Boxers, briefs, or bare it all? There's more to making good
choices than you might think.
You wouldn't think there'd be a lot to learn about underwear
— wear it, change it, wash it, repeat — but there's actually more than most men
think. And whether guys choose boxers, briefs, or live to go commando, chances
are, underwear rarely gets a second thought.
As a results, many men lack “underwear etiquette,” says
Gregory D. Albert, MD, a physician in Delray Beach, Fla. “Underwear most importantly
needs to be changed frequently and always remain clean, and I need to tell you,
be discarded when they are thread-bare or stained,” he stresses. “If you work
out or sweat excessively, it may be a good idea to change midday to remain
fresh.” Here are more experts dos and don’ts.
Simple Rules for What You Wear Under There
With that sentiment in mind, there are a number of simple
rules you can follow when it comes to men’s health and underwear. For starters,
April Masini, a relationship advice expert and columnist, seconds the
commandment that underwear dos include throwing out the old. “Your old
underwear is not sentimental,” she says. “It's disgusting. Throw it out. Once a
month throw out any underwear that is unpresentable. Gray, ripped, unsightly. Get
rid of it. Uncertain? Toss it.”
Masini says this purge should be accompanied by buying new
underwear regularly. “In fact, every time you get a haircut, buy some new
underwear. Link buying new underwear to something you already do on a schedule,
so you get into the habit.”
Don’t get locked into just one type of underwear. “My advice
is to switch it up — and unless you’re religiously committed to boxers or
briefs, have fun with your underwear and have some of both,” says Masini. “If
you have fun with your underwear, she will, too — and everybody wins! Colors,
fabrics, cuts, styles — have at least one pair of each. One of the best things
you can do for your relationship is to keep things fresh in the bedroom, and
while your underwear isn’t a cure-all for bad bedroom skills, it sure can’t
hurt.”
Boxers or Briefs — the Pros and Cons
Variety might be the spice of life (and underwear), but it
also brings to mind the age-old men’s health debate: boxers or briefs? Here,
Dr. Albert says, it’s really a matter of your own personal tastes more than
anything else. “Generally, boxers will give you more breathing room, and briefs
will give you support,” he says. “It is a matter of preference, yet tighter
briefs will lower fertility, so if you are trying to get your wife pregnant,
stick with loose-fitting boxers.”
Material Matters
The next issue to consider is what material to choose.
Masini says that men, just like women, should choose cotton or synthetic blends
for everyday wear and save the more luxurious silks and other fun fabrics for special
occasions.
For the gym, Maurice Voce, the co-founder and chief
marketing officer of skin care line Skin Authority, says that the newest
synthetic blends are the way to go to prevent chaffing. “You definitely need to
wear underwear that provides the proper level of support and utilizes a
moisture-wicking fabric,” he says. “Never wear boxers, cotton, or go commando
when working out. The good news is there are so many athletic underwear choices
at all price points. Also, never wear workout underwear more than once without
washing them.”
The Pros and Cons of Going Commando
Another underwear option is to wear no underwear at all.
This can be fun and feel great in the right circumstances, but our experts
advise proceeding with caution. “Going commando can be very sexy, but like
everything else, there's a time and a place,” Masini says. “Commando is great
if you’re going for a sexy evening with a predictable outcome. However, dancing
the night away first is going to have a sweaty outcome, which is not ideal.
Also, linen trousers or shorts are going to reveal a little too much of your
commando profile. If you go commando, wear something that makes your underwear
status your little secret revealed by choice, not visual impact.”
Written by Wyatt Myers
Wyatt is a magazine editor and freelance writer based in Des
Moines, Iowa, who focuses on health, hobbies, and home improvement. Wyatt has
contributed content to more than a dozen Rodale Health books, including The
Doctor's Book of Home Remedies, Healing with Vitamins, and Cholesterol Cures.
He's also written for Prevention, Men's Health, and Muscle & Fitness, among
many other consumer magazines.
