They may seem hardy, what with all the menstruation, sexual activity and ability to birth a baby – but our vaginas are quite delicate places. Fragile even, like flowers. 

“The vagina is special and delicate,” gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew tells Body+Soul. “And vaginal health is maintained by the ‘good bacteria’, the most prevalent being lactobacilli, that live there.”

These beautiful reproductive organs have the capacity to bring all sorts of pleasure into our lives, from sexy times to bundles of joy. But beyond your monthly cycle, making sure you pee after sex and booking in your five-yearly pap smear, how much care are we actually giving our vaginas? 

Maybe not as much as we ought to, as it turns out most of us are putting ours at risk every single day.

Unbreathable underwear

“The vagina and vulva are made of fragile skin and mucous membrane cells that need oxygen to remain healthy,” explains Dr Lew, who is the director of Women’s Health Melbourne. 

And what gets in the way of a fresh breeze of oxygen? Our knickers – more specifically, what they’re made from. 

“Materials that fail to ‘breathe’ can cause skin irritation via various mechanisms,” Dr Lew says. “One under-recognised cause is contributing to a negative change in the symbiotic flora that live on intimate skin, the urogenital microbiome. 

“Disturbance in our healthy skin bacteria can render skin vulnerable to irritation and injury as well as to infections such as thrush.”

Acute irritation

Unfortunately there are a lot of underwear brands using synthetic fabrics that aren’t breathable, which can cause plenty of problems. 

“Many women suffer from the vicious cycle of relapsing and remitting acute chronic vulvo-vaginal irritation,” the gynaecologist explains. 

Beyond unsafe underwear, however, there are other stylistic choices to blame. 

“A modern trend towards permanent pubic hair removal and the popularity of skinny jeans, tights and leggings has coincided with problems of this nature becoming more prevalent,” Dr Lew says.

“Problems suffered include resting itch, irritation and discomfort which can extend to sexual discomfort and even sexual pain.” 

Treatments can include antibiotic therapies to try to restore balance within the vagina, barrier creams and acid regulators to soothe irritation and promote restoration of ‘good’ bacterial dominance.

How do you pick the right panties?

#1. Choose your material wisely 

Always read the label. “The safest option is natural fabrics that breathe, such as cotton or bamboo,” Dr Lew says. 

“And beware of synthetic fabrics that don't breathe.”

#2. Opt for body-friendly shapes

In bad news to lovers of the more intimate fits, itsy bitsy teeny knickers aren’t great for our downstairs. 

“G-strings can chafe and cause friction injuries, especially if they are ill fitting,” explains Dr Lew. “While a fuller brief is less likely to cause a secondary problem of chafing or friction injury to delicate skin.”

She recommends buying “body-friendly shapes” and “avoiding cuts and patterns that chafe”.

#3. Sleep in the buff

After being wrapped up in undies all day long, there is nothing our vaginas love more than some fresh air. So consider this your permission to go nude. 

“I think it's healthy and good practice to sleep without any knickers,” the gynaecologist recommends. “This allows delicate skin the freedom to recover, breathe, repair and heal for at least one-third of the day.” 

The best underwear for your vagina

Nala Bio High Waist Brief, $25 from wearnala.com

These high-waist briefs from sustainable brand Nala are not only created with inclusivity and ethical practice in mind, but they’re made from fabric that’s nice to your vagina too. 

The gusset is made from breathable cotton, and the mesh upper is finished with a sheer organza elastic around the legs and a wide-folded wasitbanded for added comfort. That means underwear that doesn’t chafe and keeps you feeling secure (and not sweaty!) all day long. 

Shop here

Step One: Smooth Fit, $25 from stepone.life 

Made from organic bamboo viscose fabric that is not only soft and breathable but also naturally anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and moisture-wicking, Step Up is a step up in underwear choices that actually benefit women’s health. 

With a bikini brief and full brief available, there are plenty of options to fit your taste, while the brand gets bonus points for using a fabric that is a lot less damaging to the environment to make than other types. 

Shop here

Paire Lipstick Underwear, $45 for three from paire.com.au

Created from 64 per cent recycled nylon and 36 per cent spandex, Paire’s Lipstick Underwear isn’t just travel friendly – with its ability to roll up to the size of a lipstick – but it's also ultra skin-friendly. 

Paire’s RegSilk is made from regenerated silk cocoon protein fibres which have antibacterial and anti-smell properties to keep sensitive bits happy and stop bacteria from building up. 

As the brand says: “Thrush? Don’t know her.”

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Modibodi Active Brief, $33 from modibodi.com 

Modibodi’s period panties do more than just substitute a tampon or pad (which FYI is a total game changer!) – they're also super kind on your vagina. 

The moisture-wicking underwear absorbs sweat and fights odour and bacteria to keep you cool, dry and healthy.

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Boody Full Briefs, $16.95 from boody.com.au

Another bamboo brand, Boody’s products are crafted from organically grown bamboo viscose which contains micro-gaps, providing ventilation to keep you feeling fresh.

While the fabric is naturally absorbent and wicks away moisture up to four times faster than cotton. 

Shop here