Has Someone Worn Your Store Underwear Before You?

On MSNBC's "The Today Show," there was a recent study about whether department stores re-sell used underwear. The results were frightening, with employees not checking for stains, marks and immediately giving a refund on underwear. The underwear was returned to the sales rack, and other consumers would buy used underwear without knowledge of prior use. In higher end department stores, like Victoria's Secret, underwear does not come in plastic and can easily get mixed up in the rest, which leads to more exposure with the panty area.

After inquiring with a Victoria's Secret representative at Chicago's Water Tower Place, she said, "We only refund underwear if it has not been washed or worn. The tags must be on it. We can tell right away if the underwear has been worn, and if it's been washed, the fabric will be worn."

Macy's in the Water Tower Place also accepted underwear returns with similar policies. "You have 180 days to return them, as long as the tags are still attached," said a women's lingerie representative. "They cannot be washed because the fabric will be altered. If they're torn in the washer, that's a different story."

A question was raised on Yahoo Answers from a guy who wondered if his girlfriend really got gonorrhea from trying on dirty underwear. Most people didn't believe his girlfriend really got it from underwear, but what stood out was the number of people who were surprised about people trying on underwear at all.

"I've never heard of trying underwear on in a store," said Stormy C.

"I don't know of one woman who tries on underwear at a dept store," said Brandi M.

Out of 16 responses, no one commented on knowledge of stores re-selling used underwear. Some denied the idea that a store would do this altogether.

On Essence.com's poll about whether people put on new underwear without washing it, 270 voted, "Yes, I do it all the time. What's the big deal?" However, 208 people voted no to say, "No, who knows where they might have been." Interestingly enough, 559 people said they'd never returned underwear because "you wear it, you own it."

Only 19 people said they returned underwear because they didn't like it as much as they thought they did, and two people said they just needed them for a hot date.

Although most STDs can only be transmitted through bodily fluids, there is a low chance of getting body lice. Body lice can be spread rapidly from people who are not hygenic or live in poor sanitary conditions (ex. homeless people), but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does report that body lice is unlikely to be transmitted from one person to the next as long as both have regular access to bathing facilities and clean clothing. Signs of body lice include intense itching and heavily bitten areas will become discolored and thicken around the groin area. The CDC reports that body lice in the U.S. has only been found on homeless people.

Pubic lice, which is usually spread through sexual contact and is found on pubic hair (or other coarse hair on the body), can be spread if underwear is not washed first. CDC suggests not sharing clothing or towels with someone who is infected with pubic lice.
However, if there are more stores that put underwear back onto the sales floor without checking the pantyline area or checking for odors, you may come in contact with someone else's vaginal discharge and body odor. With thong underwear, contact with someone else's anal area increases.