I went on a date the other night and wore a long-sleeved bodysuit, high-waisted jeans, and, of course, my trusty first-date sneakers. I’ve worn bodysuits many times before, but last night the foundation of everything I thought I knew about them was shook.

That sounds dramatic, but I stand by it. See, the bodysuit I chose to wear (of course for the first time) was not a thong. As I gave myself the once-over before dashing out the door for my date, I discovered that it was giving me visible panty lines. (I could have a whole TED Talk about how being concerned about VPL is a sign of the patriarchy holding me back, but I’ll save it for a later date.) Running late with no time to pick out a whole new outfit, I was forced to turn it into a thong myself. That’s me trying to gracefully tell the entire internet that I gave myself a wedgie. Because that was the essence of what I did.

I normally go sans underwear when wearing a bodysuit, but a quick Google search of “do you wear underwear with a bodysuit?” while Ubering to my date yielded conflicting results.

I began to question why I would purchase a non-thong bodysuit, but then my internal monologue jumped to wondering about whether or not you’re supposed to wear underwear underneath a bodysuit. I know, profound thoughts from a grown woman who, again, intentionally gave herself a wedgie. (Does butt-tuck sound better? Ack, no.) I normally go sans underwear when wearing a bodysuit, but a quick Google search of “do you wear underwear with a bodysuit?” while Ubering to my date yielded conflicting results.

See, the whole point of bodysuits is that they tuck into your clothing easily and seamlessly. Adding underwear to the mix seems like a lot of unnecessary fabric down there, but is it actually necessary? Healthier, even? To get the answers, I turned to a pro.

“Underwear with bodysuits is totally unnecessary and defeats the purpose,” exclaims Jené Luciani, undergarment expert and author of The Bra Book. The purpose, here, being to have a seamless, no-line fit. She adds that as long as they have a cotton gusset (or liner for your lady bits), you should be good going commando when wearing your bodysuit. It’ll create a breathable, moisture-wicking environment for your vagina, which is important for your vaginal health.

“A cotton gusset is definitely preferred by many women because it keeps you ‘fresher’ down there and is more breathable, especially if you tend to sweat,” she says. “A night out without it likely isn’t going to bother you too much… unless you’re prone to yeast infections,” she adds. If your bodysuit doesn’t have that little cotton insert or is made out of a non-moisture-wicking material, wearing underwear that is can help prevent issues like yeast infections.

So there you have it. Look for bodysuits with cotton gussets, and please learn from my tale so that you do find yourself tucking your bodysuit into your butt to avoid VPL.

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