Dr. Alyssa Dweck, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Mount Kisco, New York, was interviewed by Livescience and this he has to say about this question Should You Wear Underwear to Bed?
Some people prefer to sleep in nothing at all, while others sleep with night gowns or pajamas.
In general, a woman’s bottom and genital region don’t need to be totally in the buff while she sleeps, Women who suffer from chronic vulvitis (an inflammation of the folds of skin outside the vagina) or chronic vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina), Dweck said. These women are prone to vaginal yeast infections, itchiness and irritation, benefit from not wearing underwear to bed and from aerating their bottom at night.
Reason given by Dweck’s recommendation
Yeast and bacteria can thrive and proliferate in dark, moist and warm places, When a woman’s private parts are covered up all day by confining clothing and nonbreathable fabrics, including sweaty workout clothes or sanitary pads, it can cause vaginal irritation and moisture to collect in this area, providing a perfect breeding ground for yeast or bacterial infections. Aeration of the genitals is good for women who are prone to vaginal infections, itchiness and irritation, and baring their bottoms can be part of a general hygiene regimen that might afford them some relief.
An added benefit of keeping panties off while in bed is that it may enhance intimacy between a woman and her partner, Dweck said. But if a woman is having her period, she may want to wear her underpants for added protection while sleeping. This is true even for women who are prone to frequent vaginal infections.
What should be known about bacteria (According Barnes in Livescience interview)
It’s normal to have bacteria in your vagina. In fact, there are some bacteria known as lactobacilli that keep the acidity of the vagina in the normal range. But sometimes the balance between good and bad bacteria can be disrupted. When that happens, women could experience a discharge that smells fishy, or have an itching or burning sensation, But there are ways that women can keep their vaginas healthy, and keep the good bacteria present, these include:
Avoid Douching: Flushing out the vagina with anything that might kill the lactobacilli can result in an overgrowth of other types of problematic bacteria.
Use soaps to clean only the hair-covered areas of skin, Water is sufficient for cleaning the non-hair-bearing regions.
NOTE: Sex can keep the vagina healthy — especially for postmenopausal women
Through the various stages of women’s lives — including childbirth and breastfeeding, as well as normal aging and menopause — the body undergoes hormonal changes that could lead to vaginal dryness.”Estrogen helps keep the vagina healthy and lubricated,” Barnes said. “Once estrogen levels drop, the vagina can become dry, and sometimes even be a source of pain.”
AS FOR MEN
For men who prefer to sleep in underwear and who are trying to conceive with their partners, there is no significant difference between wearing boxers or briefs. Eisenberg conduct a research and the findings showed that there isn’t much difference for conception outcomes in what men wore at night (boxers, briefs or nothing at all).
Although, Previous studies of men have found mixed evidence. Some research suggested that wearing tighter underwear can increase the temperature of men’s testicles and may be linked with poorer semen quality, compared with men who wore looser fitting underwear. But other studies have not found that men’s underwear choices affect male fertility.