Why You Should Ditch Your Underwear

Yup, Anja's not wearing any panties.
Yup, Anja's not wearing any panties.

You don't have to go as extreme as Anja Rubik at the Met Gala, but going commando has its perks. It's comfy, practical, and undeniably sexy. Here's everything you need to know about going bare.

By Sara Bodnar

Model Anja Rubik got more than a few stares when she hit the red carpet at the Met Gala with a slit up to her hip. It was pretty obvious to, well, everyone that she wasn't wearing underwear. Stepping out sans panties is a frisky fashion move more and more chicks like Anja are daring to try. But it's not exactly a new trend; some of history's hottest sex goddesses, such as Cleopatra and Jean Harlow, reportedly went au naturel beneath their clothes. If you want in on the no-panties movement, read on.

Commando Perks
Skipping your undies 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 sexy side. "Not wearing panties is risqué; you get a naughty rush knowing you're so exposed," explains Los Angeles clinical sexologist 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.

Related: What Should Go Near Your Va-Jay-Jay

Bare-Down-There Drawbacks
Ditching your undies 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 pubic lice, aka crabs - parasites that are usually transmitted via sex 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 vaginal 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 vagina isn't covered by undies, 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 sexy secret - that is, unless you decide to share. Ahem, Anja.


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