Protective cups are designed to prevent damage to the testicles and scrotum during contact sports. When properly fitted, protective cups fully cover the genitals and deliver any impact force to the pubic bone to minimize the risk of serious injury. Although cups have a reputation for being restrictive and uncomfortable, they are available in different sizes and shapes to ensure comfort and accommodate all body types.
Step 1
Purchase a protective cup that is large enough to fully encase your genitals without being so large as to slide around or rub against the insides of your thighs. Most protective cups come in standard sizes of small, medium and large.
Step 2
Remove your underwear and slip on a jockstrap. Insert the cup into the pouch located on the front of the jockstrap. The pouch that houses the cup should have a Velcro, elastic or snap closure to keep the cup in place.
Step 3
Walk around and change positions to make sure the cup fits tightly against your body. If the protective cup is too loose, it may slide during an impact and increase the risk of injury instead of minimize it.
Tips and Warnings
- Put on a pair of compression shorts beneath or instead of the jockstrap if you experience chaffing or a rash from wearing the jockstrap over bare skin. Some compression shorts come with pockets designed to hold a protective cup in place. If your shorts do not have this pocket, put a jockstrap on over the shorts.
- Receiving a direct blow to the genitals during sports can result in a testicular rupture, a condition caused by the crushing of a testicle against the pubic bone. During a testicular rupture, blood leaks into the scrotum, causing swelling, extreme pain and nausea, according to the KidsHealth website. This injury requires surgical treatment.
Things You'll Need
- Protective cup
- Jockstrap
- Compression shorts
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