Binding, packing, tucking & padding

Non-medical interventions like binding, packing, tucking and padding are relatively low cost and less invasive than surgery. Exploring these do-it-yourself options can help you make decisions about whether more permanent gender-affirming interventions are a good fit for you. 

Binding

Binding Wearing compression garments or using other methods to flatten the chest. involves using tight clothing, tape or compression garments to flatten your chest. 

Reasons for binding include: 

• Feeling more at ease in your body.
• Feeling more comfortable in your clothing.
• Helping others read your gender correctly. 

Types of binding

There are many different ways to bind. It can be helpful to try out different options to see what feels best for your body.

The best method for you depends on your chest size and build. Whichever method you choose should allow you to breathe normally and feel comfortable when resting and moving.

• Commercial binder — A tight garment, typically made of nylon and spandex, designed to flatten the chest. Most binders resemble tank-tops and can pull down over the head or open and close with zippers or Velcro. The size and type of binder you choose will depend on the brand, amount of chest or breast tissue and your personal preference.
• TransTape, TransGenX or kinesiology tape — Waterproof medical grade tapes such as TransTape, TransGenX and kinesiology (KT) tape can be used for chest binding. These tapes can last for multiple days, are virtually undetectable under clothing and are waterproof. They provide a good option for binding when exercising, swimming, and sleeping because they do not wrap around the chest or restrict breathing and movement. If you have skin sensitivities or are allergic to latex, check what the tape is made from. You can conduct a skin test following the manufacturers directions before wearing tape for binding. Note: Tapes should never be wrapped around your entire chest (joining end to end). 
• Layering shirts — Wearing a tight-fitting undershirt with a slightly looser shirt on top. This may be followed with a third, looser shirt. This option is more effective for people with less chest or breast tissue. Note: multiple layers may increase the risk of overheating when exercising or in warm weather.
• Sports bras — Tight-fitting sports bras made with Lycra provide effective binding for some people. The material is designed to be breathable, decreasing the chances of side effects from binding. Note: wearing a bra may cause feelings of dysphoria for some people.
• Athletic compression shirts — Athletic compression shirts are made with spandex, or other stretchy materials, and are designed to have a next-to-skin fit. They are breathable and widely available at sports stores. This option is more effective for people who have minimal chest or breast tissue.
• Neoprene waist and abdominal trimmers or back support devices — Neoprene is a thick, rubbery material that is relatively inexpensive and widely available as waist trainers and support devices in drug stores and large chain discount stores. They may offer effective chest compression. Note: neoprene does not breathe well and may increase the risk of skin breakdown An umbrella term for rashes, blisters, cuts, scrapes and chafing. Can refer to anything that breaks down the barrier the skin provides. and overheating. 
   

Cleaning

To clean a binder, follow the instructions that came with the garment. Generally speaking, hand washing is best. Avoid using bleach or putting it in the dryer, as this can cause the material to break down and reduce the binder’s effectiveness.

The effects of binding

Although binding can cause muscle discomfort and skin irritation, most people who bind find it a satisfying and gender-affirming experience.

You may find that binding makes you feel hotter in the summer months or when exercising. It may also worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma.

If you have concerns about the safety of binding, talk to a health care professional.

Safe binding

There are steps you can take to decrease the side effects and keep yourself more comfortable while binding. 

If you want to try binding, try to follow these tips:

• Find a binder that’s the right size — If your binder is too tight, it may cause difficulty breathing, increased pain or cause your skin to break down. If this occurs, you can alter the binder to fit your body, get a bigger size or try another method.
• Choose a safer binder — Elastic bandages, duct tape or Saran Wrap are not safe ways to bind. These methods can restrict blood flow, make it hard to breathe, cause rashes and bruising and even break ribs.
• Choose a breathable material — Examples of breathable material include Lycra and spandex. Binders made from non-breathable material can cause sores or rashes on your skin. You can minimize these side-effects by applying body powder to your skin before binding or wearing a thin undershirt made of fabric that wicks away sweat underneath your binder.
• Be clean and dry before putting it on — Make sure your skin is clean and completely dry before putting on a binder.
• If you are using medical tape — Wear a nipple guard under medical grade tape, and remove it with a skin-safe adhesive-remover. If you find removal hard, try using protective barrier skin wipes before applying tape. Do not wrap the tape around your chest (joining end to end).
• Limit binder use — Avoid binding for more than eight hours a day.
• Build strength — Learn exercises and stretches to strengthen your back, shoulders, and chest wall to help ease some of the pain caused by binding.
• Get help from a practitioner — See a clinician if you experience pain, difficulty breathing, ongoing tingling/numbness, skin rash, or sores.
• In hot weather — It can help to drink plenty of water, bind less tightly and for shorter periods of time, and wear a cotton undershirt or body powder to absorb sweat.

