Buzz
When it comes to underwear, many men think in terms of the classic debate between boxers and briefs, with many opting for boxer-briefs as a compromise. Like much of men’s fashion, there’s a traditional disinterest in options beyond simple functionality. Even those who do pay attention to their clothing typically focus on style and fabric rather than any additional features.
Your underwear could be doing more than just covering you. Specifically, it could be offering support to your scrotum, the pouch that holds your testicles. While it’s naturally designed to hang freely, this can sometimes lead to discomfort and unhappiness. Wearing underwear that provides scrotal support can prevent these issues, and there are several good reasons why this type of ‘pouch’ underwear is beneficial for most men.
Overall comfort
Pouch-style underwear for men is a significant upgrade in terms of comfort. As noted by Fast Company, think of these pouches as a 'bra for your balls,' serving the same purpose: providing support for an area that typically hangs loose. This support can have a noticeable impact on how you feel while moving around, particularly if you're an older man (more on that later).
Another way scrotal support underwear enhances comfort is by lifting and separating your parts. Instead of being stuck in a sweaty, tight space with your thighs—leading to chafing—scrotal support underwear keeps everything separated, promoting better ventilation in your nether regions. This is definitely a positive.
Recovery from Injury
For active men who play sports, the risk of testicular injury is ever-present. This is why many sports leagues and schools mandate the use of a protective 'cup'—it's easy to suffer trauma to the scrotal area during high-speed movements like kicking, running, or throwing.
If you're unlucky enough to sustain bruising or injury to your testicles (or worse), wearing scrotal support underwear with a pouch design can help speed up recovery. It prevents further irritation to the scrotum, allowing the muscles to relax and heal while providing much-needed support.
Sagging
As men age, they may notice that their scrotum tends to sag more than before. The purpose of the scrotum is to keep the testicles outside the body, allowing them to regulate their temperature more effectively. The body naturally raises and lowers the testicles in response to ambient temperature and other factors, known as the cremasteric reflex. However, as we grow older, our skin loses elasticity, and the scrotum may hang lower, sometimes significantly. For older men, this can even lead to accidentally sitting on their testicles. While it’s usually not a serious injury, it’s one most men would prefer to avoid. Underwear designed to support a sagging scrotum can help prevent such accidents.
Varicoceles
Men face various ways in which their testicles can bring them discomfort, including varicoceles—swollen blood vessels in the scrotum. While many varicoceles cause no symptoms, they can sometimes lead to pain. When the pain is severe, surgery may be necessary, but for less intense discomfort, underwear with built-in scrotal support can help alleviate pain by reducing pressure on the affected testicle.
