Brief Discussion
"What are you eating under there?"
"Under where?"
- 1st grade potty humor
The under wear question is huge with the vulvodynia/vestibulitis/urethritis population. Everyone has an opinion, and, as usual, the answer is a very individual choice.
We were all told by our mothers (well, maybe just me) that white cotton, loose fitting, full coverage underwear is the best for our "girl parts." Granny underwear. And all of us, as soon as we had any choice in the matter, began exercising our individuality in panties. Victoria Secret is a modern girl's best friend. But wait - there is deep, good truth in the advice given to us about white cotton.
Dyes can be very irritating to the external genitalia. Unnatural fibres, and some natural ones (silk and wool) can irritate skin and mucous membranes. Cotton seems to really be the best option for most people. Even the cotton panel - the underwear industry's feeble attempt to combine beauty with health - doesn't quite cut it, unless the whole garment is made from some breathable cloth. I have talked to a few (OK, one) people (person?) that feels most comfortable with spandex - I do not suffer from any of these conditions, and spandex underwear will absolutely irritate the tissues around my vagina. It is a very individual choice, but cotton really is best for MOST people.
What about style? The industry has truly changed over the years, bikini briefs, french cut, thong (oh - I will get back to these), classic "granny," I'm sure they have a real name - but I've never met anyone that calls it any different. My new favorite is the boy-cut. These have the comfort of a brief, but without the elastic at the legs. Tight fitting elastic around the legs can disrupt blood, nerve and lymph supply to the region - not enough to cause permanent damage, but if the area is already sensitive and irritated, there is no point in pushing it.
It is much easier these days to find pretty, sexy underwear with less irritating qualities. The severity of your symptoms may dictate your choices from day to day, so if symptoms fluctuate, or if you are not that severe, you may have more options. Lacy pretty fabrics are still OK, as long as they are breathable fabrics, and are combined with a white cotton panel. Look for styles that are not binding around the legs, and if you are prone to bladder pain, look for styles with the waist cut either below, or well above the bladder.
Now it is time for me to get on my soap box and rant about thong underwear. This style was virtually unheard of until the late '80's, except with male strippers. When they first hit the scene, it was an instant "no panty line" success. Everyone I knew that tried them hated it, but wore them anyway, because fashion is such a callous dictator. Remember, this was the era of spandex leggings, wide belts and BIG hair. Today they are so common that many of my patients and younger relatives can't even imagine wearing anything different. Convincing people to give up thong underwear often feels like a culture war (I'm showing my age - it may even be a generation gap). But, it is a HEALTH issue.
Our rectum and vagina are seperate openings for very good reasons. The bacteria that lives in our large bowell is essential for breaking down waste at the end of digestion. There are also yeast in the bowell, and they live in a delicate balance with the bacterias. None of these things belong in the vagina. The vagina is a particularly friendly environment for yeast to grow and flourish. Anyone that suffers chronic vulvar pain knows how bad yeast infections can be, how they can make things worse, or even be the precipitating factor in a flare. Thong underwear can create a miniature superhighway for migrating yeast. Direct route from the rectum to the vagina. Not a good thing, and completely avoidable.
Remember, you always have choices, and the more educated you are about potential consequences, the better your choices can be. If you are getting ready for prom or some other special occasion, and want to wear a super tight, sexy skirt, or some flowing clingy material - by all means, where the thong. Be sensible, wear it for the evening, and go back to cotton whities for a few days after.
Share your stories (and opinions).
"Under where?"
- 1st grade potty humor
The under wear question is huge with the vulvodynia/vestibulitis/urethritis population. Everyone has an opinion, and, as usual, the answer is a very individual choice.
We were all told by our mothers (well, maybe just me) that white cotton, loose fitting, full coverage underwear is the best for our "girl parts." Granny underwear. And all of us, as soon as we had any choice in the matter, began exercising our individuality in panties. Victoria Secret is a modern girl's best friend. But wait - there is deep, good truth in the advice given to us about white cotton.
Dyes can be very irritating to the external genitalia. Unnatural fibres, and some natural ones (silk and wool) can irritate skin and mucous membranes. Cotton seems to really be the best option for most people. Even the cotton panel - the underwear industry's feeble attempt to combine beauty with health - doesn't quite cut it, unless the whole garment is made from some breathable cloth. I have talked to a few (OK, one) people (person?) that feels most comfortable with spandex - I do not suffer from any of these conditions, and spandex underwear will absolutely irritate the tissues around my vagina. It is a very individual choice, but cotton really is best for MOST people.
What about style? The industry has truly changed over the years, bikini briefs, french cut, thong (oh - I will get back to these), classic "granny," I'm sure they have a real name - but I've never met anyone that calls it any different. My new favorite is the boy-cut. These have the comfort of a brief, but without the elastic at the legs. Tight fitting elastic around the legs can disrupt blood, nerve and lymph supply to the region - not enough to cause permanent damage, but if the area is already sensitive and irritated, there is no point in pushing it.
It is much easier these days to find pretty, sexy underwear with less irritating qualities. The severity of your symptoms may dictate your choices from day to day, so if symptoms fluctuate, or if you are not that severe, you may have more options. Lacy pretty fabrics are still OK, as long as they are breathable fabrics, and are combined with a white cotton panel. Look for styles that are not binding around the legs, and if you are prone to bladder pain, look for styles with the waist cut either below, or well above the bladder.
Now it is time for me to get on my soap box and rant about thong underwear. This style was virtually unheard of until the late '80's, except with male strippers. When they first hit the scene, it was an instant "no panty line" success. Everyone I knew that tried them hated it, but wore them anyway, because fashion is such a callous dictator. Remember, this was the era of spandex leggings, wide belts and BIG hair. Today they are so common that many of my patients and younger relatives can't even imagine wearing anything different. Convincing people to give up thong underwear often feels like a culture war (I'm showing my age - it may even be a generation gap). But, it is a HEALTH issue.
Our rectum and vagina are seperate openings for very good reasons. The bacteria that lives in our large bowell is essential for breaking down waste at the end of digestion. There are also yeast in the bowell, and they live in a delicate balance with the bacterias. None of these things belong in the vagina. The vagina is a particularly friendly environment for yeast to grow and flourish. Anyone that suffers chronic vulvar pain knows how bad yeast infections can be, how they can make things worse, or even be the precipitating factor in a flare. Thong underwear can create a miniature superhighway for migrating yeast. Direct route from the rectum to the vagina. Not a good thing, and completely avoidable.
Remember, you always have choices, and the more educated you are about potential consequences, the better your choices can be. If you are getting ready for prom or some other special occasion, and want to wear a super tight, sexy skirt, or some flowing clingy material - by all means, where the thong. Be sensible, wear it for the evening, and go back to cotton whities for a few days after.
Share your stories (and opinions).
Labels: chronic pelvic pain, underwear, vestibulitis, vulvodynia, yeast infections
posted by Molly at
7:34 AM
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