The pros and cons of wearing a bra while sleeping are still confusing in the community. Some women think that not wearing a bra while sleeping will make the breasts sag. Others believe that wearing a bra during sleep will block lymph node activity and even cause breast cancer. So, which one is right?
Dr. Amber Guth, director of the Breast Cancer Surgery Multidisciplinary Fellowship at NYU Langone Medical Center, says there is no medical certainty in terms of the health benefits or risks of sleeping in a bra.
Sleeping in a bra can provide comfort, but it's not a guarantee that your breasts can stay tight. Women with large breasts tend to sleep in a bra, as do pregnant women, as their breasts can grow to twice their normal size and are much heavier.
Pros of wearing a bra while sleeping
Women with large breasts and pregnant women may find it more comfortable to wear a bra while sleeping. The reason is, pregnant women can experience breast enlargement up to twice the normal size so that their breasts feel heavier.
Wearing a bra while sleeping is useful for providing comfort to women. But it is not true to say that this can prevent breast sagging. A number of factors such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss, gravity, and reduced collagen have a bigger impact on changes in the shape or sagging of the breasts.
Cons of wearing a bra while sleeping
Until now there has not been enough research to prove the medical benefits of using a bra while sleeping. However, there are several health benefits that can be obtained from not wearing a bra while sleeping. The benefits of not wearing a bra at bedtime include reducing sweating, improving sleep quality, and reducing the risk of irritation, and lymphatic blockage.
When the room temperature rises at night, wearing a bra to bed can cause the breast area to sweat and irritate. Especially if someone has been wearing a bra all day long, the air circulation in the skin pores can be closed. So that the skin on the breast becomes moist and bacteria are easier to breed. When this happens, itching, fungus, and irritation can appear.
Bras that are too tight and stiff can also clog the fluid in the axillary lymph nodes in the armpit area which functions to fight cancer cells.
So, should I sleep in a bra or not?
So far, wearing or not wearing a bra while sleeping doesn't seem to be a problem. This is because there is not enough research to answer this question. The pros and cons of wearing a bra while sleeping only affect the personal comfort aspect of a woman.
If there is redness and pain in the breast, shoulder, or back area, it's a good idea not to use a bra that is too tight. Also, avoid wearing a bra that has been used for activities from morning to night to prevent irritation in the breast area.
There's nothing wrong with not wearing a bra while sleeping if you feel comfortable. It can even improve the quality of a woman's sleep. Thus, there is no need to argue about wearing or not wearing a bra while sleeping. Only you can decide by considering your personal comfort.