Is It Healthier to Wear a Thong or Go Commando Under Yoga Pants?

By ​Jessica Migala

What you wear beneath your workout clothes is none of our business. But if you’re debating between sporting a thong or going commando under yoga pants, you might be concerned about your, ahem, business.

Maybe you want to ditch the undies because doing so feels more breathable for your vulva, for example, or you simply feel too restricted in any type of underwear under tight pants. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be able to do a downward dog or saddle up on the spin bike without having to worry about full-bottom panties bunching up or rubbing in weird ways.

The good news is that when it comes to the question of whether it's better to wear a thong or no undies at all, there's not one right answer here that's best for everyone's vulva. It really comes down to the vaginal health and comfort issues you’re personally dealing with, according to the gynecologists we spoke to.

Let's say you habitually wear a thong under yoga pants and have never had an issue: No irritation, no frequent yeast infections. In that case, "I wouldn't suddenly change anything, since why mess with something that's working?" Sarah Yamaguchi, MD, a board-certified gynecologist at DTLA Gynecology in Los Angeles, tells SELF. If that sounds like you, you can feel confident that you’re not doing anything wrong by wearing a thong, Dr. Yamaguchi says. And same goes for zero undies: As long as you’re comfy, it's all good.

If you are having issues, though, you might need to change things up. Take this scenario: You’re wearing a thong under yoga pants and you notice that your vulva is getting irritated. The inflamed, rawness may be from chafing, which is understandable: "It's a thin piece of cloth that's rubbing the area as you move," says Dr. Yamaguchi. Add in moisture (from sweat or the fact that, hey, it's just generally steamy down there), and friction can really ramp up, she explains. Same goes for tight-fitting yoga pants sans underwear: They could cause friction with your vulva and/or trap sweat, leading to irritation.

If chafing isn't your problem but vaginal infections are, that thong could also be a contributing factor. "Anything that introduces bacteria that is not normally found in the vagina can potentially cause vaginal infections, such as yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis (BV)," Dr. Yamaguchi says. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) may be another concern, she adds, noting that the thong-infection connection is based on anecdotal evidence from gynecologists, since there's not a lot of peer-reviewed research on the topic.

In this case, the thin strip of fabric that makes up the back of the thong could potentially drag fecal bacteria into your vagina or urethra if it's tight or chafing, upping your infection risk, explains Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynecologist in Westchester County, New York. What makes this all worse is wearing a thong made from synthetic, nonbreathable material (which has been shown to increase the risk of yeast infections, regardless of underwear style). All of that—the thong acting as a "bacterial channel," moisture from sweat, and ill-fitting, nonbreathable fabric—could create the perfect storm for an infection, Dr. Dweck tells SELF, especially if you’re someone who's prone to vaginal infections in the first place.

If avoiding infection is your goal, wearing full-butt undies (bikinis, briefs, hipsters) with a breathable cotton crotch is best, Dr. Yamaguchi says. Or opt for seamless full styles, which tend to be made of synthetic fabric but are still better than a thong in this case because they’re not, well, shoved up your crotch. Whatever you wear, make sure your pair fits well and is not overly tight, Dr. Yamaguchi advises—again, to avoid chafing and spreading potentially harmful bacteria.

But if you don't want to deal with undie lines or you’re just not a full-bottom person, then going commando is a healthier habit to ward off infection. Yes, a tight pair of yoga pants could also trap sweat, but they’re also not rubbing against your anus and then vagina as you move, Dr. Yamaguchi says. Ideally, the crotch of the pants will be made of moisture-wicking fabric, adds Dr. Dweck, since, again, bacteria thrive in a moist environment.

Of course, there are a lot of factors that could potentially lead to a vaginal infection or irritation, but making health-conscious underwear choices is an easy way to decrease your risk of both, Dr. Dweck says. Here are a few more gyno-approved tips to keep in mind:

Swap undies. If you’re going from work to the gym, are currently wearing a thong, and want to continue wearing a thong, change into a new one, advises Dr. Yamaguchi. A clean pair ensures that the back strip of fabric is free from bacteria from your rectum prior to working out.

Change ASAP. Regardless of what underwear you wore (or didn't wear!) to exercise, "get out of your wet workout garments as soon as you’re able to" in order to help avoid irritation or a possible infection, Dr. Dweck says. And if you’re showering after your workout, be sure to towel yourself off well for the same reasons.

Clean up with mild soap. Speaking of showering, washing the sweat and bacteria away from your vulva after a workout can also keep it happy, but if yours is on the sensitive side (i.e., you regularly experience irritation or infection), Dr. Dweck recommends sticking with mild soap and water. Check the label and look for words like "mild," "gentle," or "sensitive"—and avoid fragrance if you can, since added scents can be irritating, she says. (Also worth noting: Soap should only be used around your vulva—it should never go inside your vagina. That usually doesn't end well!)

Let your vulva breathe. After your shower, change into underwear (thong or otherwise) that has a cotton or moisture-wicking crotch. It's also ideal to wear clothes that are on the looser side to let the area breathe, Dr. Dweck says—this helps keep moisture away from your vulva. What you want to avoid is showering and then putting your sweaty yoga pants back on, she adds.

Don't worry if you forget. If you’re about to work out or halfway through your routine and realize you’re wearing a thong under your yoga pants, it's okay. Just try to remember next time—and don't sweat it. (Har, har.) "You are not going to permanently ruin your vagina by wearing a thong to a hot yoga class," Dr. Yamaguchi says.

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