How the type of underwear men wear can affect their fertility

barasa velma

August 10, 2018 12:13 PM

How your underwear affects your swimmers.

Men who wear boxers are reportedly more likely to be more fertile than those who wear tight underwear such as briefs.

This is according to a new study published on Wednesday in the journal Human Reproduction.

Men who wore boxers were found to have a higher sperm count and a higher sperm concentration as compared to those that wear tight fitting innerwear.

Temperatures of between three to four degrees Celsius is required for successful sperm production.

These types of conditions can be achieved in a free-hanging scrotum.

Wearing tight underwear can cause “mild, but significant, impaired sperm production in men”, as explained by an honorary professor from the University of Edinburgh’s MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Richard Sharpe.

How the study was conducted

656 men between the ages of 18 and 56 who, together with their partners, were seeking infertility treatment were studied.

Every man provided semen and blood samples. They also answered a questionnaire about their underwear.

Those that wore boxer shorts exhibited a 25 percent higher sperm concentration, a 17 percent higher sperm count, a 33 percent more motile sperm and 14 percent lower levels of follicle stimulating hormone as compared to those men that wore tight underwear – this is also factoring in certain lifestyle indicators such as smoking and physical activity.

“It may not be possible to generalize out findings to men from the general population,” said lead researcher Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón.

There is still a need for follow up research in order to get a definitive finding on whether tight underwear alone causes a dip in sperm production and quality but Ms. Mínguez-Alarcón maintains that “results from this study are very practical. Men could improve their sperm production by easily changing their type of underwear worn to boxers.”

Source: CNN