Brief versus Thong Hygiene in Obstetrics and Gynecology (B-THONG): A survey study

The aim of this study was to evaluate if thong use is associated with a higher report of urogenital infections, including urinary tract infections, yeast vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis.

A cross-sectional survey regarding underwear preferences and infectious history was designed and distributed to women via a crowdsourcing service. All survey questions related to the last 12 months. Parametric and nonparametric statistical methods were used to compare responses between thong wearers and nonthong wearers. Thong wearers were defined as women who wore a thong equal to or more than 50 % of the time.

Nine hundred and eighty-six respondents met inclusion criteria and completed the survey; 186 (18.9%) were defined as thong wearers and 800 (81.1%) were defined as nonthong wearers in the last 12 months. Reported rates of urogenital infections in the last 12 months were not significantly different for thong wearers versus nonthong wearers. Thong use was not an independent predictor of any urogenital infection in this study.

In this large cross-sectional study we found that oral sex was the only independent predictor of urinary tract infection and bacterial vaginosis, and that wearing noncotton crotch underwear was associated with yeast vaginitis. Wearing thong underwear was not associated with any urogenital infections. Medical providers should discuss sexual practices and underwear fabric, rather than style, with their patients when there is concern for urogenital infection.