07/23/2016
Why It Pays to Ditch Your Panties
Christina Aguilera is on to something—going commando has its perks. It's comfy, practical, and undeniably s*xy. Here's everything you need to know about going bare.
Christina Aguilera recently caught our attention when she talked about how much she hates wearing underwear. Going pantyless is "empowering," she confessed. "I like to be as free as possible at all times."
Stepping out sans panties is a frisky fashion move more and more chicks like Christina are daring to try. But it's not exactly a new trend; some of history's hottest s*x goddesses, such as Cleopatra and Jean Harlow, reportedly went au naturel beneath their clothes.
Skipping your un**es has practical advantages. First, you eliminate that dreaded wardrobe woe, visible panty lines. Second, you'll never do an emergency load of laundry because you've run out of clean underwear. Plus, briefs and thongs can be icky sweat magnets.
But it's also about reveling in your s*xy side. "Not wearing panties is risqué; you get a naughty rush knowing you're so exposed," explains Los Angeles clinical s*xologist Ava Cadell, PhD.
Removing the barrier that shields your intimate anatomy makes you more in touch with your innate sensuality, she adds.
Another benefit to being bare: how it affects your man. Whisper that you're pantyless and his lust level will instantly soar. Even if you don't clue him in, he'll still be burning with desire. "Without underwear blocking your body, a man has an easier time picking up on your pheromones, which are natural chemicals you emit below the belt that make you attractive to guys," says Cadell.
Bare-Down-There Drawbacks
Ditching your un**es has a few small pitfalls. One minor risk is a rash that can result from the delicate skin down below chafing against your pants. Another is p***c lice, aka crabs — parasites that are usually transmitted via s*x but can live on towels and other surfaces. If you're wearing a skirt and then sit on a lice-infested towel, they have a direct path to your privates.
Going panty-free during your period makes you more vulnerable to infections. "Anytime you use a tampon, your va**nal opening is more exposed, allowing bacteria to enter and trigger bacterial vaginosis or a urinary tract infection," says Lisa Masterson, an ob-gyn at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. "Since your va**na isn't covered by un**es, you're more susceptible to these possibly serious conditions."
And what about ordinary daily discharge? Without panties, the inside of your clothes may end up with a slight trace. But it's not a health risk. "As long as you wash your private parts daily, you won't increase your odds of developing an infection," says Dr. Masterson.
The bottom line on going bare: It's all about personal preference. You can do it as seldom or as often as you'd like and it'll be your s*xy secret — that is, unless you decide to share. Ahem, Anja.
By Sara Bodnar
Oct 19, 2012
