The internet – and the limitless wealth of information it provides – is an immeasurably useful tool for more reasons than anyone can list.
Yet though there’s seemingly no end to the advantages it brings to our daily lives, it’s perhaps the fact that it’s a bottomless well of shared knowledge that makes it arguably the greatest invention of recent centuries.
There is no topic that you can’t read up on, no answer that’s beyond your reach if you know where to look. Mysteries that would have remained elusive in all the decades up to now can be solved quite literally with a few clicks of a mouse, a few stabs at a keyboard.
Over the years we’ve seen many old myths debunked online, just as we’ve seen life-hacks and helpful hints become common knowledge, whereas once they would have been wisdoms held by only a small few.
Have you ever wondered, for example, why your underwear ends up looking like it’s been stained by a bleach spot? If you have, you’re apparently not alone, with the question being posed online by women seeking answers.
And answers they found. As it turns out, said patches of coloring have absolutely nothing to do with your machine (as some have speculated).
No, reports claim that the actual cause of these “bleach” patches is a result of the natural pH levels of the vagina.
Now, before we go further, let us stress that this is nothing to be concerned about. Rather, finding the aforementioned patches on your underwear is a healthy sign. As we know, pH levels determine the acidity or alkalinity of a given liquid or substance, and according to one helpful post on Twitter:
“Now that everyone is aware, it’s completely normal to discover lighter patches in a woman’s underwear or knickers due to the acidic nature of the vagina, with a pH range of 3.8-4.5. So, I suppose it’s time to abandon the notion of it being a result of poor hygiene. In fact, a healthy vagina is one that can bleach the fabric.“
Dr. Vanessa MacKay, with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, explains: “The vagina has a self-cleaning mechanism through natural secretions. It contains beneficial bacteria that serve to protect it.”
As per the National Institutes of Health, the usual vaginal pH ranges between 3.8 and 5.0, making it moderately acidic in relation to the naturally neutral pH level of 7.
Dr. MacKay adds that it’s perfectly normal and healthy for women to have clear or white discharge from their vagina, while disturbing the natural balance can lead to infections.
WHY DOES SOME OF MY UNDERWEAR BLEACH AND NOT OTHERS?
Great question. The more natural the fibres are the easier it is for them to bleach. Like Rosaseven period underwear, which is made entirely from natural fibres, the acidity in your discharge can bleach the fibres more easily, as opposed to the synthetic fibres of some underwear & period underwear brands, which don’t bleach easily or at all depending on the fibre content.
Bleaching is also more likely to be noticeable on your darker underwear than your lighter pairs which may still be bleaching; it’s just not as easy to spot.
HOW CAN I PREVENT MY UNDERWEAR FROM BLEACHING?
Now, whilst remembering that the bleaching that can happen is completely normal and healthy, it’s understandable that we may not want our underwear to stain this way, especially on those darker colours.
If you notice that you are producing more discharge around certain times of the month, you could try wearing period underwear at that time. This absorbs the discharge more than your regular lingerie and is more comfortable for you anyway, as well as then keeping your fancy panties less in contact with your heavier days of discharge.
Equally you can also rinse your underwear right after wearing it before it goes in the wash, removing most of the discharge; because if after you’ve taken them off, they sit in your laundry basket until your next load, then it’s more likely to develop the bleaching stains due to oxidation.
WHY DIDN’T I KNOW ABOUT UNDERWEAR BLEACHING BEFORE?
You are not alone in wondering this, as more information is becoming available, and people are starting to talk more openly about the vagina and anatomy, it appears it’s a gap in people’s education that needs correcting. Women of all ages are either seeing it for the first time as their discharge is changing through their reproductive years or having worn synthetic underwear for many years, they’re now seeing bleaching on natural fibre underwear for the first time.
“In a world where vaginas aren’t talked about much, it’s no surprise nobody passes on this information in school or at home, because many educators, parents and even healthcare professionals don’t know these facts either,” Zoe Williams of the Vagina Museum said.
“The gynaecological anatomy is overlooked regularly, in research as much as society. For example, the first detailed anatomical study of the internal clitoris – an organ which is 10cm long! – wasn’t published until 1998. People at all levels don’t talk about vaginas and vulvas, due to a climate of shame and stigma. This means people can’t gain a full understanding of their own anatomy and allows myths and misconceptions to flourish.”
So, now that you do know that it’s completely normal and a sign of a good & healthy vagina, you don’t need to worry, and we can keep on talking about our bodies and further educating generations to come.
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