Why Lace Underwear Are Not Recommended?

Why Lace Underwear Are Not Recommended?
(Photo : Wikimedia Commons/Pschemp)

Ladies need to be picky when it comes to their undergarments. A gynecologist warns against using lace because they aren't breathable and might cause serious infection.

Warning Against Lace Underwear

Although lace lingerie is sexy, its consequences on our intimate areas might be far less appealing. In fact, due to hygienic concerns, the sale and export of lace underwear were essentially prohibited in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan as of 2014.

"Lace and other non-breathable synthetic underwear can trap heat and moisture against the vulva and vagina," according to gynecologist Melanie Bone, the U.S. medical director at the gynecological health company Daye. "This warm, moist environment allows bacteria and yeast to overgrow, potentially leading to infections."

The most frequent diseases brought on or made worse by non-breathable undergarments include contact dermatitis, bacterial vaginosis, and yeast infections (like thrush). Certain individuals could be more susceptible to these diseases than others. Those with diabetes, weakened immune systems, sensitive skin, or recurrent infections are the most susceptible.

Although Bone does not think that lace underwear should be outlawed outright in the United States, she believes that there should be a lot more public education on breathable undergarments and vaginal health. Many women and those who identify as female at birth are ignorant of the connection between infections and underwear.

According to Bone, she advises her patients to stay away from underwear with strong dyes and chemicals like PFAs in addition to lace and polyester. Some period panties contain PFAs, "forever chemicals" that disrupt the endocrine and are linked to hormonal imbalances and even cancer.

In general, the risk of infection increases with the lace's synthetic content and decreased breathability. A cotton liner in the crotch of certain lace is preferable to a lace that is entirely synthetic. However, Bone tells her patients to save the lace lingerie for rare occasions only for the best vaginal health.

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Vaginal Discharges

Bone also previously talked about vaginal discharges. Vaginal discharges are non-period fluid and they can be dry, wet, creamy or sticky.

The expert said that they are completely normal, and familiarizing them would help one understand their hormone level, such as when their estrogen rises or determine their ovulation.

According to Bone, the demands of the vagina fluctuate throughout the month based on the menstrual cycle, so as the discharges. A healthy vaginal discharge is typically "clear to milky white." A brownish discharge after menstruation is also normal.

However, ladies should not ignore their discharges when they notice significant changes in the color, texture, amount and smell of their discharges.

Here are some signs that discharges should not be ignored:

A discharge that smells fishy, bubbling, or frothy could indicate bacterial vaginosis.
Burning or itching mixed with a thick, clumpy white discharge that resembles cottage cheese are the hallmark signs of a yeast infection.
Continuously brown and bloody discharge may be a sign of more serious conditions that require quick attention, such as uterine or cervical cancer.
If a fever or pelvic pain accompanies discharge, you should contact your gynecologist right away or get tested for STIs (sexually transmitted infections) at home as these symptoms could be indicators of trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia.