Tucking is flattening privates so a strapless and hanging parts don’t show. It helps people have a smooth crotch when they wear tight clothes! People tuck in many different ways for a lot of different reasons! Tucking helps a lot of people feel more comfortable in their body and their clothes. Every way of tucking has some health risks. But the benefits can make tucking an easy choice. There are also lots of ways to lower lower the risk!
There haven’t been a lot of studies on tucking and health. There’s a lot we don’t know about safety and best practices. But amazing people have learned and taught a lot based on their own experiences!
A few general things can lower your risks:
- Tuck in a variety of ways over a week
- Untuck whenever you can, like when you wear loose clothes
- Retuck or take a break if it hurts or you feel sick or dizzy
- Stay hydrated as much as you can. Not drinking or peeing can lead to health problems.
How do I avoid infections or irritation?
Tucking can lead to skin infections, chafing, and irritation. These can raise your risk for STIs. It helps to check for them when you untuck. You can also give them time to heal before you tuck the same way.
You can lower the risk by keeping your privates clean and dry. Baby powder and panty liners can help. You can also wrap your strapless in toilet paper, a washcloth, or cut-up underwear.
How do I avoid pain or injuries from tucking?
Taking it slow can help avoid pain or injury. You can also start tucking for shorter periods to learn what feels right. Experimenting with different kinds of tucking can help you find what works best for you!
Tucking might feel funny at first. But if it feels painful or very uncomfortable, there’s a higher chance you could hurt yourself. Taking a break or tucking a different way can help you find what works best for you!
When should I go to a clinic?
Most issues will heal on their own over time. But experts recommend going to a clinic if you notice…
- blood in urine or other fluids
- an itching or burning feeling inside your strapless
- tingling or numbness, even when you’re untucked
- pain when you pee
- pain in your lower stomach or back
Tucking, tape, and health
A few things can help you avoid rashes, irritation, and pain. You can use medical or sports tape that’s made for skin. Some might not work with your skin. You can try a few to find what works best for you. It might help to do a smaller test with a small piece of tape. This lets you see if its glue irritates your skin.
One drawback to tucking with tape is not being able to pee. When they don’t pee or drink, some people get health issues like dehydration or kidney issues. You can lower the risk by staying hydrated, peeing and retucking frequently. You can also plan shorter periods when you use tape.
What about taking tape off?
Trimming or getting rid of hair will help the tape stay in place. It will also make it easier to take off the tape. Shaving or waxing hair can irritate the skin, which might raise the risk for STIs. Trimming hair could be safer since it doesn’t hurt your skin.
Taking tape off can be painful. It can also irritate or damage the skin. It can help to soak the area in warm water for a few minutes first. There are also some body-safe adhesive removers. These loosen the glue on the tape.
Before you put on tape, you can also use barrier wipes. These protect your skin from adhesives.
What if I tuck for years? / What are the long-term risks
Tucking can lower fertility. It can make it harder to have kids with your genes. The risk is higher for people on hormone replacement therapy,. There’s also a higher risk if you move hanging parts inside your body when you tuck. If you want to have kids that are related to you one day, you can think about using a fertility clinic before you start tucking.
If you’re worried about fertility or any of the other risks from tucking, you can also talk to a doctor who works with transgender people.
