Pop quiz: What chemicals are you wrapping your balls in right now?
Funny thought, isn’t it? We tend to biohack certain parts of our lives to death, but for years, our fellas have been hanging out down there unregulated. Nobody thinks to look there.
Conventional underwear material carries compounds you’d probably recognize: BPA, phthalates, PFAS, formaldehyde, and a few others. Since the genital area is among the most absorptive skin on the body, those chemicals sit right where they’re most readily taken in.
NADS saw what goes into conventional underwear and decided to run the other way, creating their Organic Cotton Boxer Brief out of totally different stock. Here are the seven things they left out and why.
BPA in Your Fabric
You pulled a fresh pair from a sealed pack and caught that whiff of chemicals. I personally don’t like opening a new pair and finding it reeks like a freshly unwrapped pool floatie. That smell is a reminder of how much goes into conventional fabric before it reaches you, and BPA is one compound in the mix.
Studies confirm BPA is common in polyester fabric, and it doesn’t stay put:
A 2023 analysis found BPA concentrations highest in polyester fabrics and lower in organic cotton garments
A 2024 study showed sweat-moistened contact can push BPA exposure above safety thresholds
NADS made this pair without the BPA. The Organic Cotton Boxer Brief runs on GOTS-certified organic cotton and BPA-free elastane, with no plastic at ball contact.
Phthalates in the Coating
Flip the tag on any conventional brief, and you’ll get the fabric content, but not the whole picture. It simply reads “polyester.” There’s no line on that label for what went into the polyester production.
Phthalates are plasticizing compounds added to polyester coatings and finishes. A 2026 systematic review found they’re associated with endocrine disruption, lower testosterone, and reduced sperm quality.
The GOTS certification used by NADS prohibits phthalates at every stage, and the Organic Cotton Boxer Brief is made without those nasty coatings.
Microplastics From Polyester
You throw a load of workout gear in the wash and never think twice about it. Every cycle, a polyester garment releases hundreds of thousands of microscopic plastic particles into the water supply. Avoiding microplastics in today’s world is pretty much impossible, but we can limit them. It makes sense to start with the products lying against our most absorptive skin for 18 hours a day.
A 2024 review found nano- and microplastics can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure. In laboratory cell studies, they’ve been linked to the following, though the authors note further research is needed to fully understand the extent of human health risk:
Respiratory effects
Neurological effects
Inflammatory effects
The Organic Cotton Boxer Brief puts a 100% organic cotton liner at ball contact, so it may help reduce your daily exposure versus plastic-dominant, polyester underwear.
Formaldehyde in the Finishes
We all love that crisp permanent-press on a dress shirt, but I’m less thrilled with how they get it. That wrinkle resistance doesn’t happen naturally. Formaldehyde-releasing resins are how manufacturers achieve that effect, and they’re common across conventional fabrics.
A 2022 textile study detected formaldehyde in 20% of clothing samples. It’s classified as a carcinogen, though it’s important to note that this is chiefly via inhalation rather than skin contact.
The Organic Cotton Boxer Brief wants nothing to do with any of this. No treated finishes, no releasing agents, just GOTS-certified organic cotton. That’s the NADS standard.
Azo Dyes in the Color
Your black briefs came out of the drawer this morning as dark as the day you bought them. That color holds because of azo dyes, the most common colorant in conventional underwear. They’re fast, cheap, and in just about everything with a lasting color.
Textile research shows that the azo compounds in conventional fabrics can break down into aromatic amines. Certain aromatic amines are associated with cancer and restricted in many regions.
The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification is used to test for exactly these kinds of chemicals. It screens fabrics against more than 100 regulated substances, including the aromatic amines that can form from azo dye breakdown. Every dye in the NADS Organic Cotton Boxer Brief has cleared that test.
PFAS in the Finish
You’ve watched water bead up and roll clean off a rain jacket without soaking in. That water-repellent finish is made with forever chemicals, and they didn’t earn the nickname for nothing.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a standard coating in performance fabrics that don’t break down in the environment or the body. In human studies, peer-reviewed research has associated them with the following, though the authors note evidence is inconsistent across these areas and further research is ongoing:
Immune function disruption
Reproductive toxicity
Hormone disruption
The NADS Organic Cotton Boxer Brief uses no PFAS coatings, no water-repellent applications, and no stain-resistant finishes. Underwear doesn’t need any of them.
Pesticides in the Cotton
Even if your briefs are cotton, the pair in your drawer started life as a plant in a field. Most of that crop is heavily treated before it gets anywhere near a loom.
Conventional farming involves heavy pesticide use, including glyphosate. GOTS certification was built around this reality, requiring fibers to be grown without conventional pesticides or non-organic fertilizers and verifying the entire chain from the ground up.
The Organic Cotton Boxer Brief’s cotton doesn’t start life in a pesticide bath. NADS requires GOTS certification across the board, so it was grown to that standard from the start.
The NADS Standard
Now you know what you’ve been wrapping your balls in. Seven things hiding in conventional underwear material, and none of them great.
If you’re ready to make the switch, the NADS Organic Cotton Boxer Brief runs $34 a pair, ships free on orders over $115, and comes with a 90-day fit guarantee. More than 500,000 men have already come around. It’s time to give your boys a cleaner daily baseline and get some proper underwear.
Individual results may vary. NADS underwear is designed to reduce chemical exposure but is not a medical treatment. Consult a healthcare provider for concerns about testosterone, fertility, or reproductive health.
GOTS certification verifies organic farming and processing standards. OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 verifies testing against harmful substances. These certifications do not constitute medical claims.
All details were verified at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice.
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