If you were to randomly inquire about a favorite type of underwear from women in their 20s, 30s, or 40s, chances are, three out of five would openly confess that lace underwear is their preference.

While it holds allure and appeal to the opposite gender, many who favor lace undergarments remain unaware of the potential risks they pose to vaginal health.

Despite its aesthetic charm, lace lingerie can have less-than-glamorous effects on our intimate areas.

Notably, Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan implemented bans on the sale and importation of lace underwear as early as 2014 due to hygiene concerns. But just how detrimental is lace underwear, truly?

“Lace and other non-breathable synthetic underwear have the tendency to trap heat and moisture against the vulva and vagina,” explained Bone, the U.S. medical director at the gynecological health company Daye, in an interview with Newsweek. “This warm, moist environment creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and yeast overgrowth, potentially leading to infections.”

She further elaborated, “The most common infections caused or exacerbated by non-breathable underwear include yeast infections (such as thrush), bacterial vaginosis, and contact dermatitis.”

Cortesy of Newsweek, By Pandora Dewan