Going Commando and 10 Surprising Benefits You Never Knew

This post is about going commando and 10 surprising benefits you never knew.

Oh, Sister! We need to chat. Curl up in your favorite chair with a soft blanket and a warm latte. We’re going to talk about ditching the panties. Yep! We’re going COMMANDO. Oh, gosh… you’re blushing. It’s OK. But promise me you’ll keep an open mind and put on your brave, adventurous cap as we discuss going commando and some surprising benefits you never knew.

If you’re new to Living Reframed, I promise to discuss topics nobody else will. So, let’s talk about freeing your va-jay-jay!

Why I Started Going Commando

To answer this question, I need to give you a little background. First, some of you might think this is a sexual thing and has more to do with my husband’s reaction and love for my propensity to air things out. Like when I lean over and whisper in his ear during a movie at the dine-in theatre, “I’m not wearing underwear; my dine-in show starts at 9:00 pm tonight!”

Too much? Haha! (You can borrow it!)

Welcome to Living Reframed. I digress…

My journey with going commando started because of something much less sexy…

Stinky workout pants.

Yep. I couldn’t determine why my pants smelled so bad after my workouts. Granted, I’ve given birth to five beautiful babies, and let’s be honest, things change down there. But as I started getting back into shape, I noticed I was unable to wear workout pants more than once without washing them. And then, even after I washed them, some just had that icky, permanent sweat odor. My smell and dirty laundry grossed me out.

So, I experimented and researched…

Going Commando—What Surprised Me on Day 1

The first step was to trash all of my underwear, which I had already begun to do. The next step was to go for it! I’ll never forget the first day I went without underwear; it consumed my thoughts throughout the day. In the evening, I experienced a surprising self-awareness and self-love. As moms, we rarely take the time or drastic measures for our health. So, you could say I felt empowered and more in-tuned with my body at the end of the day.

Going Commando—What Surprised Me on Day 2

The following day, I headed to the gym to lift. I wondered how I would feel and if going commando would make me more self-conscious. I was pleasantly surprised when I wasn’t preoccupied with my sweaty smell when doing squats, stretches, and the dreaded abductor machines. Why? Because I couldn’t smell anything! This was a freeing and exciting day!

Going Commando and 10 Surprising Benefits You Never Knew

After I got my first two days under my belt, I never looked back! And the benefits and enjoyable moments never stopped! Although, catch me at the bottom of this post for some words of warning when going commando.

Packing for a trip is simpler and more minimalist when you go commando.

As a result, you’ll have more room for what makes you happy when you’re away from home!

VPL (Visible Panty Lines) are no longer an issue when you ditch the panties.

VPL wasn’t a huge deal because I had worn thongs for two decades when I went commando. But I know VPL is a significant problem for many women.

Not having to buy underwear saves you money.

It’s true! The last time I remember buying panties, they were costly, especially when you throw them out occasionally, which you should.

Going commando reduces your risk of yeast infections.

So, what is a yeast infection? I’m so glad you asked! First, I am not a doctor, and my advice should not replace professional medical advice. But I am a 47-year-old woman whose given birth five times and has lived with a vagina for four decades. So please don’t take my word for it; let’s see what the Mayo Clinic says. “A vaginal yeast infection is a fungal infection that causes irritation, discharge, and intense itchiness of the vagina and the vulva — the tissues at the vaginal opening.”

“Certain underwear can trap moisture, increasing your chances of yeast infections,” Dr. Kecia Gaither, OB/GYN. “Undergarments without a cotton or natural fiber crotch don’t allow ‘breathability’ in the vaginal area, so moisture accumulates, and germs proliferate. If you’re prone to repetitive yeast infections, going commando allows air in the vaginal region, preventing moisture accumulation which yeast thrive in.”

Going commando reduces your vaginal odor.

