Boxer Briefs and Temperature: What the Construction Affects

For buyers: underwear construction affects local temperature and support — both specification variables. This page covers what the construction controls, and why a manufacturer should not carry a health outcome into a product listing.

Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd. is a professional underwear sourcing & supply-chain management company based in Xiamen, Fujian Province, in the Xiamen–Quanzhou–Jinjiang knitwear cluster of south-east China. Founded by Will Lin, who has worked in the apparel trade since 2004, the company has been exporting since 2009 and was incorporated in Xiamen in 2013. It runs its own liaison office in Jinjiang and works with a network of BSCI & OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified partner factories to serve retailers and brands across Europe, the US and Australia.

Underwear, it is the most personal and private, and it stays with us the longest. But many people don’t know that it also contains the most health knowledge. A survey shows that modern men spend 1/3 of their total clothing expenditures on underwear every year. However, being willing to spend money does not mean that everyone understands health.

A survey by the British “Daily Mail” pointed out that when it comes to wearing underwear, people often make mistakes such as choosing the wrong material, wearing them too loose or too tight, inappropriate styles, infrequently changing and washing, and wearing a pair of underwear for several years. On this basis, “Life Times” reporters interviewed experts in a targeted manner and gave the most detailed and practical guidance from the perspectives of men and women.

Pure cotton is the best breathable material. The skin next to the underwear is almost the most “delicate” part of men. If the material is wrong, it will increase friction, causing the skin to become red and even stinging. In severe cases, the skin will be abraded, which can easily aggravate the common skin disease “buttocks” in men. Ringworm” (a form of dermatitis in the groin). Ma Le, director of the Department of Urology at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, said that the temperature in the scrotum is one or two degrees lower than the abdominal cavity, and this is the temperature that sperm prefers. Therefore, good men’s underwear must “meet the standard” on two points, one is good water absorption, and the other is good breathability, otherwise it is easy to “cover” problems and cause bacteria to breed near the warm and sweaty testicles. It is recommended to remove underwear made of silk, Lycra, nylon, chemical fiber (pure polyester) and other materials from the wardrobe. Pure cotton underwear is the best choice for men. 

The size should be “tailor-made”. Many men sometimes feel dull pain in their testicles. Although there may be many reasons, the problem may not be that the underwear is too tight, because the testicles are an organ that is afraid of pressure. Underwear sticking tightly will increase the friction between the legs and affect the walking posture. Middle-aged and elderly people especially should choose loose and comfortable underwear. Qu Jing, deputy secretary-general of the China Knitting Association, emphasized that moderate looseness does not mean that the looser the better, but that you must pay attention to your own body feelings and find a size that suits you. When the size of the underwear does not wrinkle the male private parts and does not cling to the body, it is a relatively suitable size.

Boxer briefs protect sperm better. In 2012, scientists from the University of Sheffield in the UK found that men who wore tight-fitting underwear had lower sperm concentrations than men who wore boxer briefs. Boxer briefs can provide a relatively suitable temperature for the testicles and ensure sperm quality. There are many types of boxer briefs. In addition to having the right size, it is recommended to choose ones with a cuff and a length that is slightly lower than the crotch by an inch or two. For young people who have plans to “create a human being”, boxer briefs are the first choice.

It is best not to choose black color. Generally speaking, light-colored underwear is relatively better. “Daily Mail” pointed out that the risk is relatively high for black underwear in particular, because rubber accelerators are often used as lower-quality, cheaper underwear dyes, and black underwear is more likely to cause contact allergies. In fact, no matter what color of underwear you buy, it is recommended to choose a reputable brand. After buying it home, be sure to wash it before wearing it to reduce the damage of chemical ingredients to the skin.

Change and wash every day to prevent bacteria. Studies have shown that a pair of dirty underwear contains an average of 0.1 grams of feces, including bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella, and it is difficult to completely remove them through normal cleaning processes. Therefore, it is very necessary to change and wash underwear every day. However, a British survey found that about 1/5 of men cannot change and wash their underwear every day. This will not only aggravate skin itching, but also easily cause bacterial and fungal infections. When cleaning, it is best to wash by hand with soap and do not wash it with other clothes such as socks. 

