Angelah Nothando Mlotshwa
Environment and Health Reporter
A thong is an undergarment that contains a thin waistband, which has a triangular piece of cloth to cover the front part of a woman’s private parts and a thin string that lies between the buttocks that connects the waistband with the crotch of the garment.
Many women wear thongs as to make sure there are no visible panty lines which it is claimed makes them confident and comfortable.
However, thongs do have serious health disadvantages.
Thongs have also been associated with a range of vaginal and anal health issues, including hemorrhoids, urinary tract infections (UTIs), skin tags, irritation, infection, itchiness, rashes and ingrown hair.
“Thongs do have serious effects, if they are small, they will affect the skin between the bums and are worse in a fact that they do not cover every part. Kuyabangela ingubhane umoya ungena kakhulu. You will also note that one does not wear it everyday”, said a hairdresser Naphisa Sibanda.
“Like any other normal panties do have side effects, a thongs is worse”, she added.
Research shows that most thongs are not made of cotton, but of alternate materials like synthetic and lace. These materials make it difficult for the genital skin to breathe. Non-breathable fabric causes extra moisture which can lead to an increase in the growth of bacteria and further change the pH balance of a woman’s vulva and vagina or yeast infection.
Since the fabric of the thong is usually not breathable, the excess moisture increases the chance of vaginal odour due to bacterial overgrowth or a yeast infection.
Yeast infection is a ubiquitous fungus that can cause various kinds of infections in humans mostly an infection called candidiasis.
Thongs can also move bacteria from one place to the other. The thin and stringy pattern of the thongs can shift the bacteria from ones back to the vagina and vice-versa.
However, wearing a thong doesn’t always guarantee an unhealthy gynecologic situation. Women that are free from conditions like urinary tract or bacterial infections, two of the most common illness blamed on thongs, can wear them and stay perfectly healthy.
ZIM GBC NEWS engaged with a Gynecologist and Obstetric Elton Senguyarayi who said that thongs are not dangerous on genitals organs.
“Good for aerating the genital organs, otherwise its mostly cosmetic with no medical issues.”