Category: Tucking
-
In one survey, 50% of transwomen who tucked were concerned about negative health effects
A survey1 of transwomen who tucked (the process of reducing the visible male crotch bulge) reported that half were concerned about the health effects of tucking.
Their reported symptoms included itching (28%), rash (21%), testicular pain (17%), penile pain (14%), and skin infections (12%).
In addition, patients may be reluctant to seek medical care for testicular complaints and when they do, it may be already late to salvage the testis.2
- Poteat, T., Malik, M., & Cooney, E. (2018). Understanding the health effects of binding and tucking for gender affirmation. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science 2 (Suppl 1), 76. [Link] ↩︎
- Debarbo, C.J.M. (2020). Rare cause of testicular torsion in a transwoman: A case report. Urology Case Reports 33. [Link] ↩︎
-
One case study suggests that tucking can cause testicular torsion
A case study1 found that one transwoman had testicular torsion as a result of tucking.
Testicular torsion – the rotation of the testes and subsequent arterial constriction – can present as severe acute unilateral scrotal pain, nausea, and vomiting. If permanent ischemic damage results, delay in treatment may be associated with decreased fertility, or may necessitate orchiectomy2.
- Debarbo, C.J.M. (2020). Rare cause of testicular torsion in a transwoman: A case report. Urology Case Reports 33. [Link] ↩︎
- Sharp, V. J., Kieran, K. & Arlen, A. M. (2013). Testicular Torsion: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Management. Am Fam Physician 88 (12): 835-840. [Link] ↩︎
-
While long-term study is lacking, one case study suggests that tucking can affect fertility
In a case study1 of one transwoman, tucking resulted in oligospermia – an abnormally low sperm count – affecting fertility. Elevation of the testes because of tucking may contribute to heat stress and consequent impairment of spermatogenesis.
After cessation of tucking and the provision of a new sperm sample, the sperm count in the patient was improved, and the semen had increased opacification.
A further study2 found that tucking could create a suboptimal environment for spermatogenesis.
- Trussler, J. T., & Carrasquillo, R. J. (2020). Cryptozoospermia Associated With Genital Tucking Behavior in a Transwoman. Reviews in urology, 22 (4), 170–173. [Link] ↩︎
- Debarbo, C.J.M. (2020). Rare cause of testicular torsion in a transwoman: A case report. Urology Case Reports 33. [Link] ↩︎