Which Type of Underwear is Best for Men's Health?

What’s the best underwear for men’s health? If you haven’t asked this question in your life, you should. Best underwear for men’s health isn’t something you should just buy and forget because the type of underwear you choose to wear can significantly impact your health, comfort, and overall quality of life.

So in this article, let’s explore the intricate relationship between underwear choice and men's health. We'll dissect common health concerns related to underwear, examine key factors of underwear that affect men's health, and carefully examine different types of underwear styles and materials. 

By the end, you’ll know everything about choosing the right underwear for men’s health that prioritizes your well-being.

Let’s get started.

Understanding Men's Health Concerns With Underwear

In order to find the solution, we need to know the problem. So first, let’s look at the common men’s health concerns that plague men when it comes to their underwear. 

 

Fertility Issues:

If you and your partner are trying to make a baby, then you may want to pay attention to your underwear. 

Research suggests that wearing tight or restrictive underwear styles, such as briefs, can raise the scrotal temperature, because it keeps the testicles closer to the body. This in turn may lower sperm count as well as sperm quality. 

But of course, men’s health is not just about sperm count, which brings us to the next issue at hand. 

 

Hygiene:

Hygiene is paramount for maintaining genital health, and the type of underwear you wear can either promote or hinder it. 

Poorly ventilated underwear, especially those made from synthetic materials, can create a warm and moist environment conducive to the growth of bacteria and fungi, which then leads to a whole lot of health problems. 

Chafing and Discomfort:

Chafing, the result of friction between the skin and clothing, is not only uncomfortable but can also lead to skin irritation and even open sores in severe cases. 

Certain underwear types for male health, such as boxers or loose-fitting briefs, may reduce friction and chafing compared to tighter styles like briefs or thongs.

Additionally, selecting comfortable underwear for men’s well-being made from soft, smooth fabrics can further minimize the risk of chafing and discomfort, enhancing overall comfort and health.

Irritation:

Lastly, skin irritation. Depending on certain fabrics or dyes, people can get allergic reactions. Also, synthetic underwear is treated with harsh chemicals that may be more toxic to the human skin, such as polyester. 

Key Factors that Affect Men’s Health When it Comes to Underwear

While men’s health is a complex issue involving many different elements, for underwear we can bring it down to the following three. 

 

Fit

The way your underwear fits is not just about looking good in it. It’s about how you feel in it, and what it does to your body. 

Underwear that is too tight can constrict blood flow, increase scrotal temperature, and lead to discomfort and chafing. 

On the other hand, underwear that is too loose may lack adequate support, causing friction and irritation. Choosing the right underwear for health involves finding a fit that offers support without being too restrictive, ensuring good genital health and overall comfort.

 

Breathability

Breathability refers to the ability of underwear to allow air circulation and moisture evaporation. In a nutshell, it’s about airing it out. 

Letting your boys breathe helps prevent excessive heat and moisture buildup, odor, and irritation. This makes breathable men’s underwear crucial for maintaining genital hygiene and comfort, especially during physical activity or hot weather.

 

Moisture

Ever had those moments when you sweat too much in your underwear and you just felt uncomfortable and nasty for the rest of the day? 

The thing is, it’s not just how you feel that’s a problem. Such moisture accumulation can lead to fungal and bacterial infection. Which is why underwear that reduces moisture is a huge part of what makes underwear best for men’s health.

How Different Types of Underwear Affect Men’s Health

Now, it’s time to determine which type of underwear is best for men’s health. First, let’s look at how different styles affect your health. 

 

Boxers

Boxers give the user a very loose, relaxed fit, providing ample room for movement and airflow. This breathability can help keep heat and moisture accumulation under control. It also helps scrotal temperature and reduce the risk of fertility issues associated with overheating if that’s your concern. 

However, the loose fit of boxers may not provide adequate support for men with larger testicles or those who prefer a more secure fit. They also may bunch up during activity and cause discomfort and irritation. 

Plus, they rarely look good. 

Briefs

Compared to boxers, briefs offer minimal coverage with a snug fit, and it supports your testicles in a much more stable way than boxers. 

Though briefs, due to their smaller coverage as well as their tightness, may become uncomfortable during long periods of wear, and lead to chafing between your thighs. Breathability and moisture could be an issue as well, so it’s important to pay attention to the materials. 

More importantly, briefs have been criticized for their role in potentially increasing scrotal temperature, potentially impacting sperm production and fertility. 

On that, we just want to say the research is still inconclusive on whether briefs impact sperm count so critically that it prevents couples from conceiving, since elements such as diet influence this in much bigger ways. 

Besides, if briefs were the main culprit of lower sperm count, there would be a lot less babies in the world. 

 

Boxer Briefs

Boxer briefs combine the best of both worlds, offering the support of briefs with the coverage of boxers. The snug fit of boxer briefs provides support and compression, reducing movement and friction without overly constricting the genitals. 