Binding resources

• How to Bind Your Chest (Folx Health) 
• I <3 My Chest (Qmunity) 
• Things to Know About Binding (Trans Care BC)

Packing

Packing Wearing a prosthetic, cloth padding or another form of non-flesh penis in underwear or a lower garment. involves wearing a non-flesh penis An erogenous and erectile organ located between the legs that consists of spongy tissue that can fill up with blood and may become firmer with sexual arousal. It is also a means for urination. A person may be born with a penis or have one surgically created. When referring to genitals, the Trans Care BC website uses "erogenous tissue (penis)" for trans people assigned male at birth (AMAB) and "penis" for trans people assigned female at birth (AFAB), but there are many different terms that individuals may use. (prosthetic penis) or another form of padding Use of undergarments, including breast forms, to create the appearance of larger breasts, hips or buttocks. in your underwear or lower garment. 

Reasons for using a packer or having a non-flesh penis include: 

• Feeling more at ease in your body.
• Feeling more comfortable in your clothing.
• Helping others read your gender correctly.
• Using it during sex.
• Being able to stand to pee.

Packing options

These are different ways to pack. The packing options you use depend on your preferences and desired functionality: 

• Do-it-yourself option — An affordable, do-it-yourself option is to fill an unlubricated condom with hair gel, tie a knot at the end, and place another condom overtop. Place it in some tight briefs or boxer briefs. This option is less durable than others and will need to be replaced frequently.
• Packer — If you want something that more closely resembles a penis, you can buy a packer in many sex stores or online. They come in various sizes and skin tones, with and without foreskin and with or without testicles. Some can be used for sexual penetration and some can be used to stand and urinate. They may be held in place by a jockstrap, harness or tight-fitting underwear.
• Non-flesh (prosthetic) penis — A prosthetic penis is made to look and feel like a penis and testicles. It’s designed to be attached to your body with medical adhesive or suction. Some models can be used for sexual penetration or urination while standing. Prosthetic penises are usually more expensive than packers.

Cleaning

To clean a non-flesh penis, follow the cleaning instructions that came with the item. Generally, you can wash it with mild soap and water.

Safe packing

Some people experience skin irritation from non-flesh penis materials. If you experience irritation, try wearing two pairs of underwear with the penis in between them to protect your skin. It may be useful to wear a non-lubricated condom so the penis does not rub directly against your leg.

Some people have reactions to the medical adhesive used to attach a prosthetic penis to the body. Test a small amount of the adhesive on your skin before using it to attach your penis.

Consider wearing a condom if you are using a packer or prosthetic penis during sex to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

If you have concerns about the safety of packing or wearing a prosthetic penis, talk to a health care professional.

Packing resources

For a range of recommended non-flesh penises, see the Presenting as Male section of Hudson’s FTM Resource Guide.

Tucking

Tucking Method of positioning the penis and testicles so as to conceal them. involves positioning the penis An erogenous and erectile organ located between the legs that consists of spongy tissue that can fill up with blood and may become firmer with sexual arousal. It is also a means for urination. A person may be born with a penis or have one surgically created. When referring to genitals, the Trans Care BC website uses "erogenous tissue (penis)" for trans people assigned male at birth (AMAB) and "penis" for trans people assigned female at birth (AFAB), but there are many different terms that individuals may use. and testes in a way that conceals them.

Reasons for tucking include: 

• Feeling more at ease in your body.
• Feeling more comfortable in your clothing. 
• Helping others read your gender correctly. 

Tucking options

A note about language

For ease of reading, the terms penis and testes are used throughout these directions. We recognize that many people who practice tucking do not use this terminology for their genitals.

There are many ways to tuck. The penis always goes between the legs. The testes and scrotum can go between the legs or inside the body. You can adapt these methods to whatever feels best for your body or find another way altogether.

Option 1: Testes between the legs

This is the easiest option.

