Is Your Underwear Wrecking Your Fertility? Here’s the Science (and Hormone-Safe Underwear Swaps)

What’s the first thing you put on in the morning, and the last thing you take off at night?

Your underwear.

And if it’s made of polyester, polyamide, or pesticide-sprayed cotton? It may be quietly wrecking your hormones, fertility, and skin health.

This isn’t wellness fear-mongering. This is science-backed truth.

And me & my sis are here to change it.

What the Research Says: Polyester and Hormonal Health

Back in 1992, Dr. Ahmed Shafik conducted a groundbreaking study on how underwear fabric affects fertility. The results?

• Polyester underwear led to reduced sperm count and deformed sperm

• Electrostatic fields generated by synthetic fabrics disrupted normal reproductive function

• When polyester garments were removed, fertility markers began to recover

  
  

More recent research shows that:

• Microplastics from synthetic clothing accumulate in organs

• These particles act as endocrine disruptors, affecting estrogen and testosterone balance

Sources: Shafik Study - Urological ResearchElectrostatic Field ImpactMicroplastics in Human TissuesMicroplastics and Hormonal Disruption

Not Just About Fertility — Your Skin and Microbiome Matter

Polyester:

• Traps heat and moisture

• Increases bacterial growth

• Disrupts your skin's pH and microbiome — especially in intimate areas

If you suffer from chronic yeast infections, irritation, or general discomfort in your underwear, your fabric might be to blame.

Cotton Isn't Always the Solution

Organic or not, cotton:

• Holds moisture like a sponge

• Is one of the most pesticide-intensive crops

• Is often blended with synthetics or dyed with chemical-heavy pigments

Many "100% silk" underwear options on the market? They're lined with cotton or polyester at the crotch. The part that matters most.

Parents, Take Note

Children’s hormonal systems are especially sensitive. Their skin barrier is thinner, more permeable, and absorbs more.

Polyester underwear, leggings, and sleepwear? A daily exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Make the swap early. It matters.

The Alternatives: What to Wear Instead

When I couldn’t find underwear that actually respected the female body — clean, breathable, non-toxic — I started questioning everything in my closet. The deeper I went into low-tox living, the clearer it became: this layer matters more than we’ve been told.

ZUBEK was born out of that moment. A decision I made with my sister, not as entrepreneurs chasing trends — but as women on a mission to build what we wish already existed.

No greenwashing. No hidden blends. No fake "natural" marketing. Just Hormone-Safe Underwear.

My Why — and the Mission Behind ZUBEK

This brand was never just about fashion. It was born from a deeper place: frustration, research, protectiveness — especially as a mother.

We just couldn’t find anything that felt truly safe, honest, or worthy of the skin it touched. So we made it ourselves.

ZUBEK is personal. It’s for the women who deserve better. It’s for the men who care. It’s for the children we’re raising.

This is my attempt to make a dent. To start something that others might follow.

A small rebellion. One base layer at a time.

Quick Recap: How to Choose Hormone-Safe Underwear (Your New Standard)

✅ Say NO to polyester, polyamide, elastane, and synthetic blends

✅ Check the crotch lining (especially in "natural" products)

✅ Choose breathable, temperature-regulating natural fibers

✅ Avoid greenwashing and demand full transparency

Want to Learn More?

→ Visit our shop: www.zubek.co

→ Follow us on Instagram: @zubek.co

→ Sign up for early access + subscriber-only drops

Your hormones, your skin, and your body deserve better. This is where it starts.