Women's fashion can be weird.
While many ladies know the curse of dresses without pockets, for some reason women's underwear
often has one.
What is that little pocket in the crotch of your panties for?
It's not big enough to fit much even if you wanted to.
And considering how uncomfortable it would be to stick your phone or wallet down there
anyway, you…probably wouldn't want to.
So what is that little pocket for?
First off, that pocket in the crotch of women's underwear actually has a name: the gusset.
And gussets aren't meant for storage.
Nor are they there for decoration.
In fact, gussets serve a much more important purpose: to protect your lady parts.
And not in, like, a chastity belt sort of way.
See, women's underwear is often made from synthetic materials.
And while synthetic lace might look sexy, it also doesn't breathe very well, which means
that bacteria and sweat can build up more easily and get trapped in your underwear.
Not fun.
That's why gussets are typically made from cotton, a breathable, non-synthetic fabric,
to help keep things dry and ventilated down there.
Not only does the gusset make things more hygienic, but that little bit of extra fabric
also cuts down your risk of uncomfortable conditions like yeast infections and urinary
tract infections by making your panties more breathable.
Gussets serve another function, too.
Since synthetic materials aren't always the most comfortable, think of how scratchy bare
lace can feel on sensitive skin, gussets provide a soft, cozy place for your lady bits to rest
upon, protecting them from friction.
Even if your fancy, synthetic-material panties comes with a gusset, though, your best bet
is still plain old cotton undies.
While that little patch covered by the gusset might help, overall breathability is still
important.
Breathability is even more important if you're active throughout the day.
If you think there's any chance you're going to be sweating, skip the synthetic materials.
This means if you're going for a run or hitting up the gym, you need to be wearing cotton
unless you want to risk inflammation or an infection.
This is especially true if you're prone to bacterial problems down there.
Cotton panties may not seem as sexy as lacy Victoria's Secret lingerie, but they're a
lot more comfortable than a yeast infection.
If for some reason you still don't want to wear cotton underwear though, there are some
non-cotton options that are better than others.
Dr. Melissa Piliang told Health,
"Panties made of things like polyester, nylon, Lycra or Spandex sometimes have more stretch
and lay nicer under clothing and still come with that cotton crotch."
Watch out for thongs, though.
While they don't pose too much of a threat if you're healthy and not prone to infections,
for some people thongs are a quick way to spread bacteria.
Dr. Jill M. Rabin told HuffPost
"If you have a little bacteria, E. coli is the most common bacteria in the colon, in
the back part of the fabric and you're physically active, that material may move.
All it has to do is move an inch or two and it's next to the vagina or urethra.
That thong may be depositing colonic bacteria into your vagina or urethra."
Additionally, wearing a thong while on your period can increase the risk of infection
even more, as menstrual fluid raises the pH fluids in your vagina, making it easier for
bacteria grow.
Thongs can also irritate the sensitive skin in your nether regions and exacerbate hemorrhoids.
What about going commando?
It may surprise you to learn that not wearing underwear to bed isn't just safe but may also
be beneficial.
Dr. Suzanna Chatterjee told Oprah,
"I recommend my patients sleep without underwear to give their vulvar skin a break from constant
coverage, this helps reduce chronic inflammation.
If you do wear underwear to sleep, find a pair with full coverage to avoid overnight
irritation."
Oh, and one more thing: change your underwear every day.
No matter how great your gusset is, there's only so much it can do.
Check out one of our newest videos right here!
Plus, even more List videos about your underpants are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.