Do Women Wear Their Bra To Bed? Is There a Benefit To It?

Women have adopted some unusual practices in the name of beauty and defying both age and gravity. One of the most debated? Whether there are any benefits to wearing a bra at night. Reportedly, actresses Halle Berry and Marilyn Monroe and model Tyra Banks all followed this practice. 

Is there truly a benefit to wearing your bra to bed? Here, we look at three commonly held myths many women associate with this habit, and we’ll discuss whether or not there is any truth behind these beliefs.

1. Sleeping in a bra will make your breasts perkier.

Wearing a bra to bed might keep the girls in place, but there’s no scientific proof that it will stop the inevitable as gravity pushes down. A bra will support breasts when you’re vertical, but not so much while you’re horizontal. We have yet to find a bra that’s been effective at pushing breast tissue back towards your chest. Unfortunately, your breasts will likely sag whether you wear a bra to bed or not merely because of your physical makeup.

Contrary to popular belief, breasts are not made of muscle, but rather skin, fat, and ligaments. The suspensory, or Cooper’s, ligaments are connective tissue in the breast that keeps them in place. As these ligaments stretch and ultimately weaken, your breasts will start to sag. There are exercises you can do to keep these ligaments strong and firm, which might be a better way to prevent sagging than sleeping in a bra. 

2. Sleeping in your bra makes your breasts sag.

As discussed above, sleeping in your bra, even a tight bra, doesn’t help breasts stay perky, nor does it cause them to sag (so, really, wearing or not wearing one is a matter of how it affects your quality of sleep). 

This wives’ tale likely originated in 2013, after the results of a study conducted by Professor Jean-Denis Rouillon, a sports medicine specialist in France, were published. In the study, Professor Rouillon concluded that not only do bras not prevent women’s breasts from sagging, but they may actually make the sagging worse by preventing the formation of supportive muscle tissue. 

Many doctors and other medical professionals dismissed these findings, mainly because breasts are not made from muscle—just skin, fat, and ligaments.

3. Sleeping in your bra will cause a weird fungus to appear on your body.

Well, this one isn’t entirely false. There is a type of yeast infection that can develop in the folds underneath or between your breasts. Overweight or diabetic women are at a higher risk of getting this type of yeast infection. Sleeping in a bra can cause sweat and moisture to get trapped in the folds of the skin where this infection may develop. Signs of this infection include a shiny red rash in the folds of the breast, itching, burning, and pain at the site of the rash. 

It’s important to wash your bras regularly (hand-washing with a mild detergent is best), especially if you lead an active lifestyle. You don’t want the bacteria and oil from your body getting trapped in the bras’ fabric because it can lead to a yeast infection. If you have this type of infection, wash your bras even more frequently than usual. 

If you choose to sleep in a bra, rest assured that you’re not causing your breasts or the rest of your body any harm. Some women just feel more comfortable wearing a bra to bed. With that in mind, be sure to choose the right bra (in both size and style) for your body. Avoid underwires or a style that’s too tight.

Below are a few of our favorites:

• The Luxe Leisure Front-Close Comfort Bra is made of soft, breathable fabric and is wire-free. The soft, self-adjusting cups stretch to fit, and the wide back is smooth and comfortable. The front closure means there are no hooks in the back, so it’s perfect for sleeping.

• The Off-Duty Front-Close T-Back Comfort Bra. Your comfort and safety should always be a top priority when making any kind of decision—even something as small as whether or not you should wear a bra to bed. Hopefully, our discussion about some of the most common myths we’ve heard about this practice (and the truth behind them) will set your mind at ease and you can make the best decision for you the next time you open that lingerie drawer and consider sleeping in your bra.