Undergarments for men

An item of men's underwear comprises a garment 1 having a front side 4, a rear side 5, a waistband 6 defining a waist opening, left and right leg openings 7, and a crotch region (8, figure 2) connecting the front and rear sides. The garment is further provided with a pair of elongate support bands 9 connected to the waistband at spaced positions therealong on the front side, crossing each other at a point (10, figure 2) on the front side positioned between the waistband and a wearer's external genitalia, continuing via the crotch region in a curved path to the rear side, crossing each other at a point (11, figure 3) on the rear side, and connecting to the waistband at spaced positions therealong on the rear side. Preferably, the support bands are inelastic in the longitudinal direction thereof compared to the remaining fabric of the garment. The support bands may be provided as tapes or pre-formed bands sewn or otherwise fixed to the remaining fabric, or they may be provided as seams. Also disclosed is a method for supporting a user's external genitalia in men's underwear.