Some do it to stay cool. Others prefer waking up without being wadded up in their nightie. Many claim it boosts their physical or psychological health and that it can certainly turbocharge your sex life.
We’re talking about sleeping au naturel, something that a surprising number of people do. According to one (albeit unscientific) survey in 2022, 56 percent of women and 60 percent of men regularly sleep unclothed, with younger people more likely to do so than Boomers or Gen Xers.
“I had always found pajamas to be uncomfortable, so when I started living alone after college, I began sleeping naked,” says Natassia Miller, 33-year-old New York City–based CEO of Wonderlust, a company that makes a card deck to help couples talk about sex. “I’ve never gone back since, except for the occasional socks if it's particularly cold out.”
Still, chucking your jammies is not for everyone. “Sleeping naked is a personal decision. Some people love it, and others just don’t,” says Ellen Barnard, a certified sex educator and owner of A Woman’s Touch Sexuality Resource Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wondering about the health benefits, and any risks? Read on.
The Benefits of Sleeping Naked
Here are five benefits to consider if you’d like to give it a try.
Interested in learning more? Check out Sleep Fix For Longevity
1. Improve Vaginal Health (and Maybe Sperm Quality, Too)
Women prone to yeast and bacterial vaginal infections, vaginal discharge, vulvar itching and dryness may want to sleep naked — or at least without underwear — to allow air to better circulate around this delicate skin, says Sherry Ross, MD, a gynecologist and author of the books She-ology and She-ology, the She-quel.
“Wearing underwear all day and night can create a petri dish for yeast or bacteria to grow,” she tells DailyOM. “Sleeping without underwear allows the vulva and vagina to take a break from being near fabrics during the day that can be irritating to this sensitive tissue.”
Of course, sleeping in the buff can be messy for women who have frequent vaginal discharges or when they get their period. In that case, you might want to wear underwear, but be sure it’s made from crotch-friendly materials like cotton, nylon, or spandex and fits loosely, Dr. Ross says. Or just wash your sheets often.
Men may also benefit their reproductive health by ditching tighty-whities during sleep. In one small study, semen quality improved in those who regularly swapped their daytime briefs for no underwear or loose boxers at night, researchers reported in the journal Andrology in 2016, although they note there was no difference in infertility or how long it took couples to conceive.
Some people worry about bacteria or a microscopic amount of fecal matter that might be sprayed out of the body when passing gas, but experts say that, like discharge or menstrual blood, that’s more of a laundry issue than a health concern.
2. Boost Mood, if You Sleep With a Partner
Skin-to-skin touch is a powerful experience, Barnard says. “Spooning feels different when you have skin against skin, with all the hair, muscle, and curves. It adds an extra layer of sensation and awareness,” she explains.
This contact releases the important hormone oxytocin that is made in the hypothalamus and known to play a key role in bonding. Oxytocin has also been linked to reducing stress.
One study during COVID-19 highlights the importance of this hormone on mood. People who lived alone and experienced touch deprivation early in the pandemic had higher rates of anxiety and negative moods than those getting more skin-to-skin contact, reported University of Miami researchers in 2020.
Of course, this benefit occurs only if you sleep with a partner — and both of you are comfortable doing so in the buff. If not, cuddling with clothing on is great for a relationship, too.
3. Spice up Your Flagging Sex Life
Some couples find sexual desire increases when they sleep naked next to one another, Barnard shares. If your sex life has entered a dry spell, “sleeping naked might lead to the spark of getting turned on more often,” she says.
However, if you do sleep in the nude, it’s crucial to have clear communication outside the bedroom about how each person will signal they’re in the mood. “Just because we’re rubbing our naked bodies together before bed doesn’t mean it’s always an invitation,” Barnard cautions. But when everyone is ready to go, having no clothes on certainly gives you a head start.
4. Fall Asleep Faster — and Stay Asleep
Body temperature naturally decreases before we get ready for bed, a process that helps us fall asleep. Wearing warm clothing and snuggling under covers keeps some people from readily entering dreamland, a problem less likely to happen when nude, or at least when wearing light clothing.
Feeling too hot in the middle of the night can also lead to poorer sleep, researchers have found — something any woman suffering hot flashes during perimenopause or menopause knows all too well. Nighttime heat can also keep you from getting all-important rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, something the scientists in the same study did not find when people are cold.
Still, the best temperature is one that’s comfortable, which may mean turning up the heat a bit in winter or lowering your air conditioning in summer. And be sure your blanket is appropriate for the season.
5. Feel Better About Yourself
Miller says that spending time sans clothing can help reduce shame about our bodies. “Learning how to be comfortable with my own nudity has made me more self-confident and appreciative of my body,” she shares.
Mark Joseph, the 32-year-old founder of the website Parental Queries, started sleeping naked three years ago and immediately adored the feeling of freedom it brings him. “There’s something so liberating about not wearing anything to bed,” he says.
And for one person DailyOM spoke with who is a sexual-violence survivor in Eugene, Oregon (who has chosen to remain anonymous), sleeping naked helped her reclaim her connection with her body.
Of course, this isn’t the case for everyone, Barnard cautions. If a person feels unsafe or vulnerable without clothes, this would not be the right strategy for them.
If you do decide to sleep naked, you might want to keep PJs or a robe within arm’s reach of your bed in case something in your environment requires your immediate attention. This is especially crucial if other people live in your home. Nobody needs to be startled by a stark-naked person running around the house checking on an emergency.
The bottom line is that sleeping nude is a very personal decision. If the thought of it doesn’t appeal to you, there’s no need to try it. But if it seems like something you’d enjoy, strip down for a night or two and give it a whirl.
