5 Underwear Facts Every Grown Ass Woman Should Know

While most of us can say they’ve dissected some form of small-scale mammal or amphibian in high school, we were never really taught to get inquisitive about the female anatomy. Despite some dubious banana and condom acitivty in sexual education, we also didn’t know the dictionary definition for thrush until we experienced its hellish wrath firsthand in our 20’s. Who else can relate? (Literally everyone). 

It’s a sad indictment to know that our past curriculums skipped out on the underwear etiquette and vaginal health tips that could have spared us some tears in later years, but education is exactly why Vee is alive and thriving. We essentially exist to break down social taboos around women’s health, and normalise VERY common, everyday conundrums around everything down thurr. Here, we’re dishing the hottest tidbits on caring for, well, your bits.

From sleeping à la nakey overnight to how frequently you should be replenishing your undies drawer with fresh threads, we’re divulging the best pieces of advice on underwear care. Consider this your Vee-approved crash course to getting undies habits right. 

The Fabric Of Your Underwear Matters, Big Time. 

Your dream underwear should serve fabulous style and health benefits in equal measure, rather than suffocating your nether regions and creating a hot/sticky/damp zone for nasty bacteria to thrive. If you’ve been having underthing flings with synthetic fibres (i.e shiny nylons, constricting polyester and cheap lace), you’re going to be wildly impressed by the shift to natural fibres like cotton and bamboo. You might even notice a reduction in bouts of thrush and UTI’s, due to bamboo’s uniquely breathable, moisture-wicking and naturally antifungal fabrication. 

At Vee, bamboo is our booty-loving preference over cotton, chosen for its kindness on both wearer and world. First off, bamboo uses significantly less water than cotton, making it a more sustainable option for Vee’s staples. Plus, it doesn't need any nasty pesticides or herbicides to grow (unlike oldmate cotton). Bamboo also happens to be the world's fastest-growing plant, which means it's super renewable. It absorbs a tonne of carbon dioxide and produces more oxygen than trees, helping to combat climate change. Bamboo fibre is 100% biodegradable and breaks down naturally sans causing harm to the environment, which is pretty bloody cool.

When the bar has been set so low for a long time, you’ll likely be overwhelmed by the comfort, flexibility and long-term hoo-ha health benefits of Vee’s overachieving bamboo underwear. Bamboo’s got benefits, baby! 

G-string’s Aren’t Ideal For UTI Prone Girlies. 

At Vee, we love a good G-string, but it’s important to be selective when it comes to the fit and fabrication of your favourite barely-there style. Since G-strings often go inside your bottom (a workplace hazard in the underwear world), they can spread bacteria from your bum to your vagina. Besides the initial ‘yuck’ reaction, this also increases your risk of UTIs, yeast infections and vaginal irritation.⁠

“But I LOVE a G!”, you scream. And that’s a fair call, we feel you! It’s simply super important to choose G-strings that are made from an antibacterial fabric (like bamboo) to fight off any back-end bacteria. It’s also worthwhile to check that your G-string isn’t too thin and can stay put without too much friction-causing or unnecessary slip-n-sliding. This will help reduce the likelihood of it slipping right up into no man’s land, if you catch our drift.

Sleep commando 

Give your vagina a breather. As you can get hot and sweaty overnight, it's best to keep this area and open and breezy and possible. When you think about it, underwear is really non-essential overnight unless you’re a period undies kinda operator during that time of the month. Between periods, free the vulva!

Replace your underwear every 6-12 months

You bet we’ve done our research and according to @goodhousekeeping, 83% of clean underwear contains roughly 10,000 living bacteria (!!!). As well as being a grossly confronting stat, this has prompted a revelation for many vagina-havers to consider how frequently they should reboot their undies repertoire. The vast majority of this living bacteria is e.coli (found in human faeces). And guess what type of bacteria is the most common cause for UTIs? You betcha, it's e.coli. This is precisely why refreshing your undies drawer can be one of the smartest preventatives for UTI infections. It sounds so simply, but seriously, this might just be the best reminder you've put in your calendar to date! 

Wear Moisture-Wicking Fabrics When Working Out 

After a sweaty hot mat pilates class or a Hot Girl Walk, you’re going to want to get those undies changed, pronto. While it’s tempting to spend the day in our athleisure wear and float from morning movement to afternoon meandering, your undies will be likely harbouring a lotta sweat from the morning’s PE. Why? For the same reason that we touched on earlier: the more moisture generated, the more likely you are to cop a bacterial infection in your intimate territory. It’s also worth remembering that the tight leggings or bike shorts you’re moving in allow for little ventilation in the crotch area, creating another layer of high-risk moisture-trapping. Keep your underwear fresh to allow for ventilation and prevent any chance for a UTI to sneak in. If you're short on time or have post-gym commitments, opting for breathable and moisture-wicking fabrics like bamboo is truly essential.