There is a widespread concern that women who prefer thongs to other types of underwear have a harder time getting pregnant and carrying a child to term. We decided to check whether this fear is supported by scientific data.
About the connection between wearing thongs and some gynecological and infectious diseases that can lead to infertility, with enviable regularity report Russian-speaking Media from different countries. Dangerous for women's health, this type of underwear is called doctors, including the chairman of the “Union of Women of Russia”, doctor Ekaterina Lakhova. Approvedthat while wearing thongs, bacteria spread and fungal infections occur. Some sites Medical professionals, when talking about infectious diseases, write about the danger not so much of the thongs themselves, but of the material from which they are made. Professor of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Perinatology and Reproductology, Moscow State Medical University named after. Sechenova Elena Uvarova adheres to another opinion: “Thongs made of any materials and synthetic underwear, whether lace or not, are harmful.”
A thong, or tanga, is a piece of underwear consisting of one or two triangles with a narrow connecting strip at the hips. They can also be part of a swimsuit, providing a more even tan on the thighs and buttocks. Another advantage is that they are almost completely invisible under clothing, even those made from light or thin fabric. Thongs, like other types of underwear, can be made of different materials, and also have additional decorations in the form of rhinestones, bows or lace inserts. The difference between a thong and other panties is purely constructive. Exists several types of thongs depending on their shape and degree of buttocks openness.
In the largest database of medical research, PubMed, “Verified” found only one publication devoted to the possible negative health consequences of wearing thongs. This article 2019, published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research and prepared by a group of scientists from the USA. The study authors were interested in whether wearing thongs was associated with higher rates of urogenital infections, including bacterial urinary tract infections (cystitis, pyelonephritis), yeast vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Experts asked 986 women to fill out a questionnaire with questions about their preferred models of underwear and the materials from which they were made, sexual practices, and urogenital infections over the past year. Based on the survey results, respondents who reported that they wear thongs at least half of the time were allocated to a separate group. It turned out that this preference in choosing underwear has nothing to do with the risk of developing infections, and the greatest risk factor for the occurrence of such diseases is regular oral sex. Wearing underwear without a cotton insert in the crotch area, the researchers found, increased the risk of developing yeast vaginitis, but any type of underwear may not have such an insert. In their conclusions, scientists advise paying attention to the fabric from which underwear is made, and not to the model of panties.
“Verified” did not find any other scientific evidence linking a certain model of underwear and the risk of infertility or infections.
Although most experts who claim the dangers of thongs do not specify what kind of infections, in their opinion, are caused by wearing such underwear, it can be assumed that we are not talking about sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Simple logic dictates: no matter what kind of underwear a woman wears, if she does not have sex with an infected partner or has no sexual contact at all, the risk of infection is minimized. The most common urogenital infections are not related to STIs—precisely those three that American specialists focused on in the work described above. These infections distinguishes the fact that their causative agent is an opportunistic microflora, that is, pathogens are present normally in a healthy person, but if immunity is reduced or any hygiene rules are not followed, they can cause diseases.
All three of these infections are not directly related to infertility. Bacterial urinary tract infections are usually do not affect neither on the probability of conceiving, nor on the probability of bearing a child. However, if cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) don't start If treated in time, it can develop into pyelonephritis - an inflammatory disease of the kidneys. If do not treat and pyelonephritis, it can cause kidney failure, kidney abscess, sepsis and even death. However, even with renal failure, pregnancy under the strict supervision of doctors is still possible.
Yeast vaginitis (also known as colpitis) is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa caused by Candida fungi. Formally, this disease can lead to the inability to conceive, but not because it significantly changes the reproductive function of a woman, but That's why, which, firstly, causes extremely painful sensations during sexual intercourse, and secondly, doctors generally recommend sexual abstinence for women with colpitis during treatment. After the infection is cured, the woman should not have any problems with conception and pregnancy. Colpitis often arises specifically during pregnancy due to a general decrease in immunity and changes in hormonal levels, but can be successfully treated without harm to the fetus. However, if yeast vaginitis is not treated at all, there is a risk of infection of the uterus and appendages, the development of adhesions and tubal obstruction, which can already cause infertility.
Bacterial vaginosis is also an extremely common pathology: according to data WHO, it occurs in approximately a quarter of all women of reproductive age. The appearance of this infection is due to inconsistent use of condoms and the appearance of new sexual partners, to whose microflora the woman’s body is not yet “accustomed”. Bacterial vaginosis can also be successfully treated, but untreated disease increases the risk of infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, which in turn also raise risk infertility.
Neither the WHO nor the authoritative Mayo Clinic And Cleveland Clinic not reported.
The material from which the underwear is made can actually contribute to the development of infections. If panties don't have high absorbency, high humidity is established in the perineum, which allows pathogens to develop faster and more actively. Also a favorable environment for bacteria Maybe create any wet underwear - leggings after sports or a wet swimsuit. Moreover, tight underwear, regardless of its shape, can call skin irritation, rash and other unpleasant consequences. Irregular or poor hygiene also contributes to the development of infections.
Thus, wearing thongs is not one of the factors that increases a woman’s risk of infections and problems with conception - at least there is not a single study that would confirm this fear.
Cover image: Kate Williams from Flickr
Read on the topic:
If you find a spelling or grammatical error, please let us know by highlighting the error text and clicking Ctrl+Enter.
