While many people can't wait to get home at the end of the day to take off their bras,
others prefer to wear the often-uncomfortable undergarment 24/7.
Some might appreciate the extra support while sleeping and even think it's necessary, but
is it bad to wear a bra to bed?
According to people who know about this sort of thing, wearing a bra to bed is completely
safe.
While this is largely a matter of personal preference, doctors may recommend sleeping
in a bra if your breasts are sore.
There's a rumor that wearing bras to bed, or wearing underwire bras, can cause cancer,
but it turns out that's bunk.
Underwire might not be the most comfortable sleeping choice, but that doesn't mean it's
a carcinogen.
The idea that underwire bras cause cancer seems to stem from a 1995 book called Dressed
to Kill.
The book claims that bras restrict the lymph system, leading to a buildup of toxins.
The authors claimed that women who wore underwire bras for 12 or more hours per day increased
their chances of developing breast cancer due to those toxins.
It sounds scary, but there's no actual scientific evidence to back it up.
If that still doesn't reassure you, consider a 2014 study published in the medical journal
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
The study examined more than 1,000 postmenopausal women with breast cancer, and nearly 500 postmenopausal
women without breast cancer.
After interviewing the women about their bra-wearing habits, the study determined that there is
absolutely no evidence that suggests underwire bras pose any sort of increased cancer risk.
But while sleeping in an underwire bra won't give you cancer, it might pose other health
problems, like cysts or irritation.
Wearing a bra that doesn't fit properly can also lead to a host of problems, and wearing
it 24 hours a day likely only increases the chances of a negative side effect.
A bra that's too tight can inhibit the flow of lymphatic fluid.
That can cause swelling of the breasts, which can potentially lead to pain and temporary
skin discoloration.
That doesn't sound pleasant, and it's probably enough to make many people reconsider wearing
a bra to bed.
But others find that they need the support that a bra offers.
People with large breasts often find that sleeping in a bra is actually more comfortable
than going without, since bras keep everything in place.
Some people even think that wearing a bra to bed will prevent breasts from sagging.
There's even a legend that says this is how Marilyn Monroe maintained her physique.
But is there any truth to this anti-sagging speculation?
Again, the answer is no.
While sleeping in a well-fitting bra is perfectly safe, it doesn't necessarily provide any benefits
beyond additional support.
If you've been sleeping in a bra to keep your breasts perky, you're not doing anything beyond
donning an unnecessary layer of clothing.
As Dr. Seth Rankin, founder of London Doctors Clinic, explained to Cosmopolitan, sagging
is actually caused by the downward pull of gravity on the mass of the breasts.
Thus, bigger breasts sag more, as there's more fat within the tissue for gravity to
work on.
When lying down flat, the effect of gravity pushes breast tissue back towards one's chest,
as opposed to down towards the toes.
The point of wearing a bra is to support breasts from below.
So wearing a bra is essentially redundant when lying in bed, since breasts naturally
compress back down onto the chest.
If you're the type of person who prefers wearing a bra to bed, it's probably a good idea to
choose one without underwire, such as a bralette or a sports bra.
It's also a smart idea to have bras specifically for sleeping in, as wearing your day bras
to bed will wear them out faster.
And remember, it's important to make sure that the bra you're sleeping in is comfortable
and fits correctly.
According to Woman's Day, nearly 80 percent of women are wearing the wrong bra size, so
it's a good idea to get measured by a professional at least once a year.
"I have to take two bras and sew together because your breasts are very different sizes,
almost as if they were unrelated."
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