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The best and worst underwear for your vagina — and the gross reasons you shouldn't wear thongs every day

The best and worst underwear for your vagina — and the gross reasons you shouldn't wear thongs every day

New York Post16-06-2025
We won't beat around the bush: When it comes to vaginal health, all underwear is not created equal.
Certain styles and fabrics are better than others at keeping things clean and infection-free down below, according to Winx Health's medical adviser Dr. Carly Ross.
And while thongs and G-strings are perfectly fine for occasionally avoiding visible panty lines, Dr. Ross told The Post there are some pretty gross reasons you should avoid using them every day.
3 Some underwear creates a healthier environment for vaginas than others.
Svitlana – stock.adobe.com
The best underwear for your vaginal health
Breathe, baby, breathe.
'For everyday wear, sticking to simple, soft, cotton underwear is the healthiest choice,' Ross said.
'Look for underwear that's free from harsh dyes, synthetic fragrances, or chemical finishes. Underwear made from 100% cotton, especially in the crotch lining, helps keep moisture levels balanced.'
She also recommends moisture-wicking natural fibers, 'as long as they're soft and allow airflow.'
As for which cuts to pick, more coverage is generally going to be better for your bits.
'Styles like briefs, boyshorts or even high-waisted cuts tend to offer the most comfort and coverage without excessive friction,' Ross said.
'The most important factor isn't just the cut, but the fabric and fit. Underwear shouldn't be too tight or trap moisture, but it should allow your skin to breathe,' she noted.
3 Cotton underwear is best for moisture and airflow, while briefs and boyshorts are superior styles.
Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com
And the worst
'The worst style of underwear for vaginal health are tight-fitting thongs or synthetic lace underwear, especially when worn daily,' Ross said.
'Synthetic materials like nylon, polyester, or lace don't allow the skin to breathe and can trap heat and moisture, creating the perfect breeding ground for yeast and bacteria to grow,' she added.
'Lace and mesh can feel sexy, but they can cause friction and chafing, especially if worn for long periods of time,' Ross said.
Plus, any fabrics treated with fragrances, dyes or chemical finishes can 'irritate sensitive vulvar skin and disrupt natural pH balance,' she noted.
3 Thongs are fine for occasional wear, but wearing them everyday can increase your risk of infection.
Volodymyr – stock.adobe.com
But are thongs really that bad?
'Thongs can definitely be a contributing factor to vaginal health issues like UTIs and yeast infections, especially if you live an active lifestyle,' said the doc.
That close fit and friction can be a 'breeding ground' for bacteria — including E. coli from back there — which can be carried into the vagina or urethra and lead to urinary tract infections and yeast infections.
That's especially true if you're wearing them for a long time or while exercising.
'Wearing them daily might not be the best choice for everyone,' she went on.
'That said, occasional thong use is generally fine if you're comfortable and not having any issues. But for everyday wear, especially during long or active days, a breathable, cotton-lined, fuller-coverage underwear is usually a healthier option for vulvar and vaginal health,' Ross said.
'Everyone's body is different, so the key is to pay attention to what feels right for you … Remember — it is fine to wear these styles occasionally but they're not the healthiest option for everyday use,' she added.
A bonus hygiene tip
'Maintaining good hygiene habits is key to preventing infections,' Ross said.
She recommends a vaginal probiotic like Winx Health's Vaginal Wellness Kit, which includes both a probiotic and a UTI protection supplement with ingredients like cranberry, D-mannose and vitamin C.
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Starmer issues last-ditch appeal as thousands of doctors to strike
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Starmer issues last-ditch appeal as thousands of doctors to strike

