17 Best Cotton Underwear for Women and a Healthy “Down There”

From spandex and nylon, to polyester and silk underwear come in a variety of materials. But you shouldn’t take your vaginal health lightly, and that means choosing a pair of panties that are going to keep your nether regions in tip-top shape. We chatted with experts and scoured reviewers to determine which material is best for underwear (spoiler: it’s cotton) and then hand-picked the very best cotton underwear for women from the internet’s wide selection.

Research has found that synthetic underwear materials create a breeding ground for infections, warns Emily Von Bargen, D.O., Cheeky Bonsai’s urogynecologist and gynecologic surgeon and urogynecologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Materials like satin, silk, lycra, polyester, and nylons allow for bacteria and yeast to grow and can even trap heat and moisture, she adds.

“Wearing 100% cotton is super important for vaginal health,” she says. “Breathable, natural materials gently absorb any extra moisture and can actually reduce your chances of developing an infection.” In short: a cotton pair can help ward off UTIs, yeast infections, and general vaginal irritation, Dr. Von Bargen says.

And many other experts agree. “The vulva is a very delicate area,” warns Alexis May Kimble, D.O., board-certified urogynecologist at The Kimble Center for Intimate Cosmetic Surgery. She also suggests choosing cotton underwear because it’s accessible, affordable, and easy to wash and clean.

And instead of getting bogged down on the style of underwear, Dr. Kimble recommends just keeping whatever pair you like clean and ensuring it’s breathable. But we’ll break that down for you later!

How we chose the best cotton underwear

We consulted vaginal health experts Dr. Von Bargen and Dr. Kimble, reviewers who have shared their own thoughts, and the Good Housekeeping Institute, which tests countless products to ensure a fair and accurate representation of each item.

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