Tucking for transgender and gender diverse people

Transgender clothing and accessories Reviewed February 12, 2025 3 min read

Many people can conceal their genitals with a combination of high-elastic off-the shelf underwear and loose, thick clothing.

Those who wish to tuck during physical activity that involves tight or revealing clothing have a lot of great resources for tucking.

Please note that long-term tucking may negatively affect reproductive capacity.

General tips

Test what works for you in private before going out tucked in public.
Tucking done right will not hurt. If it hurts, you are probably tucked too tight or using the wrong materials.
If you use tape, shave or epilate the areas where the tape will stick to your skin.
Use cloth or silicone surgical tape if you plan to use adhesive.
- Gaffer tape (sometimes called gaffa of gaff tape)
- Micropore tape
- Clear marine tape
Do not use duct tape or packing tape.
Only tuck when you need to. It is not good to do it for too long.
Never sleep or play sports while tucked.
Some people also use specialized underwear like a gaff while tucked.
Some people also use a genital prosthetic while tucked.

References

Tourjée, Diana (August 27, 2015). The Girl’s Guide to Tucking Your Dick. Vice https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3ggjj/how-to-tuck

Dornheim, Kaleb (October 17, 2017). How Does Tucking Work and Is It Safe? Healthline https://www.healthline.com/health/transgender/tucking

Howard, Mud (April 4, 2022). How to Tuck: Tips, Tricks, and Safety When Tucking. Folx https://www.folxhealth.com/library/how-to-tuck-tips-tricks-and-safety-when-tucking/

Withawhy, Robyn (March 4, 2021). How to tuck: A no nonsense guide from a Drag Queen. https://www.robynwithawhy.com/index.php/2021/03/04/how-to-tuck-a-no-nonsense-guide-from-a-drag-queen/

Fenway Health (). Tucking: A resource guide on how to tuck safely, where to find affirming products, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Phillips, Harry. “New erection-hiding underwear unveiled”. Health24. Archived

Academic papers

Mannat Malik, Erin E. Cooney, Jean-Michel Brevelle, and Tonia Poteat (2024). Tucking Practices and Attributed Health Effects in Transfeminine
Individuals. Transgender Health http://doi.org/10.1089/trgh.2022.0064

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(S1), 76-76. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2018.268

Iris de Nie, Joyce Asseler, Andreas Meißner, Ilona A.C. Voorn-de Warem, E. Hanna Kostelijk, Martin den Heijer, Judith Huirne, Norah M. van Mello (2022). A cohort study on factors impairing semen quality in transgender women. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Volume 226, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2021.10.020

Trussler, James T.; Carrasquillo, Robert J. (2020). Cryptozoospermia Associated With Genital Tucking Behavior in a Transwoman. Reviews in Urology. 22 (4): 170–173. PMID 33927575

Conard, L.E. (June 2017). “Supporting and caring for transgender and gender nonconforming youth in the urology practice”. Journal of Pediatric Urology. 13 (3): 300–304. doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2017.02.019

Debarbo, Clarence Joy M. (November 2020). “Rare cause of testicular torsion in a transwoman: A case report”. Urology Case Reports. 33: 101422. doi:10.1016/j.eucr.2020.101422

Nicholas Kidd, Kelley Mark, Marina Dart, Catherine Casey, Lisa Rollins (2024). Genital Tucking Practices in Transgender and Gender Diverse Patients. Ann Fam Med. 2024 Mar-Apr;22(2):149–153. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.3076

Manafi, E., Belarmino, A. R., Mills, J. N., Eleswarapu, S. V., & Ng, G. Y. (2024). The impact of tucking on fertility among transgender women: A systematic review. International Journal of Transgender Health https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2024.2387643