Tight underwear makes you less of a man. This isn’t just because tight underpants make even the most manly man look like an inveterate geek and are probably the most effective form of birth control in the known world, although there is such a thing. No, tight clothes literally make you less of a man, and here are five reasons why you should never go anywhere near tight underwear.

make you barren

Believe it or not, there’s actually a reason your testicles are kept outside your body instead of safely tucked inside. Basically, your sperm needs to be kept at a fairly stable temperature, around 98 degrees, and your body can automatically adjust the temperature by keeping them closer to or further from your body.

That’s why your kids cringe when exposed to the cold, as your body pulls them closer in an attempt to warm them up. Wearing tight underwear causes them to stay too close to the body, overheating them, which damages your sperm and makes you less fertile.

lower testosterone

Another side effect related to overheating is reduced testosterone. Testosterone is the essential production hormone, and having less will lead to lethargy, weaker muscles, and general malaise. So, literally, tight underwear makes you less of a man.

Can cause testicular torsion

Testicular torsion is a condition in which the testicles twist and twist internally. It is extremely painful, surprisingly common, and can lead to the testicle becoming gangrenous and being removed. This is usually not a problem if your testicles are free and loose, but tight wearing can cause them to twist, leading to testicular torsion.

They can lead to rashes

Tight underwear tends to become wet underwear when worn in any kind of hot environment or when exerted. This leads to your skin becoming irritated and you end up with, well, itchy genitals. This environment is also conducive to infection, so you are at a much higher risk of some kind of fungus developing there. None of which will be a problem if you’re wearing loose underwear or, better yet, no underwear at all.

they look stupid

Seriously, they just don’t look great. What good is it to have fertile, itch-free, kink-free testicles if no one is around to use them? So go boxer or go commando and your guys will thank you.