Men's underwear is often advertised with support for the testicles. In this expert opinion, we discuss the topic and conclude our position as a textile innovator.
Expert Opinion on Support Underwear
In recent years, a trend has emerged in the men's underwear market where many underwear designs are advertised with support. This refers to lifting and/or lifting and securing the male genitals close to the body. While this may sound like protection, comfort, and health in marketing jargon, a closer look at anatomical and physical relationships raises questions.
No Need to Hold or Support the Scrotum
Even if support is often presented as a positive feature, there is no physiological necessity for healthy men. In other words, the testicles do not need to be held by an article of clothing. We are not aware of any studies with healthy men that prove that support underwear for men in any way improves the function of the genitals, nor that a natural positioning of the genitals is detrimental to their function. In the area of postoperative care or for therapeutic support or treatment of diseases, there are certainly indications, but we do not wish to discuss these here.
The Biological Principle of Distance
Male anatomy essentially uses a simple principle for thermoregulation. The testicles are located in the scrotum outside the body cavity. Normal spermatogenesis requires a temperature slightly below the core body temperature. The distance from the lesser pelvis serves as a natural protective mechanism against body heat and is regulated by the cremaster muscle. A general reduction in the distance of the testicles from the body is therefore not physiologically intended for good reason.
Scientific studies highlight the sensitivity of this system. For example, a study by Abdelhamid et al. (2019) found that an artificially induced temperature increase of the testicles and epididymis by 1.5 to 2° C can affect sperm morphology. Mínguez-Alarcón et al. (2018) observed in a study that men who predominantly wore loose-fitting boxer shorts had higher sperm concentrations than men in tight-fitting underwear.
Consequently, considering the foregoing, we do not consider the lifting of the male genitals, especially the scrotum, to be physiologically sensible. The extent to which this actually has reproductive biological implications is still not definitively clarified and is a subject of research.
Further information on underwear and sperm quality can be found here.
The Mechanical Dilemma
While the mechanisms of scrotal thermoregulation are considered well-researched and recognized, we could not find any scientific studies with evidence for a positive function of support underwear of any kind. This explicitly refers to normal supportive underwear, not classic athletic cups, as used in martial arts, for example.
According to Freehill et al. (2015), testicular ruptures occur when the testicles are pinched against the pelvis, an athletic cup, or the inner thigh during an impact. In our opinion, this mechanism may be promoted by fixing the genitals to the body, as the scrotum can no longer swing freely.
Simply put, we see no advantages regarding impact protection, but rather consider the reduction and/or at least partial neutralization of natural protective mechanisms to be much more plausible. Accordingly, we do not consider support to be useful here either.
Support Underwear and Comfort
Ultimately, it is a matter of personal feeling whether one finds the back-and-forth swinging of the scrotum disturbing in everyday life and/or during sports. In our estimation, some of the problems that men report regarding their underwear, such as pinching or the need to constantly readjust everything, arise at least partially from the support design principle or from a front section that is too tight and leaves little room for the scrotum.
Conclusion - Is Support Underwear Useful?
In our opinion, there is no logically derivable or scientifically sound justification for support underwear. From a physiological point of view, free hanging without artificial lifting is the model that comes closest to the body's natural thermoregulation and protective function. When choosing underwear, it may therefore be sensible to prefer cuts that allow freedom of movement instead of relying on an unnatural holding function.
Author: Alexis Knell
Transparency Notice:
We would like to point out that this article was written by us as a manufacturer of innovative men's underwear. We hereby disclose that we have a commercial interest in the topic. We do not have our own scientific studies on the effects of our products on testicular temperature or fertility. Our products explicitly do not offer physical protection for the genitals against impact energy. Statements about possible physiological effects are based on generally accessible specialized literature and physical considerations. This contribution does not constitute medical advice and does not replace consultation with doctors.
Sources:
- Mínguez-Alarcón, L., Gaskins, A. J., Chiu, Y.-H., Messerlian, C., Williams, P. L., Ford, J. B., Souter, I., Hauser, R., & Chavarro, J. E. (2018). Type of underwear worn and markers of testicular function among men attending a fertility center. Human Reproduction, 33(9), 1749–1756. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dey259
- Abdelhamid, M. H. M., Walschaerts, M., Ahmad, G., Mieusset, R., Bujan, L., & Hamdi, S. (2019). Mild experimental increase in testis and epididymis temperature in men: Effects on sperm morphology according to spermatogenesis stages. Translational Andrology and Urology, 8(6), 651–665. https://doi.org/10.21037/tau.2019.11.18
- Freehill, M. T., Gorbachinsky, I., Lavender, J. D., Davis, R. L., III, & Mannava, S. (2015). Presumed Testicular Rupture During a College Baseball Game: A Case Report and Review of the Literature for On-Field Recognition and Management.
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