This balance between support and coverage makes boxer briefs a popular choice among men seeking comfort and versatility. 

Of course, the close-fitting design of boxer briefs may still pose a risk of heat and moisture buildup, which is why you need to choose breathable fabrics for men’s underwear when choosing boxer briefs.

Since you’re probably wondering about men’s underwear and fertility, many boxer briefs now come with pouches, which keep your balls separated from the rest of your body, minimizing the risk of increased scrotal temperature.

 

How Different Materials Affect Men’s Health:

While styles are important, what’s more important is actually what underwear is made of. Which means we need to get real up and close with the materials. 

 

Natural Fabrics

Natural fabrics like cotton and wool are those that receive minimal chemical treatment from its manufacturing process. Thus, they are often also hypoallergenic. 

These materials allow air circulation and are gentle on the skin, making them ideal choices for men with sensitive skin or those prone to irritation. 

One crucial downside of natural fabrics however is that they’re often not very good with handling moisture. Take cotton for example. It absorbs and holds water well, meaning when it gets soaked with sweat, it takes forever to dry. It’s the same thing with wool.

 

Synthetic Fabrics

Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon are generally made from petrochemicals, such as polyester and nylon, as well as spandex. These are prized not only for their moisture-wicking properties, quick-drying abilities, and durability, but also their cost. These materials are much cheaper than natural and semi-natural fabrics 

However, synthetic fabrics may lack breathability and can trap heat and moisture if not properly ventilated. This can create a warm and moist environment conducive to bacterial and fungal growth, leading to odor, irritation, and infections. 

But here’s something worse about synthetics, and it has to do with the fact that they are plastic-based and treated with harsh chemicals. This means they can cause more skin irritation than their more natural counterparts. So for people with sensitive skin, they could get allergic reactions to polyester. 

Additional fun fact about polyester is that upon contact with sweat and heat it can release Antimony, a semi-metal which is a known carcinogen. 

 

Semi-Synthetic Fabrics

Semi-synthetic fabrics like modal, rayon and even bamboo combine natural fibers, usually plant cellulose with chemical processing. The result is often what people often  consider ‘the best of both worlds.’ 

Unlike synthetic fibers, these semi-synthetics are soft to the skin. They also contain much less irritants, and are very breathable.

But unlike natural fibers, semi-synthetics are more durable, and they have excellent moisture-wicking properties. Modal, in particular, is derived from beech tree pulp and is renowned for its silky feel and moisture-wicking abilities. 

All in all, semi-synthetic fabrics offer a good balance between the comfort of natural fibers and the performance features of synthetic materials, making them an attractive choice for men seeking both comfort and functionality in their underwear. 

 

The Optimal Underwear for Men’s Health

So, what does the optimal underwear for men’s health look like? Let’s do a summary of all of our considerations above.

Style	Pros	Cons
Boxers	- Loose fit allows airflow; Comfortable for lounging and sleeping	- Limited support for genitals; May bunch up under clothing; Increased risk of irritation during physical activities
Briefs	- Provides excellent support for genitals; Minimal fabric reduces the risk of bunching up	- Snug fit may increase scrotal temperature; Limited coverage may not suit all body types; May cause irritation or chafing in the thighs
Boxer Briefs	- Offers support and coverage; Provides a balance between support and comfort; Versatile and suitable for various activities	- Snug fit may increase scrotal temperature

Best choice of underwear style for men’s health: Boxer Brief

Aspect	Pros	Cons
Natural Fabrics	Breathable and gentle on the skin; Hypoallergenic properties	May shrink or lose shape after washing; Less durable compared to synthetic fabrics; Absorbs and holds water, making it damp
Synthetic	Quick-drying and moisture-wicking properties; Durable and long-lasting; Wide range of color and style options available	May trap heat and moisture; Less breathable compared to natural fabrics; Can be toxic to the body
Semi-Synthetic	Combines benefits of natural and synthetic fabrics; Offers softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties	May be more expensive than pure natural or synthetic fabrics; Could require special care during washing to maintain performance

Best choice of underwear material for men’s health: Semi-synthetics

So we would say the best kind of underwear for men’s health are boxer briefs with semi-synthetic materials. They balance everything well together, whether it’s comfort, support, breathability or their hypoallergenic qualities. 

Which is why we also recommend the Manmade Boxer Brief, our boxer brief made from modal. 

 

The Verdict on Which Underwear is Best for Men’s Health

So now you know that selecting the right underwear is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your health and well-being. What style you’re getting, as well as what material they’re made of, can give vastly different results on your fertility, hygiene, and comfort. 

But as you have seen, every material and style has their ups and downs. Which is why finding the best underwear is about balance. It’s about what combines the positive elements in the most optimal fashion. 

And in that sense, as we’ve decided already, boxer briefs made from semi-synthetics, particularly modal, are the winner.