Panty-stuffing is the uncomfortable sex act that’s ‘hot but unpleasant’

We’re not sure we see the appeal (Picture: Getty Images) Many an item has made it up the vagina in humans’ short time on this earth. We can perhaps understand the logic of carrots, parsnips, aubergines and even hairbrush handles, but we’re not so sure about knickers. One man was equally unsure, taking to Reddit to ask if he should fulfil his partner’s request: ‘My girlfriend wants me to stuff her panties inside her vagina and then f**k her with the panties still inside. Is it safe? Can the panties go too far inside to get out?’ It may sound far-fetched, but it’s actually an established fetish called ‘panty-stuffing‘. It’s the act of, or the erotic enjoyment of, stuffing underwear into the vagina, and often the mouth or anus, too. Sexologist Becky Crepsley-Fox tells Metro that often it’s a thong which then gets moved back and forth between the mouth and vagina or anus during sex. Why would someone find this appealing? Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. It’s a good question, especially when having to push a tampon up there each month feels like punishment enough. But it turns out that, for some, panty-stuffing has some real curb appeal. The underwear used is typically a thong (Picture: Getty Images) ‘As with most things in the bedroom, the appeal depends entirely on which side of the sexual experience you are on,’ Becky explains. ‘For the person doing the stuffing, a lot of the charge comes from watching a partner become vulnerable and from the power in directing them to do it. ‘There’s often an element of the underwear soaking up vaginal fluid and being tasted afterwards, which some people find deeply erotic. If there’s mouth stuffing involved, watching someone be gently gagged can be an added turn-on for the dominant partner.’ If you’re on the receiving end, the expert explains that many people with vaginas enjoy a feeling of fullness. ‘Because the fabric is a different material than a toy or a penis, it feels different too: a little more textured, scratchy, bumpy.’ Within the BDSM world, if you’re a submissive, being told to shove a thong up there and following that order is often the ‘hottest part of all’. For Becky, panty-stuffing sits at the crossroads of two broader fetishes: sensation play (the feeling of material on or in you) and insertion play (the eroticism of inserting something into the body). ‘There’s also a broader underwear fetish-the eroticisation of underwear in general, which panty-stuffing can sit under for some people,’ she adds. Yes, there are definitely risks Many on Reddit responded to the boyfriend’s query, suggesting panty-stuffing was a ‘terrible idea’. ‘This sounds like a one-way ticket to a yeast infection and a UTI,’ said one. ‘Don’t do it.’ Others argued it sounded ‘uncomfortable for everyone involved,’ and that it didn’t ‘have any upside at all’. Someone even warned: ‘Do not do this if she has an IUD! The fabric can get tangled in the wire and potentially dislodge it during removal.’ Others were a little more undecided. ‘Main risk is infection if they’re not perfectly clean,’ wrote one. ‘Also chaffing your c**k. Otherwise… sounds hot but unpleasant.’ For some, being told to put pants up their vagina is the erotic part (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto) Becky agrees that this niche practice certainly has its drawbacks, saying: ‘Whenever we put anything into the vagina, we increase the risk of introducing or spreading infection – that’s true of fingers and sex toys, and it’s true of underwear too.’ If you’re going to practice this, you must start with clean, fresh underwear and never move it from the anus to the vagina. ‘Freshly washed cotton is one thing; pants that have been worn all day, or have been anywhere near the anus, are quite another,’ Becky adds. ‘Dirty pants carry bacteria straight into a warm, moist environment that is also very happy to grow it.’ The expert also asks that you use 100% cotton pants, rather than anything with lace, polyester or anything with a lot of synthetic stretch in it. ‘Partly it’s about texture – scratchy, synthetic fabric against delicate tissue can cause irritation, soreness and even tiny lesions – and partly it’s about what we’re increasingly learning about microplastics and synthetic materials,’ she explains. ‘I’d rather people didn’t press synthetic material against warm, absorbent mucous membranes for long stretches. Dirty or synthetic pants can make thrush, BV, UTIs and even contact dermatitis.’ Despite many people’s fears on Reddit, your pants won’t get lost up there forever. ‘The vagina is a closed space, so nothing is going to vanish up inside you and travel off to parts unknown,’ Becky clarifies. ‘But, if penetration is also occurring, knickers can get pushed further up the vaginal canal and become tricky to remove.’ Ultimately, they won’t go past the cervix because the opening is so small, but if they get stuck, you should go and have them removed by a doctor. ‘Leaving them in can increase the risk of irritation and infection, so it’s always worth retrieving them as soon as you can,’ she adds. Just make sure you remove the pants promptly after sex (Picture: Getty Images/Connect Images) Are people actually doing this? While it sounds incredibly dry and uncomfortable, yes, people are shoving pants up their privates, but not because they’re obsessed with the act itself. ‘What I see far more is people using panty stuffing as one ingredient that adds to the eroticism of a wider experience, rather than the must-have focus that defines a true fetish,’ Becky says. It’s become mainstream in the last decade thanks to porn, with the expert admitting a lot of people find the act pleasurable to watch. It tracks, with one dedicated Reddit thread seeing 8,000 weekly visitors. Ultimately, if you’re curious, Becky asks you keep it simple. Deals of the Day Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you ‘Make sure you are already aroused, stick to clean cotton, and start with short periods to see whether you actually enjoy the sensation,’ she pleads. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: Hereford loses its title of biggest dildo buyers to this ‘posh’ Yorkshire town Arrow MORE: I kept tiger balm and lube by my bed – he reached for the wrong one Arrow MORE: I’m menopausal and horny — so I’m having an affair with a 33-year-old The Hook Up Metro's hottest newsletter, with juicy stories and tips for spicing things up in the bedroom. 18+