling of the vu’lva; and itching in the va’gina and the
lab’ia. You may also feel burning sensation when you
have yeast infection.
Go natural
The online physician, Dr. Mehmet Oz, counsels, “It’s time
to go au naturel. You don’t want it to be so moist down
there. Let it dry out a little bit.” The reason for this timely
advice, Oz says, is because the underpants can abrade
on your skin a little bit, and can cause pimples. And you
don’t want that.
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