To Wear or Not to Wear: The Bra Debate for Bedtime

Underwear is an essential for women, as it supports and holds the breasts, promotes local blood circulation, and alleviates the sensation of breast movement during physical activity. Choosing the right underwear during lactation not only stimulates milk secretion but also prevents mastitis and protects the nipples from trauma. However, some believe that women should let their breasts relax during sleep and not wear underwear.

Should women wear underwear to sleep?

During puberty, when secondary sexual characteristics develop, women should choose appropriate underwear to protect their breasts and prevent sagging. However, it is advisable to remove underwear while sleeping to avoid affecting breast blood circulation and reducing sleep quality. Wearing unsuitable underwear to sleep can easily lead to breast diseases. Since there are numerous lymph nerves and blood vessels in the breast that primarily provide ample nutrients to the mammary glands, wearing tight underwear for long periods can hinder skin blood circulation and nutrient supply, causing the breasts to remain in an ischemic state, thus inducing mammary hyperplasia.

Sleeping in underwear can compress the lymph glands, making it difficult to expel toxins produced by the breasts, potentially leading to cancerous changes over time. Additionally, wearing underwear made of chemical fibers for extended periods can also cause breast cancer. Tight underwear worn during sleep can compress the chest and breasts, potentially causing symptoms like chest tightness, shortness of breath, snoring, and even affecting cardiopulmonary function. Moreover, consistently wearing underwear with thin straps to sleep can lead to premature aging of the shoulder and back muscles.

How should women choose underwear?

Breasts are mostly composed of fat, and when fat cells are compressed, the fat follows the flow. Some women wear body-shaping underwear for long periods to shape their body, which can hinder the development of body fat, affect local blood supply, and induce breast fibrosis. It is best to try on underwear in physical stores before purchasing. If the underwear is too small or tight, it can affect breast lymph and blood circulation, and if it is too loose, it can lead to breast sagging.

Women should choose different types of underwear at different life stages. During adolescence, when the breast is in the growth and development stage, underwear should be replaced every two months. During pregnancy, breast size increases due to hormones, so the size of the underwear should be adjusted accordingly. During lactation, the breast enlarges due to breastfeeding, so specialized nursing underwear should be chosen to prevent breast sagging.

Tips:

It is advisable to remove underwear while sleeping to avoid affecting breast health. Underwear should be washed separately from other clothes to prevent cross-infection. Hand washing underwear is the safest method, and it is best to use soap specially designed for underwear, which has excellent bactericidal effects. After washing, underwear should first be dried in a cool place and then exposed to sunlight for disinfection. Underwear should be changed and washed frequently.