The ‘Indie’ or ‘hipster’ look, as Northerners call it, has ironically become a very popular fashion statement- everyone seems to have difficulty with their sight as the men don the not-so-original Skinny Jean look. Skinny Jeans come from the Teddy Boys in the 1950s and are also known as Drainpipe Jeans. The cut is insanely tight, leaving little to the imagination for us onlookers. Although I have nothing against the look, as I myself have dabbled in the Charity Shop/Topshop phenomenon, I have always wondered if skinny jeans could be doing harm to the hipster men of this world. If you are one of these men who are actually able to get the jeans over their knees then there is an important question to be asked. Where the hell are the ‘gonads’ going to go as the space where they are meant to be seems to have disappeared, and trust me…there are several complications that can arise from a squished nether region!

Medical experts in the UK warn “The trendy denims are causing twisted testicles, bladder weakness, and even urinary tract infections.” which is not so sexy for the fashionistas. Dr Hilary Jones, the well known regular on the ITV show Daybreak, told The Daily Telegraph that many men that buy their skinny jeans a size too small for them, which may be causing serious harm to their bodies. Jones said: “I have seen several cases of men who have twisted their testicles due to wearing jeans that are far too tight. Wearing tight-fitting clothing over a prolonged period of time can lead to urinary tract infections leading to over-activity of the bladder.”

A study by TENA Men found that one in 50 men risk their long-term testicle and bladder health by squeezing into super-slim jeans in the name of fashion. But this is not stopping these image obsessed men, even though studies have shown 25% of them are getting bladder troubles, and 2% are getting twisted testicles. Some of them have said that they know the risks but carry on wearing these testicle traps as they “look good”. But these are not the only difficulties that these skinny prisons cause. Fungal infections as well as lower sperm count are also on the cards, so we ask, is it really worth the risk? Has our society become so image obsessed that we are willing to sacrifice our health? Perhaps you, fashion conscious men, should get the jeans that fit you instead of trying to squeeze into the skinnies- it will be better for you in the long run.