By Nicole Lippay
Either you feel super comfortable with it, or the thought if it makes you squirm: maybe sleeping naked isn’t for everyone—but it should be. 
According to Dr. Jennifer Pearlman of PearlMD Rejuvenation, a Women’s Health Clinic in Toronto, sleeping sans-jammies can help to lower your body temperature and help you to get a better night’s sleep: “Research has shown that lowering the body temperature can result in fewer nighttime awakenings and can trigger the release of key anti-aging hormones melatonin and growth hormone, while also lowering levels of the stress hormone, cortisol,” she explains. We’ve all experienced the serious impact a restful sleep can make on your day—you’ll not only be in a better mood in the morning, but you’ll be able to concentrate much more easily at work.
Besides a killer sleep, your vagina will thank you for casting your undies aside. “More growth hormone and less cortisol secretion can support better sexual function and vaginal health. Wearing tight, restrictive clothing can lead to changes in the vaginal temperature and pH, which may induce overgrowth of unvafourable bacteria leading to infection and symptoms like itch, discharge and odour,” explains Dr. Pearlman. Getting some air to your lady parts will keep you much more comfortable and you’ll also have to wash fewer pairs of underwear! Truly a win-win situation.
It’s not just you that’ll enjoy sleeping naked—your partner will dig it, too. “Sleeping naked with a partner will enhance skin-to-skin contact and intimacy,” says Dr. Pearlman. While this may seem like a no-brainer, we often need that physical touch to bring us into the present moment and stop our minds from spinning around what we’re going to pack for lunch, or that meeting you have on Tuesday. “As women age, we require more time for arousal and so foreplay and sexual touching takes on a more important role. Skin-to-skin contact can induce the release of oxytocin, the feel good hormone which facilitates orgasm,” explains Dr. Pearlman. O, yes.
As if the above reasons weren’t enough, sleeping naked can be a great asset to your weight loss plan. “The increase in growth hormone leads to a more lean body mass and the decrease in cortisol means fewer food cravings and less of a risk of belly fat. Sleeping naked supercharges your brown fat stores, which are boosted by the need to auto-regulate the body temperature. Brown fat burns more calories than white fat, and improves blood sugar and cholesterol,” explains Dr. Pearlman.
If you’re not interested in having more sex, keeping your weight down or sleeping soundly—we’ll understand if you take a pass. But as for the rest of us, we’re kicking off our panties and climbing in between the sheets ASAP. Sleep tight!
Originally published as “Is Sleeping Naked Really Better for You?” at 29secrets.