Thousands of resident doctors are beginning a five-day strike after talks with the Government collapsed over pay. Resident doctors will take to picket lines across England from 7am on Friday in a move which is expected to disrupt patient care. Members of the public have been urged to come forward for NHS care during the walkout, and are being asked to attend appointments unless told they are cancelled. GP surgeries will open as usual and urgent care and A&E will continue to be available, alongside NHS 111, NHS England said. Sir Keir Starmer made a last-minute appeal to resident doctors, saying the strikes would 'cause real damage'. 'The route the BMA Resident Doctors Committee have chosen will mean everyone loses. My appeal to resident doctors is this: do not follow the BMA leadership down this damaging road. Our NHS and your patients need you,' he wrote in The Times. He added: 'Most people do not support these strikes. They know they will cause real damage.' 'Behind the headlines are the patients whose lives will be blighted by this decision. The frustration and disappointment of necessary treatment delayed. And worse, late diagnoses and care that risks their long-term health. 'It's not fair on patients. It's not fair on NHS staff who will have to step in for cover for those taking action. And it is not fair on taxpayers. 'These strikes threaten to turn back the clock on progress we have made in rebuilding the NHS over the last year, choking off the recovery.' It comes after Wes Streeting sent a personal letter to NHS resident doctors, saying: 'I deeply regret the position we now find ourselves in.' The Health Secretary said while he cannot pledge a bigger pay rise, he has been committed to progress to improve doctors' working lives. He also said he does not now believe the British Medical Association's resident doctors committee (RDC) has 'engaged with me in good faith' over bids to avert the strike. 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Mounjaro boobs? Weight loss drug can shrink breast cancer tumors, says new study
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time14 hours ago

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Mounjaro boobs? Weight loss drug can shrink breast cancer tumors, says new study

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Immigrants forced to eat 'like a dog' in 'overcrowded and chaotic': detention centers
Immigrants forced to eat 'like a dog' in 'overcrowded and chaotic': detention centers

USA Today

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Immigrants forced to eat 'like a dog' in 'overcrowded and chaotic': detention centers

A Human Rights Watch report said three Miami detention facilities subject people to inhumane, at times life-threatening, conditions. Forced to eat the day's only meal "like a dog," with their hands shackled behind their back. Detained for days with nothing but shoes for a pillow and no other bedding ‒ just cold, concrete floors and constant fluorescent lighting. Medical care that denied a man with diabetes insulin for a week and may have contributed to at least one death. A Human Rights Watch report says three Miami immigrant detention facilities have subjected people to conditions so inhumane they have become, at times, life-threatening. Many ICE detention facilities are becoming overcrowded and conditions are deteriorating, according to the July 21 report. The July 21 report, which drew from the testimonials of 17 detainees, examined conditions since President Donald Trump took office in January. 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'All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers,' McLaughlin said in an emailed statement. 'Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE. ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens.' Southern, Republican-led states have emerged as key partners in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Florida stood up a tent city called "Alligator Alcatraz." Georgia is expanding its largest ICE detention center. And Louisiana is hosting the most dedicated ICE facilities outside Texas. Time at all three facilities Entrepreneur Harpinder Singh Chauhan, 56, spent time at all three facilities during nearly four months as a detainee, beginning in February. The British national, who first entered the country on an E-2 investor visa in 2016, opened small businesses in Florida. 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Detainees were beaten for protesting their treatment, and one man was hogtied, the report said. Officials also used solitary confinement as punishment, according to women who spoke to Human Rights Watch. In June, detainees at Krome signaled 'SOS' to news cameras from the yard over conditions. The report said women were placed at Krome, a privately operated men's facility, where they were crowded in small holding cells without gender-appropriate care or privacy. USA TODAY reported on similar conditions inside Krome, where one man died ‒ an incident Human Rights Watch suspects may have been linked to medical neglect. Akima, a private Alaska Native Corporation that operates Krome, didn't respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. But in response to a Human Rights Watch letter summarizing findings and questions, the company said it couldn't comment publicly on the specifics of its "engagement" with the government, according to the report. 'Like a dog' Midway through his detention, on April 15, Chauhan was placed inside a crowded Federal Detention Center holding cell awaiting transfer without a meal for the day. Styrofoam food containers sat full for hours on other side of the federal prison's bars. In the evening, he and others finally received food. But with their hands shackled at their waist, they were forced to eat by putting their faces to bite into potatoes rolling around, rice and dry chicken, he said. 'You've got to kind of prop it up with your knees and then eat out of it like a dog,' Chauhan said. Another 21-year-old detainee interviewed by Human Rights Watch also described being forced to eat like an animal. The 25 to 30 men forced to eat this way were transferred from the facility several hours later, Chauhan said. Less than a week later, at Broward, Chauhan collapsed in the heat awaiting dinner and was taken to a hospital, with no information given to his family. 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