Do Thongs or Panty Liners Cause Yeast Infections or BV?
Intimate HealthArticleThongs and daily panty liners are often blamed for yeast infections and BV. In a survey of 986 women, thong wearers reported no more infections than other women, but non-cotton fabric in the crotch went with more yeast infections. A 75-day trial of breathable liners found no rise in yeast or BV in healthy women. Here is what the studies show, and the exception for women with repeat yeast.
Thongs, synthetic underwear and daily liners all get blamed for itching and infections. Here is what the studies found.
Thongs: the fabric matters more than the cut
A survey led by Colorado researchers asked 986 women about their underwear and their infections over the past year.1 About 1 in 5 wore a thong at least half the time.1
| Question | Finding |
|---|---|
| Did thong wearers have more UTIs, yeast or BV? | No difference1 |
| Did fabric matter? | Underwear with a non-cotton crotch went with more yeast infections1 |
| What did predict UTIs and BV? | Oral sex1 |
The authors suggested clinicians talk about fabric, not style.1 It was a one-time survey, so it shows links rather than causes. UK guidance also advises cotton underwear and avoiding tight underwear or tights when you have thrush.2
Panty liners
- A 75-day trial: 107 healthy women in Brazil either wore breathable liners 10 to 12 hours a day or their usual underwear. There was no increase in yeast, BV, irritation or inflammation.3
- A 2014 review of 5 studies found four, all in healthy women, showed no problems.4
- The exception: the fifth study, in women with repeat yeast infections, linked liner use to new episodes.4
So for most women, a liner between periods doesn’t seem to cause trouble.4 If yeast keeps coming back, it’s worth trying a few weeks without liners and logging what happens. See why you keep getting yeast infections.
What helps
- Choose a cotton crotch, whatever the style.1
- Skip tight underwear and tights during an infection, and dry properly after washing.2
- If you use liners, choose unscented ones. See feminine washes, wipes and sprays.
- If itching persists after you change underwear, the cause may be something else; see why your vulva is itchy.
For BV, see what bacterial vaginosis is.
Try: “I keep getting yeast infections even though I’ve switched to cotton underwear. I wear a liner most days. Could that matter, and what else should we look at?”
Down There, Decoded covers this in Chapter 6, “Itch, Sweat, and Stubble,” in a section called “When It’s the Product.” Its Down-There Log records every product that touches your vulva, liners and underwear included, with dates, so a change can be matched to what happened next. See the book.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It isn't a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional who knows your health history. See a clinician for a first-ever yeast infection, symptoms that keep coming back, a fishy smell, sores, pelvic pain, fever, or bleeding that isn't your period. Girl Playbook does not endorse any specific product, test, or provider.
Girl Playbook sells this book. It provides education and worksheets, not individualized medical care.
Sources
The research behind this article, in the order it’s cited. How we source our articles.
- Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research (abstract via PubMed), 2019Brief versus Thong Hygiene in Obstetrics and Gynecology (B-THONG): A survey study (opens in a new tab)abcdefg
- NHS, 2023Thrush in men and women (opens in a new tab)ab
- International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 2011 trial (abstract via PubMed), 2011The effect of "breathable" panty liners on the female lower genital tract (opens in a new tab)↩
- International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 2014 review (abstract via PubMed), 2014A systematic review of the effect of daily panty liner use on the vulvovaginal environment (opens in a new tab)abc
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