Best Underwear for Menopause: Hot Flashes, Sweating, and Comfort
The right underwear makes a real difference during perimenopause. A guide to fabrics, cuts, and brands that help manage hot flashes and night sweats.
Why Underwear Matters More Than You Might Think
Hot flashes and night sweats are among the most disruptive symptoms of perimenopause, and what you wear directly against your skin either helps or makes things worse. Most conventional underwear is made from synthetic fabrics that trap heat and moisture, turning a brief hot flash into a prolonged, uncomfortable experience. Switching to fabrics and cuts that breathe and wick moisture is one of the simplest and most affordable changes you can make to feel more comfortable day and night. This is not about fashion. It is about finding practical solutions that reduce the intensity and duration of overheating episodes.
The Best Fabrics for Hot Flashes and Sweating
Bamboo fabric is widely regarded as the best option for perimenopausal women dealing with sweating. It is naturally moisture-wicking, breathable, soft against sensitive skin, and has some natural antimicrobial properties that reduce odour. It stays cooler than cotton against the skin during a hot flash. Modal is a semi-synthetic fabric derived from beech tree pulp and behaves similarly to bamboo, feeling silky and remaining soft after many washes. Organic cotton is a good option for women with particularly sensitive skin since it breathes well, though it absorbs moisture rather than wicking it away from skin as effectively as bamboo or modal. Avoid nylon, polyester, and spandex-heavy blends as the primary layer, particularly for night wear.
Cut and Style: Brief, Boxer, or Shorts
The style of underwear affects comfort in different ways depending on your body and symptoms. High-waisted briefs in bamboo or modal offer full coverage without the discomfort of a tight waistband cutting in when you are bloated or sensitive. Boyshorts and boxer briefs distribute fabric more evenly across the thighs, which some women find reduces inner thigh chafing when sweating is a problem. Loose sleep shorts made from bamboo or modal work well as an alternative to fitted underwear at night, giving more airflow. What to avoid is synthetic lace panels, tight elastic across the waist or legs, and underwear with moisture-trapping padding or lining that serves no purpose beyond aesthetics.
Waistband Considerations
Waistband discomfort becomes more noticeable during perimenopause for two reasons. First, bloating and changes in body composition mean the waistline changes more throughout the day. Second, skin sensitivity can increase with hormonal fluctuation, making tight elastic more irritating. Look for wide, flat waistbands made from soft materials rather than narrow elastic. Some brands use a fold-over waistband style that sits flat without digging in. Seamless construction around the waist and leg openings also reduces friction against skin that may be more reactive than it used to be. If you are experiencing vaginal dryness or vulvar sensitivity alongside sweating, seamless, soft fabrics in the gusset area also make a meaningful difference.
Brands Known for Sweat Management and Comfort
Several brands have built ranges specifically with menopause comfort in mind. Chilly's, Knix, and Wunderlove offer bamboo-heavy ranges with flat seams and wide waistbands. Uniqlo's Airism range is a popular affordable option for moisture management, though it is synthetic. For UK shoppers, Marks and Spencer offers an extensive bamboo underwear range at accessible price points, and their Cool Comfort line is specifically marketed for hot flash management. John Lewis stocks several brands including bamboo-based ranges that hold up well in the wash. If you are also dealing with heavier periods during perimenopause, brands like Modibodi and Thinx make period underwear with absorbent gussets in moisture-wicking fabrics.
Night Sweats: The Extra Considerations
Night sweats present a different challenge from daytime hot flashes because you wake up damp and then rapidly cool down, which disturbs sleep further. Layering at night gives you more control. Wearing a loose bamboo sleep short or brief underneath a lightweight bamboo sleep shirt means you can remove a layer in the night without fully waking up. Avoid sleeping in nothing if you are sweating heavily, because damp bedding against bare skin creates the rapid cooling effect that wakes you up. Keeping a small fan near the bed and choosing bamboo or tencel bedding works alongside breathable nightwear rather than replacing it.
Tracking Patterns to Find What Works for You
Hot flashes and sweating episodes are not equally intense every day. They often correlate with stress, alcohol, caffeine, and where you are in your hormonal cycle. Logging symptoms consistently in an app like PeriPlan lets you spot patterns over weeks and months. If you notice hot flashes are worse on certain days or after certain triggers, you can adjust what you wear and when more strategically. This data is also useful to share with a healthcare provider if you are considering HRT or other treatment options. The goal is to understand your own patterns so you can make practical decisions that improve your daily comfort.
Related reading
Get your personalized daily plan
Track symptoms, match workouts to your day type, and build a routine that adapts with you through every phase of perimenopause.