Best and worst underwear for your health: medical experts

I see London. I see France. Are you wearing the right underpants?

Picking out the perfect panties or choosing between boxers and briefs isn’t just about snagging the latest Skims slip or channeling Jeremy Allen White’s newest Calvin Klein ad.

“Generally speaking, the best fabrics for underwear are natural fabrics like cotton,” Dr. Andrea Braden, a board-certified OB-GYN in Atlanta, told HuffPost, which consulted a handful of experts on the subject.

“It really has to do with the breathability of that fabric,” she added. “It should be soft and not slippery.”

Air circulates better through natural fabrics like cotton hemp, bamboo and linen underwear, compared to synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon and satin.

“[For women], it is important for vulvar health to have good air circulation,” Braden explained.

However, the benefits of cotton (or any fabric) can vary, depending on the quality of the fiber, types of weaves and circumstances.

“During times of increased perspiration, cotton can retain too much moisture, leading to bacterial and fungal overgrowth,” Dr. Scott D. Miller, the medical director at Wellstar Urology in Atlanta, also told the outlet.

In these situations, he suggests a combination of cotton and synthetic fiber.

Pure polyester “is probably the worst fabric for underwear,” Miller noted.

“Although it is among the lightest materials, it is neither absorbent nor very breathable,” he said. “However, its durability makes it a good addition as a small proportion of [fabric blends].”

The weave of the underwear is also an important factor to note when choosing.

Dr. Suzy Lipinski, a board-certified OB-GYN at Pediatrix Medical Group in Denver, told HuffPost that “woven, rather than knit, fabrics or thick fabric can also limit how much [the fabric] breathes.”

Once you’ve chosen the right cotton weave for your intimates, finding the right cut for you is a bit more personal.

“The key is a comfortable fit that is not constricting or chafing,” Lipinski told the outlet. “This means different underwear for different body types. … Ask yourself, does the underwear feel comfortable and move with you or tighten up and constrict? Does the underwear ride up or cause chafing? Even two pairs of underwear in the same cut but [from] different brands can fit differently.”

The experts did warn that women’s thongs can be tight and restrictive and pull bacteria from the rectal area toward the vaginal opening, which could lead to a bacterial infection.

If you’re prone to infections, save the whale tale for special occasions.

And when it comes time for bed, less is more, the experts agreed.

“In general, I recommend sleeping without underwear,” said Dr. Fenwa Milhouse, a board-certified urologist with Down There Urology in Chicago.