• Wrap the penis in tissue or a piece of soft, thin cotton.
• Tuck your testes and penis between your legs, and, if possible, the buttocks.
• Optional: Use a long strip of medical or sports tape down the penis and up the buttocks/lower back to keep it secure. Use additional tape as needed.
• Hold the arrangement in place with tight panties made from materials like spandex, Lycra or microfibre.

Option 2: Testes inside the body

This is the smoothest-looking option. Some people prefer to tuck their testes inside of themselves. The goal here is to gently push the testes into the inguinal canals (the tube at the top of each testicle).

1. Wrap the penis in tissue or a piece of soft, thin cotton.
2. There is an opening to the inguinal canal A tube-like passage in the groin where some people push their testicles when tucking. at the base of each testicle. The opening has about the same diameter as a finger, though it can stretch. Using two or three fingers, gently lift each testicle up into the scrotum and through the corresponding inguinal ring. 
3. Once the testes are tucked, keep a hand firmly over the base of your genitals to prevent anything from slipping back out. Some people tuck the scrotum as well, while others wrap the scrotum around the penis and secure it with tape. Medical tape is safer than duct tape because it breathes better and is easier to remove. 
4. Next, pull back the penis between your legs and hold everything in place with tight panties, tape or a gaff A garment that flattens the lower part of the body, concealing the erectile tissue (penis) and the gonads (testes). . If you plan to use tape, shave your pubic hair first; this will make removing the tape more comfortable. If you have difficulty removing the tape, try soaking the area in warm water.

Tucking tips

The effects of tucking

Tucking may cause skin break down and some people feel pulling or tearing in their genital region during tucking.

If you have concerns about the safety of tucking, talk to a health care professional.

Safe tucking

Here are some tips to tuck safely:

• If you are new to tucking, start by tucking for shorter periods of time. Give yourself lots of time to practice. It’s hard to learn a new skill when you feel rushed or stressed.
• Try switching between different ways of tucking.
• You may find that tucking gets easier with practice or after being on hormones for a while.
• Medical adhesive removers may be helpful for removing tape buildup and residue. 
• After untucking, check for irritated skin, sores or rashes. Allow skin to heal before using products on it again.
• Stay hydrated. Avoiding drinking and peeing can lead to health problems.
• Use body powder in warm creases (such as thighs, buttocks, and genital skin) to prevent skin chafing and infection.
• Tucking regularly can affect fertility. Some people consider banking sperm or limiting how often they tuck gonads inside the body.

See a health care practitioner if you experience: 

• Aching, tingling or numbness that continues even when you are not tucking
• Blood in urine or orgasmic fluid
• A feeling of inflammation or infection inside the genitals
• Skin rash or sores
• Pain with urination
• Pain in the bladder or lower back

Tucking resources

Download the Things to Know About Tucking handout from Trans Care BC.

Padding

Padding Use of undergarments, including breast forms, to create the appearance of larger breasts, hips or buttocks. involves using undergarments to create the appearance of larger breasts, hips or buttocks. 

Reasons for padding include:

• Feeling more comfortable in your body.
• Feeling more comfortable in your clothing.
• Helping others read your gender correctly. 

Compared to surgical options for creating larger breasts, hips and buttocks, padding is cheap and painless. It’s also a much Compared to surgical options for creating larger breasts, hips and buttocks, padding is affordable and painless. It is a much safer alternative to using non-medical silicone injections, which can cause severe medical complications. 

There are many padding products available, including:

• Padded panties — These are especially useful for making your hips look wider and your buttocks more full.
• Padded bras — These undergarments may be preferable if you have some breast growth but want your breasts to appear larger.
• Breast forms — These are made of soft silicone gel and either adhere to your body or are placed in your bra. They are available in different shapes, sizes and skin colours. Some breast forms have nipples and some do not.
• Bras with pockets — These are also referred to as mastectomy A surgical procedure to remove one or both breasts. bras. They are designed to accommodate breast forms.

Cleaning

To clean padded panties, bras and breast forms, follow the instructions that came with the item. Generally, hand-wash bras and panties or use the gentle cycle of the washing machine and hang to dry.

Sweat can cause breast forms to break down, so it’s a good idea to wash them with warm water and soap after use.

Padding resources

Read information about padding and forms at I <3 My Chest (Qmunity).