Girls told to take off the G-string and wear bigger knickers

German gynaecologists are advising women to wear bigger knickers because they say G-string knickers can damage the skin and cause infections.

Dr Thomas Gent of the Association of Gynaecologists advises that in order to avoid complications women should wear bigger panties.

According to Gent the blame for the rising numbers of patients he is seeing with genital inflammation can be laid squarely on the G-string, as the string part of the underwear causes friction which is an irritant.

Dr Gent says G-strings can abrade and injure the sensitive skin around the genital area, especially if they are too tight or made with badly stitched material, and this damage can encourage the spread of bacteria and cause fungal infections.

But a UK gynaecologist said it was more likely the ill-fit rather than the underwear type that was the likely root of problem.

Mr Nick Panay, consultant gynaecologist at the Queen Charlotte's Hospital, in London, says if a person is wearing something that is two sizes too small it could lead to abrasions and discomfort and if underwear is too tight it can create an ideal environment for fungal infections, such as thrush, to grow and thrive.

Panay says that he is sure properly fitting underwear is not a problem, whether they are briefs or a G-string.