Let her breathe! As you sweat in your genital area, your underwear may trap moisture or odor-causing organisms. When you don’t wear panties, it’s cooler and less damp, so you will smell better. Moreover, when women ditch their underwear, they prevent bacteria from growing. So if you’re concerned about how you smell down there, skipping underwear might help you.

There is less irritation when you go without underwear.

Too tight underwear can cause rubbing and chafing, and some underwear may irritate your vulva’s sensitive skin.

Going commando is incredibly sexy, with easier access.

It’s time to talk sex. It is so much more convenient when you’re not wearing panties. Not only does it take less time, but it also makes sex more enjoyable. Furthermore, since you don’t have something touching your vulva all day, you’ll be more turned on by your husband’s touch.

Furthermore, knowing you’re not wearing panties makes you feel sexy. All day long, you feel like you’ve got a secret. And I tell you what… It feels spectacular!

Ditching your underwear can result in fewer UTIs.

Women are estimated to get urinary tract infections (UTIs) up to 30 times more often — and non-cotton panties may raise your risk of UTIs. Therefore, you may benefit from going commando if you frequently get UTIs when you wear underwear apart from cotton.

Your confidence grows when you go commando.

Underwear is restricting and annoying. However, the freedom that you feel when going commando is empowering. In addition, research has found that spending time naked helps boost self-esteem and overall body image. If you’re like me, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start two decades ago!

Going commando can diminish vaginal discharge.

So let’s talk about vaginal discharge, ladies. The topic may not be glamorous, but we will address it, nonetheless, as we all have it, and some of us more than others. And there is some good news regarding discharge, but I want to share a quick story before we discuss it to help educate.

Let’s Talk About Discharge

Discharge was my biggest worry as I considered going commando, and diminishing discharge was my biggest surprise! So, this is a weird confession, but nobody ever talked to me about vaginal discharge and the reason for it. It wasn’t until my husband and I practiced the Ovulation Method in my 20s, that I learned its meaning. When we were both college students, I spent two years on birth control and felt like a crazy woman. I was mean, irritable, and not myself, so I vowed to go all natural and stop any prescription birth control. Hence, the Ovulation Method.

The Ovulation Method teaches you how to read your discharge consistency and color and how it changes with your cycle. You can predict your ovulation based on your discharge. Have you noticed when you’re dry, cloudy, slippery clear, cloudy again, then back to dry? You can predict your discharge as it follows your cycle! This knowledge was so empowering to me!

Back to Going Commando

Discharge is a “combination of bacteria, vaginal skin cells, and mucus and fluid from the cervix and vagina,” as OB-GYN Jennifer Paul explains.

“You actually may experience less of it if you stop wearing underwear altogether, especially if you normally wear non-cotton panties,” says OB-GYN Falguni Patel. Why is that? According to Patel, underwear may prevent proper ventilation in your lady parts, resulting in more discharge. 

With that said, without the constant pressure of underwear touching my vulva, it stays inside me when I do have discharge. So, for the most part, I can get rid of it when I go to the bathroom. So, my body retrained itself, and it’s been glorious! But, of course, that’s not to say that I don’t run to the bathroom and do a courtesy wipe now and then.

Going Commando and 10 Surprising Benefits Come With a Word of Warning

You may only want to go commando sometimes, but it can be good for your health, depending on your clothing. For example, a heavy-flow day may require me to pull out an old pair of cotton panties while menstruating. But those days always remind me how much I hate underwear!

So, it’s OK to pass on underwear to feel liberated in your downstairs! Skipping your drawers occasionally may even have benefits—like reducing your risk of fungal infections. However, when wearing rough jeans or tight-fitting yoga pants, you may want an extra barrier between your genitals and your clothing.

You may need to experiment a little to find out when you need the extra support of underwear and when you prefer the unparalleled freedom of going commando.

The best solution is trial and error. So step out of your comfort zone, let your va-jay-jay breathe, and find freedom.

This post was about going commando and the 10 surprising benefits you never knew.