Sleeping in underwear could do more harm than good, according to experts. The problem is worse for men than in women since sleeping with underwear can affect male fertility.
Going naked at night to let the nether regions breathe is a good option to stop bacteria from gathering. Bacteria can gather in that part of the body, especially when sweaty, which can lead to infection.
When the area is constantly covered by a fabric that is not absorbent, moisture can gather which would make the perfect breeding ground for yeast or bacteria, according to Dr. Alyssa Dweck, a specialist in the filed of gynecology from New York. The moisture could also lead to severe skin irritation, chafing and infections, according to Daily Mail.
According to a study that observed 500 men over the course of one year, men who wore boxer shorts during the day and slept naked at night had lower levels of damaged DNA sperm quality. The men who also preferred loose-fitting boxers provided less DNA fragmentation by 25 percent.
The results were compared to men who preferred wearing tight underpants all day, according to Science Alert. Although the sample size of the study is argued to be relatively small, the study suggests that heat exposure due to wearing tight underwear proves to be true.
Men who sleep in boxers or briefs can change the quality of their sperm since the genitals get too warm at night, according to Dr. Brian Steixner, director of the Institute for Men's Health from Jersey Urology Group. Steixner explains that the private regions need to be adjusted to the right temperature for optimized sperm production.
For men who cannot sleep without wearing underwear at night, a loose-fitting pair of cotton boxers should be worn instead. For women, on the other hand, granny panties would be the better option since they are looser.
However, further research is needed to show if changing the choice of underwear can improve the health of sperm. The focus of future research should find out if switching to looser underwear can increase fertility, according to Allan Pacey, male fertile expert from Sheffield University in the UK.