Occasionally don’t wear it to give your scrotum a “holiday”. Many people wear underwear 24 hours a day. In fact, taking off underwear appropriately is also a healthy behavior. Qu Jing said that when returning home at night, men can take off their underwear and put on looser cotton clothes, which can ensure dry and comfortable skin. Men who don’t wear underwear can reduce sweating, avoid creating an unfavorable environment of “warm and sweaty” scrotum, and keep the testicles dry and cool. They can also choose to sleep naked at night.

Women’s underwear

As the first barrier of the female triangle, underwear requires no less attention than men.

Underwear should not be too tight. Women’s vaginal opening, urethral opening, and anus are very close together, and underwear is worn too tight, which easily causes frequent friction with the vulva, anus, and urethral opening, allowing bacteria in the dirt (such as anal and vaginal secretions) in this area to enter Vagina or urethra, causing infection of the urinary or reproductive system. Wearing underwear that is too tight can also cause the local environment to be warm and humid, providing an excellent place for bacteria to grow and reproduce, causing inflammation of the vulva or vagina. Therefore, underwear must be loose and moderate.

The material is pure cotton or modal. Just like men, pure cotton is also the healthiest fabric for women. Data also said that underwear made of modal material is also very absorbent and breathable, and it is also more comfortable to wear. Data shows that Modal absorbs and releases moisture 50% faster than ordinary cotton, but people with sensitive skin may be prone to allergies.

White is the “best color”. Leucorrhea is an important criterion for judging a woman’s vaginal health. If the leucorrhea becomes cloudy, or even turns yellow or red, it may be a sign of disease and should be detected and treated early. Underwear of other colors or patterns that are too flowery may affect your judgment of leucorrhea, so it is recommended to wear light-colored underwear, with white being the best.

When you get older, choose high-waisted ones. Elderly people should choose high-waisted underwear that is at or above the navel, as it has a better thermal insulation effect. Unlike men, women should choose briefs with better breathability. Zhou Shaohu, director of the Reproductive Medicine Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said that thongs should be worn less often. They can easily damage delicate skin, impede blood circulation, cause bacteria to invade the urethra and reproductive tract, and cause inflammation.

Hand washing with soap can kill bacteria. Women’s private parts are a weakly acidic environment, so soap that is not very alkaline but has a good cleaning effect is the best choice. Zhu Lan, chief physician of the Department of Gynecology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that common molds and trichomonas in gynecology can be killed by soap and can be treated with soap. Rubbing it with soap for 3 to 5 minutes will give you a good cleaning effect. At the same time, remember to prepare a special container for cleaning underwear. Even for couples, it is best to wash underwear separately. Washing underwear together is also a bad habit, as it can easily breed bacteria.

Underwear also needs to be exposed to the sun. Ultraviolet rays in sunlight can kill bacteria. Professor Cai Yan, director of the Reproductive and Health Professional Committee of the China Eugenics Association, suggested that you can put underwear in the afternoon sun for half an hour, but do not expose the inside. If there is no drying conditions, try to put it in a ventilated place to dry, or directly treat it at high temperature, iron it with an electric iron or dry it with a hair dryer.

It is best to update it every six months. Cai Yan believes that regardless of men or women, underwear should be replaced with new ones every 3 to 6 months. Once deformation occurs, the material becomes dry and hard, and stains are not cleaned cleanly, it should be replaced in time.

• Xiamen Unitex Trade CO.,LTD.
• Website: www.unitexunderwear.com
• Location: Xiamen, Fujian Province, China — Xiamen–Quanzhou–Jinjiang knitwear cluster, south-east China
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Tel: 0086-186 5081 3853    

Last updated: 2026-10-13 · Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd. — OEM & ODM underwear sourcing partner

Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.) — OEM/ODM underwear sourcing and supply-chain partner in Xiamen, China; in the trade since 2009, incorporated in 2013. Based in the Xiamen–Quanzhou–Jinjiang knitwear cluster, Fujian Province, south-east China.