This is one bedtime routine EVERY woman should take up – for the good of your lady bits
On top of taking off your make up and brushing your teeth, experts recommend going commando in bed
A SOLID bedtime routine usually involves taking your make up off and brushing your teeth - maybe flossing, on a good day.
But experts have revealed there is one more thing every woman should do before jumping into bed - for the good of their vaginas.
Apparently ladies, we should all be sleeping commando.
That's right, wearing underwear in bed has a big impact on the health of our feminine area.
Regardless of how chilly it is, or who you may happen to be sharing a bed with, you should always remove your pants for sleeping.
Nancy Herta, M.D., an obstetrics and gynaecology expert at Michigan State University told if you're prone to vaginal issues, you should definitely sleep commando as snoozing in pants creates the perfect environment for bacteria.
She explained: "Between discharge and sweat, things tend to get moist down there, and underwear can trap that moisture, creating a breeding ground for bad bacteria.
"Allowing that area to get some air helps to keep it dry and clean."
Dr Herta added that a woman's nether region looks after itself better when it is given some "breathing room".
If the thought of sleeping without knickers on fills you with horror, don't sweat.
Rather than tight, silky undies, swap them for loose fitting cotton pyjamas.
Even in the warmer summer months, the breath-ability of the material should ensure you don't get too hot.
If you're not a 'trousers-in-bed' kinda gal, Dr Herta suggested "loose-fitting cotton underwear, which can help absorb some of the moisture instead of keeping it right against you, like silk or lace does."
While we're talking health when it comes to bedtime, when did you last change your mattress?
Yesterday we reported how research from Hyde and Sleep revealed what we currently sleep on is likely to contain more than half a stone of dead skin cells, providing a feeding ground for dust mites which cause asthma and eczema.
Along with over half a stone of dead skin cells, your mattress is also chockablock with bodily fluids, from sweat and saliva to anything else – depending on what you get up to in your bed.
The company recommends changing your mattress every eight years.